DHANAKIRIGALA CAVE TEMPLE, MAWANELLA,SRI LANKA.
Main access roads
- Mawanella - Aranayake road - Ussapitiya junction - Galathara road ( pattagama) 4km - Turn right- about 300 m to the temple.
- Kegalle - Hettimulla gamsaba junction - deewela - Galathara - Pattagama - Turn left to the temple about 300 m.
Dhanakirigala is a cave temple.The history of the temple gose back to pre christian era. Rock inscription in dhanakirigala is belongs to 2nd centuary B.C. Within the cave temple you can see paintings that belongs to kandyan era.
This temple was renovated during the Kandyan period the cave which was first offered to the Sangha in the pre-Christian era.
According to the legends dhanakirigala cave was used by king walagamba in the ancient past.
There are 367 steps of granite up to the dhanakirigala temple. which starts from the end of the paddyfields and sangawasa. According to the folklore this staircase was built by lewke disawa in kandyan era.It is said that he went to bathe in ma oya every day, take the stone slabs one by one and built the stairs.
A beautiful calm and peaceful place to visit.
Music: You tube studio no copyright music library.