On the 12th February, which was a serene poya holiday in Sri Lanka, my friends and I set out on a magnificent road trip to the Dowa Rock temple which is a hidden gem out of the ancient relics in Sri Lanka. For this awesome journey, seven of my friends including Vimukthi, Anuhas, Anushka, Kavindu, Jayamini, Kulochana and Tharindu were joined. Our adventurous journey started from Pambahinna junction (From Vimukthi and Kavindu’s boarding place) near the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka around 5.30 AM. With 4 bikes where two riders in each bike, we eagerly hit the road while enjoying the morning breeze.

Since it was a holiday, the roads were almost empty, which made the ride comfortable and entertaining. The cool morning breeze was a marvellous experience due to the absence of the usual vehicle smoke. While enjoying this wonderful experience, we rode towards the Badulla district following the Badulla-Colombo Road. However, our peaceful journey was mildly disturbed since Vimukthi’s bike was broken down on the way. Fortunately, we were able to find a replacement by contacting a friend of Anuhas who lent us a bike which put us back of the track.

By 8.00AM, we were able to reach Haputale town, where we stopped for a moment have the breakfast before continuing the rest of the journey. We had a meal including Noodles with Dhal, Bread with Dhal & Sambola and Nescafe as a refreshing drink which gave warmth and energy to continue our journey. After the breakfast, we continued our journey toward the Badulla district. We passed through the scenic Bandarawela town, while enjoying the breathtaking views of mountains and landscapes filled with mist.

Around 10.30 AM, we were able to reach our destination; Dowa Rock Temple which is located approximately 6 km from the Bandarawela town. We faced traffic near the temple since the pilgrims have been visiting the temple due to Poya Holiday. After parking the bikes and removing shoes, we stepped into the temple with the anticipation to explore the ancient history behind the temple. We entered through the main entrance of the temple and we climbed down the stairs to the Temple and Bodhi premises.

Temple and Bodhi premises had a serene and calm environment even though it was filled with pilgrims and visitors from everywhere. We went to visit the interior temple building, which was much calmer and quieter. The interior of the temple consists of Buddha statues, painting, artworks, and stone works belong to 18th century where it was reconstructed. We observed those monuments instilled with great faith in our hearts.

Then we went to observe the Cave structure of the temple, which was used by King Walagamba (Who initially constructed the temple) to hide from the invaders during the 1st century BC. Finally, we observed the Buddha image which is carved on a vertical rock face. It is said that the Buddha image was constructed by king Walagamba himself. We sat down near the Buddha image for few minutes enjoying the calm environment before we leave the temple.

As the next part of the journey, we visited the Mahamewna Buddhist Monastery located approximately 6km away from the Dowa Rock temple. Visiting Mahamewna Buddhist Monastery became a very difficult task due to the steep mountain road and the visiting pilgrims. We reached the monastery around 1 PM amidst the difficulties. We visited the interior of the monastery which was beautifully constructed. Also, there was a magnificent landscape view from the monastery as it was one the highest places around the area.