| Building Name: | Dhowa rock temple |
| Native Name: | දෝව රජ මහා විහාරය |
| Map Type: | Sri Lanka |
| Location: | Dhowa, Bandarawela, Sri Lanka |
| Coordinates: | 6.8557°N 81.021°W |
| Province: | Uva Province |
| District: | Badulla |
| Heritage Designation: | Archaeological protected monument[1] (1 November 1996) |
| Architecture: | yes |
| Architecture Type: | Buddhist Temple |
Dhowa Rock Temple or Dowa Raja Maha Viharaya (Sinhala; Sinhalese: දෝව රජ මහා විහාරය) is a heritage listed rock temple in Sri Lanka, located in the central mountains of the Uva Province. It is adjacent to Dhowa, a small village situated on the Badulla-Bandarawela main road (approximately north of Bandarawela). The temple is 210km (130miles) east of Colombo and 120km (80miles) south of Kandy.[2]
The temple is believed to have been constructed by King Valagamba in the first century BC and is one of many temples built by the king while taking refuge in Uva Province after an army from South India invaded the Anuradhapura Kingdom.[3] The temple dates back over 2000 years.[4] [5]
On 1 November 1996 was formally recognised by the government as an archaeological protected monument. The designation was declared under the government Gazette number 948.[6]
The temple is famous for its large high unfinished Buddha image, which is carved into the vertical granite rockface. The image is an example of Mahayana sculpture.
The image house, which is located inside the cave contains numerous colourful murals and painting of Buddha. The entrance to the image house is flanked by two guardian statues, one with an elephant in its mouth and the other with a bull in its mouth. They are reported to be, two Rakshasa leaders, Watuka and Kuvera.[7]