Pilikuththuwa Raja Maha Viharaya
Pilikuththuwa is a cave complex that is believed to have been inhabited during prehistoric times. The complex includes 99 caves that are spread over an area of about 200 acres, with 77 of these identified and marked on each cave. The caves are cut with drip ledges to prevent rainwater from falling into the interior, which is proof of their one-time habitation. The Pilikuththuwa Raja Maha Viharaya, located in the area, is the best place to begin exploring the cave complex. The temple's paintings, which include images of Portuguese soldiers, Dharmapala, Mahakappa, and Vessanthara Jataka stories,
Arahats, sun and moon, and illustrations of Hell, reveal the changes that artists of the Kandyan period were undergoing. The complex is also home to an ancient wooden bridge across a small stream, an Avasa geya, a Dana sala, and a well for bathing. While the history of the Pilikuththuwa cave complex dates back to prehistoric times, there is an abundance of folklore regarding its original use....
Arahats, sun and moon, and illustrations of Hell, reveal the changes that artists of the Kandyan period were undergoing. The complex is also home to an ancient wooden bridge across a small stream, an Avasa geya, a Dana sala, and a well for bathing. While the history of the Pilikuththuwa cave complex dates back to prehistoric times, there is an abundance of folklore regarding its original use....
