Isurumuniya

Isurumuniya - the temple with the rock carving of lovers

Isurumuniya is most famous for the rock carving of a couple of lovers which are housed in a separate building and the impressive rock cliff with its majestic views of the ancient Anuradhapura kingdom overlooking the lake and lower down on both sides of a rocky cleft, in a rock that appears to rise out of a pool, have been carved the figures of elephants and the figure of a horse.

The temple was built by King Devanampiyathissa who ruled in the ancient Sri Lankan capital of Anuradhapura. After 500 children of high-caste were ordained, Isurumuniya was built for them to reside. King Kasyapa I (473-491 AD) renovated this viharaya and named it as “Boupulvan, Kasubgiri Radmaha Vehera”. This name is derived from names of his 2 daughters and his name. There is a viharaya connected to a cave and above is a cliff. A small stupa is built on it. It can be seen that the constructional work of this stupa belong to the present period.

Lower down on both sides of a cleft, in a rock that appears to rise out of a pool, have been carved the figures of elephants. On the rock is carved the figure of a horse. The carving of Isurumuniya lovers on the slab has been brought from another place and placed it there. A few yards away from this vihara is the Ranmasu Uyana.

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