Batatotalena Cave

Batatotalena Cave
Not to be confused with Batadombalena Cave Batatotalena Cave (Sinhala: Batathota-lena) (Sinhala: බටතොටලෙන) is a Buddhist cave temple situated in Kuruwita in Ratnapura District, Sri Lanka. History The history of this site is linked by locals to the Lord Buddha. Some believe that Diwa Guhawa or Bhagawalena associated with the Buddha's third visit to Sri Lanka is identical to this site (Abeyawardana, 2002). The cave is about 20 ft tall (Gnanawimala Thera, 1967). Within the cave, a small Stupa , an image house, and a Vishnu Devalaya shrine can be seen. The image house is the main shrine and has been erected between the Vishnu Devalaya and the Stupa. The front wall of the image house is decorated with a Makara Thorana (a dragon arch) and other murals. The entrance door is guarded by two statues of door-keepers. Inside the image house is a reclining Buddha statue of about 21 cubits long. This statue is believed to be a construction belongs to the reign of King Nissankamalla [(1187-1196 A.…