Delgamuwa Raja Maha Vihara, Buddhist temple in Kuruwita, Sri Lanka

Delgamuwa Raja Maha Vihara is a Buddhist temple in Ratnapura district situated at the foot of hills with traditional Sri Lankan architectural features. The structure displays stone carvings and sits within the surrounding landscape.

The temple protected the sacred tooth relic of Buddha for more than four decades during Portuguese colonial rule by keeping it hidden inside a grinding stone. This location played a crucial role in preserving the relic during a period of external threat.

The temple serves as an active Buddhist center where monks conduct daily rituals and prayers following local traditions. Visitors can observe the rhythm of monastic life as it happens.

The temple lies about 1 km from Kuruvita on the Colombo–Ratnapura road, in Ratnapura District. The site is an archaeological protected area, so the ruins of the old vihara — a flight of steps, part of a wahalkada, an asanaghara and an old bodhi tree — are seen within the temple grounds. Grounds are uneven around the remains.

The grinding stone that once hid the sacred tooth relic remains preserved at the temple as a protected archaeological artifact. This object tells the story of how a precious relic was safeguarded during turbulent times.