Aluvihare Rock Temple, Buddhist temple in Matale District, Sri Lanka

Aluvihare Rock Temple is a Buddhist cave temple in Aluvihare, Matale District, about 30 km north of Kandy on the Matale–Dambulla road. Its caves hold a large reclining Buddha with standing and seated images, and wall and ceiling paintings. A tall entrance archway has two rough grey-brown stone pillars, a cream sculpted band with a face-like crest and a round reddish medallion, and scroll carvings with stylized faces.

The temple originated in the first century BCE under King Vattagamani Abhaya, when Buddhist monks transcribed the oral teachings of Buddha onto palm leaves at this location. This act of recording the teachings preserved them for future generations.

The temple remains an active place where Buddhist monks practice their daily routines and perform rituals that connect them to centuries of tradition. The site holds deep meaning for pilgrims and communities who visit to participate in worship and observe these living practices.

The temple lies on the Matale–Dambulla road, about 30 km north of Kandy. Visitors remove shoes before entering the cave shrines and should dress modestly. The caves are cut into a hillside, so expect uneven rock steps and low passages between the chambers.

One cave is dedicated to the Indian monk-scholar Buddhaghosa, who is said to have spent several years at the temple working on his commentaries on the Pali scriptures. The temple's name also comes from light: it was once called Aloka Lena, the cave with light, because the rock to the east does not block the sun.