Dhowa rock temple, Buddhist temple in Badulla District, Sri Lanka

Dhowa Rock Temple is a Buddhist rock temple beside Dhowa village on the Badulla–Bandarawela road, about 7.5 km north of Bandarawela. Its main feature is an unfinished standing Buddha image about 11 m high, carved into a vertical granite rock face. The image house inside the cave holds murals and is flanked by two guardian statues, one with an elephant and the other with a bull in its mouth.

King Valagamba constructed this temple in the first century BC when he sought refuge in the Uva Province after invaders from South India attacked his kingdom. The sanctuary emerged during a period of political upheaval and reflects the religious protection the ruler sought.

The image house entrance is flanked by two guardian figures, said to be the Rakshasa leaders Watuka and Kuvera; one holds an elephant in its mouth, the other a bull. Inside, murals include the Telapatta, Dharmapala and Vessantara Jataka tales, painted about 400 years ago, alongside Kandyan-era Buddha images. A painting called Vrishabha-kuncha shows an elephant from one side and a bull from the other. A festival for a Naga king is held every September.

The site sits north of Bandarawela along the main road, making it relatively easy to reach by car or public transport. Visitors should wear appropriate clothing and be aware of weather conditions, particularly during the monsoon season.

The image house entrance is flanked by two guardian figures, each with an animal in its mouth: one an elephant, the other a bull. Local tradition names them Watuka and Kuvera, Rakshasa leaders. The Sinhala source instead calls them Sivuru and Agghora, so the names vary by account.