Ridi Viharaya, the Silver Temple, lies about 18 kilometres northeast of Kurunegala in the village of Ridigama, and is one of Sri Lanka's finest and least crowded ancient sites. The complex dates back to the 2nd century BC and contains some of the most beautiful examples of Kandyan-period painting in the country — richly coloured fresco panels covering the ceilings and walls of the main image house.
The principal reclining Buddha is magnificent, and the decorative work throughout the temple — Dutch blue-and-white tiles imported in the 18th century alongside traditional Sinhalese carvings and paintings — gives the whole complex a layered quality that rewards close looking. The setting, in a forested valley with rocky outcrops, is peaceful and the temple sees relatively few foreign visitors.