Ratnapura Pothgul Rajamaha Viharaya is a picturesque cave temple built on top of a hill believed to be built by king Vatta Gamini Abhaya better known as king Walagamba ( (89-77 BC) in the 1st century. It had been renovated during the days of King Kirthi Sri Rajasinghe (1747 – 1781) of the Kandy period. There are two temples belonging to these two periods withing the Pothgul Viharaya.
The cave image house at the temple is the most historically significant section of the temple. The 27 cubit (40 feet) reclining Buddha statue across the image house is carved out of the natural rock. Statues of deities Saman and Vishnu are found close to the head of Buddha statue.
This temple can be reached by traveling 3.2 kms along the Ratnapura-Palawela road and a further distance of 3.2 kms from the Kotamulla Junction turning right at Karangoda Vidyalaya and travelling another 0.5 Km after having crossed the river. This is a new route provided to have access to the temple. Before reaching the junction close to Karangoda Vidyalaya there is a small bridge that should be crossed on foot. To reach the precincts of the Viharaya, a total of 454 steps will have to be climbed.