Most of the local and foreign tourists recognize it for its grandeurs carvings and wonderful surrounding which consist of lakes, ponds, and rocks under the Sri Lankan tourism sector. Isrumuniya Vihara is a rock temple built by King Devanampiyatissa who ruled Sri Lanka has some very fine carvings which are beautiful undetectably.It is located near to the Tissa wewa in the ancient City of Anuradhapura. Another name for this temple is Meghagiri Viharaya. Isurumuniya is more famous for the stone carving of ‘Isurumini couple’ which is constantly similar to the 6th-century Gupta style carvings. This carved stone was found in Royal garden and brought to the Isurumuniya viharaya.
Based on the information provided by interpretations it shows the prince Saliya who is the son of King Dutugemunu and his love Ashokamala from a lower cast of the society. As Prince Saliya decided to marry her she received a high cast of the society. Other than that people believe that this carves represent the god Shiva and goddess Parvathi. The vihara is fully designed on a rock and the sacred tooth relic of Buddha has been originally kept here when it arrived in the island from India in the 312 AC.
The temple got reputational destination with the dawn of the 19th century as many foreigners came to Anuradhapra and began to osculate with sri lankans.
The temple is connected to a cave and above with a cliff. At the entrance to the viharaya you can see pond and above that, you can see another carving of bathing elephans. Not only that but also there is another carving showing a man seated in a royal pose and a horse head. It is believed that the Agni and Parjanya , the god of rain on behalf of that some do believe that it was a soldier who came after a battle. The elephants are regarded as clouds. So all together it is believed that this place is also used by the king to worship the god of the rain. The stupa and Buddha statue you can also go for the Garden ‘Ranmasu Uyana’ which is in few yards away. In kings times there were some caves which were used to travel but now they have become residents of bats. Today some of these sculptures have been moved to a small museum in the temple for further protection. Isurumuniya Vihara is a destination that shouldn’t be ever chucked up on a tour of the ancient city of Anuradhapura.