A place of peace & learning
A library cafe
in the forest.
A serene space for reading, contemplation, and quiet community — nestled in the forest at Rideekanda Monastery. Built through the generosity of many, it is now open.
A serene space for reading, contemplation, and quiet community — nestled in the forest at Rideekanda Monastery. Built through the generosity of many, it is now open.
What was a drawing on this page is now a room with light in it — shelves filled, tea on the counter, and a deck open to the forest.
This place stands because of you. A chair, a shelf, a length of decking, a bag of cement, or simply a quiet wish for its completion — every offering, named and unnamed, has become part of it.
Your generosity is now something one can sit inside: shelves holding Dhamma books, a pantry where tea is offered, a veranda that catches the evening light, and a timber deck open to the forest and the valley beyond.
May the merit of your giving bring you health, ease, and steady progress on the path — and may all who find peace here share in that same blessing.
The shelves are built and waiting. If you have books you would like to offer the library, they will be catalogued, cared for, and made freely available to everyone who reads here — monastics, retreatants, and visitors alike.
Books in both Sinhala and English are equally welcome.
The Rideekanda Library Cafe is a tranquil haven where visitors and monastics can immerse themselves in Dhamma study, engage with Buddhist literature, and enjoy a cup of tea amidst the calm of the surrounding forest.
The design integrates indoor reading spaces with an open veranda and an outdoor timber deck — letting the architecture quietly recede into the canopy around it.
Rotate, zoom, and look around the original architectural model — every wall, every shelf, every line of the deck.
The original design drawings — 3D renders, elevations, and detailed views of each space, as they were drawn before building began.
Each piece was designed to complement the forest setting — and every one has now been built and put in place, funded by donors who took on a chair, a shelf, or the deck as a whole.
Custom wall-mounted shelving for Dhamma books, Buddhist literature, and reference materials. Multiple tiers, optimized for the library wall.
Design PDF
Counter-style wall-mounted reading table — space-efficient, perfect for focused study sessions by the window.
Design PDF
Ergonomic bar-height seating designed to pair with the wall-mounted reading table. Comfortable for extended reading.
Design PDF
Sturdy timber dining chairs for the indoor cafe area. Designed for comfort during meals, tea, and community gathering.
Design PDF
Outdoor furniture with steel frames and timber tops — built to weather the elements while offering an open-air reading experience.
Design PDF
A compact pantry cabinet for storing tea, refreshments, and utensils. Positioned conveniently within the cafe for easy access.
Design PDF
A raised timber deck platform extending from the main building into the forest — a tranquil outdoor space for relaxation and gathering.
Design PDF
Freestanding timber bookshelves with multiple compartments — designed to organize Dhamma books and reference materials throughout the library.
Design PDFA short video walkthrough of the library cafe — how it sits in the forest, and how it is used.
Every rupee is accounted for. This data comes live from our records — what was spent, and what was given to meet it.
This cafe was built entirely on dāna — chair by chair, shelf by shelf, given by people who never asked for their names to appear. That same generosity continues to sustain Rideekanda: its retreats, its libraries, and the monks who live here.