Dambulla Cave Temple (UNESCO World Heritage site)
Dambulla Cave Temple (Golden Temple)
"Magical Cave Temples - Largest cave temple in the Sri Lanka"
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| Source: danflyingsolo |
Image Gallery
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(Photo credits goes to original authors)
Directions (Google Maps)
Description
The beautiful Royal Rock Temple complex sits about 160 M above the
road in the southern part of Dambulla. Five separate caves contain about
150 absolutely stunning Buddha statues and paintings, some of Sri
Lanka's most important and evocative religious art. The fascination of these caves is not only the statues but
also the many intricate and delicate paintings that cover the ceiling
and walls, created with indigenous traditional paints. Buddha images were
first created here over 2000 years ago, and over the centuries
subsequent kings added to and embellished the cave art. From the caves there are superb views over the surrounding countryside; Sigiriya is clearly visible some 20 KM distant.
Because of the history, archaeological and artistic implications, the premises were declared as one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1991. The temple has been in use for over 22 centuries and still holds a sense of benevolence and spirituality.
Visitors may climb up steps to the temple and the view from the top of the rock is as inspiring as the temple’s golden interior. It is also believed to be home to prehistoric Sri Lankans as burial sites have been found with skeletons that are about 2700 years old. However, only after the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka did the caves flourish. It is traditionally thought that Valagamba of Anuradhapura had the caves converted into a temple.
The statues and art found within the cave truly highlight the artistic abilities of those living in the past. It is well persevered and a walk through the caves will prove to be both insightful and a very memorable experience.
Dambulla Rock Temple
Dambulla Rock Temple also called Rajamaha Temple of Rangiri Dambulla. The temples, which give this place celebrity,
are parts of a vast cavern in the west side of the rock, at the height
of about three hundred and fifty feet above the plain. Dambulla Viharaya contains an abundance of valuable material from the
very earliest times till the late eighteenth century, and shows the
evolution of the Singhalese Buddhist art. Such vast material in one
place, combined with a long history, is a rare find anywhere.
The Caves and Paintings of Dambulla
There are 5 caves (shrine rooms) in Dambulla temple. All of these caves arc full of statues of Buddha and various
personages of the Buddhist Order or History. There are 150 Buddha images
in these caves. Cave No. 5 (the last in order) has no historical value
as it was done in the second decade of this century. All of the other
caves contain statues and paintings representing various epochs of
Sinhalese sculpture and painting.
The early paintings of Dambulla are believed by some to belong to the eighth century A. C. But this cannot be proved at all because of over painting. Nevertheless this place is a mine of decorative designs, the patterns of which resemble those of Sigiriya.
Sri Lanka has many cave temples but the Dambulla Cave Temple (aka as Golden Rock Temple of Dambulla, Rangiri Dambulu Viharaya, Dambulu Raja Maha Viharaya) is the most venerated, celebrated and most probably the most visited. The cave complex that consists of the five viharayas has a spectacular setting on a massive rock some 1118 feat. above sea level and surrounded by the plains of Kurunegala on one side and the rock of Sigiriya and the mountain of Ritigala on the other.
The rock which soars upwards some 600 feat above the surrounding plains at one point, gape and enfolds to creates the caverns that mother the caves. Almost as if in thanksgiving to nature’s gift the cave temples celebrate – a veritable art gallery filled with thousands of images of the Lord Buddha in sculptures and paintings.
Top of the rock
Rangiri Temple
• Clothing - Loose cotton or breathable fabric clothes.
• Shoes - Good trainers/runners/ sneakers.
• Hat - Broad brimmed hat to keep the sun away.
• Sunscreen - Definitely a good idea in the tropic
Get ticket from bottom of the rock (entrance)
Because of the history, archaeological and artistic implications, the premises were declared as one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1991. The temple has been in use for over 22 centuries and still holds a sense of benevolence and spirituality.
Visitors may climb up steps to the temple and the view from the top of the rock is as inspiring as the temple’s golden interior. It is also believed to be home to prehistoric Sri Lankans as burial sites have been found with skeletons that are about 2700 years old. However, only after the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka did the caves flourish. It is traditionally thought that Valagamba of Anuradhapura had the caves converted into a temple.
The statues and art found within the cave truly highlight the artistic abilities of those living in the past. It is well persevered and a walk through the caves will prove to be both insightful and a very memorable experience.
Dambulla Rock Temple
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| Rajamaha Temple of Rangiri Dambulla |
The Caves and Paintings of Dambulla
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| Buddha statues |
The early paintings of Dambulla are believed by some to belong to the eighth century A. C. But this cannot be proved at all because of over painting. Nevertheless this place is a mine of decorative designs, the patterns of which resemble those of Sigiriya.
Sri Lanka has many cave temples but the Dambulla Cave Temple (aka as Golden Rock Temple of Dambulla, Rangiri Dambulu Viharaya, Dambulu Raja Maha Viharaya) is the most venerated, celebrated and most probably the most visited. The cave complex that consists of the five viharayas has a spectacular setting on a massive rock some 1118 feat. above sea level and surrounded by the plains of Kurunegala on one side and the rock of Sigiriya and the mountain of Ritigala on the other.
The rock which soars upwards some 600 feat above the surrounding plains at one point, gape and enfolds to creates the caverns that mother the caves. Almost as if in thanksgiving to nature’s gift the cave temples celebrate – a veritable art gallery filled with thousands of images of the Lord Buddha in sculptures and paintings.
Top sights in Dambulla
Five CavesTop of the rock
Rangiri Temple
Things to remember in Dambulla
Bring water bottle with appropriate clothing for tropical hiking.• Clothing - Loose cotton or breathable fabric clothes.
• Shoes - Good trainers/runners/ sneakers.
• Hat - Broad brimmed hat to keep the sun away.
• Sunscreen - Definitely a good idea in the tropic
Get ticket from bottom of the rock (entrance)
Places nearby
Pidurangala Rock
Sigiriya Lion Rock
Sigiriya Sanctuary
Kandalama Reservoir
References:
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/sri-lanka/dambulla/attractions/cave-temples/a/poi-sig/1397751/357450
https://www.walkerstours.com/explore-sri-lanka/attractions/unesco-world-heritage-sites/golden-temple-of-dambulla.html
https://lanka.com/about/attractions/dambulla-cave-temple
Sigiriya Sanctuary
Kandalama Reservoir
Hotels nearby
| Heritance Kandalama Amaya Lake Lake Lodge Boutique Hotel Habarana Lodge Hotel Sigiriya |
Kalundewa Retreat Popham's Arboretum Jetwing Lake Amaya Signature Diyabubula, the Barberyn Art & Jungle Hideaway |
References:
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/sri-lanka/dambulla/attractions/cave-temples/a/poi-sig/1397751/357450
https://www.walkerstours.com/explore-sri-lanka/attractions/unesco-world-heritage-sites/golden-temple-of-dambulla.html
https://lanka.com/about/attractions/dambulla-cave-temple
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