Dambulla Rock Temple, A spiritual sanctuary with timeless art

Kandy Jaffna Highway, Dambulla, Sri Lanka

There were mischievous monkeys along the way

4.2

Introduction

Dambulla Cave Temple is located in the central part of Sri Lanka, 149 kilometers northeast of Colombo. It was built in the 1st century BC. The temple is situated on the slope of a rocky mountain and is a pilgrimage site in Sri Lanka. It is one of the largest and most well-preserved cave temples, consisting of five sanctuaries. The wall paintings in Dambulla Cave Temple cover an area of 2,100 square meters, with 156 statues and various stone and Buddha carvings scattered throughout the temple. The first cave, known as the "Cave of the Great Kings," houses a 14-meter reclining Buddha, with the disciple Ananda standing at his feet. Above the Buddha's head is a statue of Vishnu. The second cave, also known as the "Great New Temple," is the largest one, with 16 standing Buddha statues, 40 sitting Buddha statues, and statues of the Indian gods Vishnu and Saman, as well as two kings. Inside the cave, there is a prominent stupa and a constantly dripping water flow. The third cave, called the "Great New Temple," features wall paintings and ceiling paintings in the typical 17th-century Sri Lankan style, as well as a statue of King Kirti Sri Rajainha, who revitalized Buddhism in the 17th century. The fourth cave is smaller, with only a sitting Buddha statue. The fifth cave, formerly used as a storeroom, houses a giant reclining Buddha statue surrounded by many Indian gods. The fourth and fifth caves are smaller in scale and historical significance compared to the first three caves. The wall paintings and statues in all the caves showcase the charm of Buddhist art and are beloved by tourists and pilgrims.