Dambulla Temple is an ancient landmark of Sri Lanka. dambulla temples dambulla cave temple sri lanka

Hello friends. If someday, among the endless travels, new places, work, and everything else that fills our life with you, you want to find an island of calm, peace, harmony with nature, with yourself, we know what to advise you. Head to the Golden Temple of Dambulla (Dambulla Cave Temple). It also has another name: the Temple of the Sleeping Buddha. This ancient Buddhist shrine will give you what you are looking for.

Dambulla Cave Temple is located in the city of Dambulla. In the Central Province of Sri Lanka, near the city of Matale.

The Golden Temple of Dambulla is the largest cave temple in South Asia. Carved into the rock by the 1st century BC. e. Decorated with numerous Buddha statues. It is under the protection of UNESCO.

Around the temple there is a park with beautiful views. A staircase leads to the cave temple itself, along which the Sri Lankans sell chopped fresh fruit.

Ancient history

Many rulers of the island participated in the creation of this temple complex.

For a time, the territory belonged to the king of Walagambaha. He lived here for 14 years.

The temple was updated and expanded, practically, with each new ruler.

It began to be called “golden” after 73 temple Buddha statues were covered with gold in the 12th century by order of Nissankamalla.

Historians claim that from the beginning of the 18th century, craftsmen lived on the territory near the temple, who were engaged in decorating the complex and painting its walls.

So that you can imagine the grandiose scale of the work they have done, let's just say that the area of ​​frescoes, drawings with scenes from the life of the Buddha is 2300 square meters.

Now the Temple of the Sleeping Buddha is protected by UNESCO. It is a place of pilgrimage for many people who are eager to find a way to harmony, to touch history.

Temple features

• The temple complex is located on the top of the mountain.
• It consists of five main caves and the remains of 25 cells.
• In total, 153 statues of Buddha, 3 sculptures of local kings, 4 goddesses and gods have been preserved here.
• Inside the cave is decorated with Buddhist paintings.
• Each of the 5 caves has its own name.

An integral attribute of Buddhism is a pond with lotus flowers on the territory of the temple

View from the temple mount

caves

• Devarajalen Cave houses a statue of the Buddha and his disciple Ananda.
  Its height is 14 meters. Here you will see several more sculptures of Buddha and Vishnu.

• Vishnu's chapel adjoins this cave. Rituals are still regularly performed there.

• The largest cave is called Maharajalena. Here is a stupa surrounded by images of the Buddha. It is surprising that this is the only place where the statues of many gods are together.

• Another 56 statues are located in Maha Alut Viharaya. And the ceiling here is decorated with 1000 drawings depicting a meditating Buddha.

• Devana Alut Viharaya will surprise you with magnificent statues of Vishnu, Kataragama and the local deity Devata Bandara. By the way, here you will see images not only of Buddha and Hindu gods, but also statues of kings and sculptures of monks.

• The stupa is a religious building located in Pachchima Viharaya.

Monkeys roam absolutely freely around the territory of the complex, not at all embarrassed by visitors. They are another kind of “attraction”. Visitors leave food for them. Of course, they do not enter the cave temple.

Advice. According to custom, before entering the temple, you need to take off your shoes. Be careful not to leave your shoes unattended. It is better to pay 25 rupees for a person to look after her than to "gift" her to the monkeys.

Sculptures of monks walking towards Bkdda

From afar it seems that these are living people

Working hours

From 7:30 to 18:00

How much is

The entrance ticket costs 1500 Sri Lankan rupees.

This also includes a visit to the lower temple, where the Buddhism Museum is located. There you can get to know the teaching better.

How to get there

• From Sigiriya to Dambulla can be reached by bus 490/1 in about an hour.
• From Trincomalee by bus 49 in three hours.

Where to stay in Dambulla

Now a lot of housing options in Dambulla appeared on the service Airbnb. We have written how to use this service. If you do not find a free room in the hotel, then look for accommodation through this booking site.

We offer good options for hotels in Dambulla

Temple of the Sleeping Buddha on the map

Address: Kandy - Jaffna Hwy, Dambulla

Sigiriya - Lion Rock is located relatively close to Dambulla. A visit to the rock and the cave temple can be combined. But, if you are not running out of time for a trip, it is better not to do this. We were shocked by the view from the Lion Rock. I didn't want to leave at all. A day was allotted for each of these places.

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The cave temple of Dambulla was presented as a gift, as a token of gratitude, to the Order of Buddhist monks who sheltered King Valagambaha during the 14-year occupation of the capital Anuradhapura (89 - 103 BC). This is evidenced by the Brahmin inscriptions above the entrance to the caves. The temple, built in 150 m. rock, consists of 5 caves. It houses the largest collection of Buddha statues, many of which are over 2000 years old. The remains of plaster with traces of paint outside the caves indicate that the temple was a continuous gallery of paintings. The temple dates back to the 1st century. BC, but completed and restored in the XII and XVIII centuries.
Devarajalena. In a small cave 14 m., the sculpture of the reclining Buddha with the devoted disciple Ananda at his feet recreates the moment of the Buddha's entry into Nirvana. There is another Buddha statue at the feet, and 3 statues of Buddha in meditation and the god Vishnu are located near the head of the reclining Buddha. It is generally accepted that all seven sculptures, occupying almost the entire space of the cave, belong to I in. BC. and are the creation of King Walagambahu. However, art historians date them to a later period. The name of the cave is explained by the presence of the god Vishnu, under whose patronage the Dambulla temple was built. Probably, the names of the caves appeared much later, since it was not until 1726 that the chronicles first report them. The paintings on the walls and ceiling are almost impossible to distinguish due to the layer of soot from the incense and oil lamps of the faithful. The chapel of the god Vishnu, where regular services are performed, adjoins the cave from the outside.
Maharajalena. The second cave, the largest and most impressive, dates back to the 1st century. BC. At the entrance to the temple on the left side is a wooden statue of King Walagambahu, who built the temple, whose right hand is raised in a gesture of teaching. Opposite the entrance to the cave, under the arch in the form of a mythical dragon, there is a life-size central sculpture of Buddha. With his left hand, the Buddha supports the free end of the robe, the gesture of his right hand is a gesture of protection. The statue bears a strong resemblance to the collosal sculptures of the Anuradhapura period, but the facial expression is not so peaceful, which may have been the result of restoration work. Traces of gilding are visible under a fresh coat of paint. To the left of the standing Buddha, the god Maitreya, the patron of Kandy, with a lotus in his hand, and to the right, the god Nata (the future Buddha), on whose faces an expression of calmness froze. They are followed by the gods Upulvan (aka Vishnu, blue) and Saman (gold), the keeper of the footprint of the Buddha at the top of Adam's Peak. The sizes of the statues are the same, only the facial expression and color are different. Dambulla Temple is the only place in Sri Lanka where statues of Buddha, Maitreya and Nata stand side by side. Two other statues of the gods Upulvana and Samana are also unique, as they are in close proximity to the Buddha. On the right in the corner is a statue of King Kirti Sri Nissankamalla, in many respects similar to the statue of King Walagambahu.
The stupa in the cave is surrounded by 11 sculptures of Buddha in meditation. Above the heads of two of them is the serpent king Muchalinda, who provided shelter to the Buddha in the sixth week after his epiphany. Statues of Buddha and gods are located along the walls and create an atmosphere of calm and tranquility. 16 standing Buddha statues and 40 in meditation are made of brick, wood and granite and covered with a layer of plaster and paint. Among the numerous images of the Buddha, the visitor's gaze cannot but stop at the frescoes that adorn the walls and ceiling. On the left side of the ceiling, the main moments of the life of the Buddha are displayed: his birth, renunciation of royal life, enlightenment, seven weeks after enlightenment, reading the first sermon, going into the bliss of Nirvana...
On the right hand, behind the Buddha statues in the corner closer to the ceiling, some important events from the history of Buddhism and the history of the country: King Devanampiyatissa meets Saint Mahinda, who brought the teachings of the Buddha and relics to Sri Lanka; Mahinda's first sermon; construction of the first Buddhist monastery in Mihintal; planting a seedling of the tree of knowledge in Anuradhapura; King Devanampiyatissa marks the border of Anuradhapura with a plow, giving the city the status of a Buddhist center ... The history of the country is reflected in the main points: the landing of Vijay (the founder of the Sinhalese nation) on the island, the battle of kings Dutugemunu and Eral on elephants ... The fact that in many places there are paintings applied to existing ones, indicates that the temple was painted over a long period of time, until the 18th century.
Maha Alut Viharaya. The temple was built relatively recently in the 18th century by King Kirti Sri Raja Singhe, the last ruler of Kandy, whose statue is located here. The cave, 27 x 10 m in size, has two entrances in the form of arches, decorated with the Makar Torana dragon. 56 statues, including a sleeping 9-meter Buddha, 13 Buddhas in the lotus position and 42 standing, surround the sculpture of Buddha in meditation in the center of the hall. The ceiling is decorated with images of 1000 Buddhas in meditation.
Pachchima Viharaya. Built in the 1st c. BC. King Walagambahu. A small 16 x 8 x 8 m, but interesting cave, in the center of which is a small stupa, recently robbed by treasure seekers. It is believed that the jewels of the king's wife Valagambahu were immured in the mortar.
Devana Alut Viharaya. The relatively new cave was used as a warehouse before being converted into a temple. When and by whom it was built is unknown. There are 11 Buddha statues in the cave, 5 statues each near the head and feet of the sleeping Buddha, as well as statues of the gods Vishnu, Kataragama and the local god Devata Bandara. Judging by the inscriptions on the wall, the temple was renovated in 1915.

The Dambula Cave Temple, also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla, located in the central part of the island, 148 km east of Colombo and 72 km north of Kandy, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991. This still functioning monastery attracts many pilgrims from different countries.

It is the largest and best preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. It rises 160 m above the surrounding plain. There are more than 80 caves in the vicinity, but 5 of them, which contain statues and paintings, attract the most tourists. These paintings and sculptures are related to the Buddha and his life.

The prehistoric population of the island lived in these caves even before the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. This is evidenced by burials with human skeletons, which are more than 2700 years old.

The cave temple dates back to the 1st century BC. It consists of five caves under a huge overhanging rock, with drip lines carved to keep the interior dry. In 1938 the complex was decorated with arched colonnades and pediments. Inside the cave, the ceilings are painted with intricate patterns of religious images, following the contours of the rock. There are images of Buddha and Bodhisattvas, as well as various gods and goddesses.

The cave monastery of Dambula is still functioning and remains the best preserved ancient building in Sri Lanka.

There is a quiet and cozy resort town of Dambulla in Sri Lanka - you can relax there, away from the ubiquitous modern fuss. The main attraction of this resort is the Dambulla temple - it is located on the southern outskirts of the city, on a mountain 350 m high above sea level.

To make the inspection of the temple an interesting event, and not just walking through the grottoes among the numerous sculptures, you will need some knowledge and the creation of a certain mood. This will help you better feel the atmosphere of an unusual place in Sri Lanka and will greatly enhance the impression of everything you see.

What is the Dambulla Temple Complex

To begin with, it is worthwhile to understand that, contrary to popular belief, this famous landmark is nothing more than two completely different temples. The first, the Golden Temple of Dambulla, is a relatively new building, a little over 250 years old. The second, the Cave Temple, is an ancient monastic complex, the age of which scientists still cannot determine exactly, naming only an approximate figure: 22 centuries.

These temples in Sri Lanka were combined into one complex, which was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Golden Temple is located under the mountain, next to the road, car parking and bus stop. This building houses various administration offices and the Buddhist Museum. The exposition of the museum consists mainly of gifts, in different periods presented to the temple, photographs of the leaders of the monastery and information about them, as well as sculptures of the Buddha and paintings with the history of his life.

To get into Dambulla cave temple you need to climb the stairs. This temple consists of 5 main caves open to tourists for inspection, as well as a large number of grottoes that are of no interest due to the lack of murals, sculptures and other valuables in them. The steps lead to a platform from which a snow-white colonnade under a sheer wall opens up - behind it are the temple caves:

• Virgin Raja Vihariya (Temple of the King of the Gods).
• Maha Raja Vihariya (temple of the Great King).
• Maha Alut Viharaya (Great New Temple).
• Pachchima Viharaya (Western temple).

And now a little information about each of them.

Virgin Raja Vihariya

The first thing that a person who enters this cave sees is a huge 14-meter sculpture of a reclining Buddha, which occupies most of the space. It is carved from natural rock, and at the back along its entire length, it remained connected to the rock.

There are 5 more statues in this cave. In its northern part, a small figure of the god Vishnu is installed, and in the southern part, the figure of Ananda (Buddha's disciple).

There is not enough space in this shrine. Pilgrims and tourists who want to take a good look at everything are forced to crowd strongly.

Pilgrims constantly gather in Deva Raja Vihariya, attendants bring offerings to the Buddha - food. Candles and incense are always burning here, because of which the walls are heavily smoked and the painting is almost indistinguishable. Nevertheless, on the left side of the Buddha, although badly, separate episodes from his life are visible.

Maha Raja Vihariya

This most spacious, royal cave reaches a length of 52.5 m, a width of 23 m, while the height, starting from 6.4 m, gradually decreases and in the depths of the cave its vault turns into an arch.

At the entrance, there are stone statues-gatekeepers on both sides.

In total, 40 statues of Buddha in meditation and 10 statues of Buddha standing are installed in this sanctuary. The main sculptures of the cave are a statue of Buddha standing under an arch that has the shape of a dragon Toran. The figure of Buddha is placed on a round pedestal made in the form of a lotus flower.

On the right side of the entrance, on a round wide pedestal, stupas are installed, the height of which is 5.5 m. Around this pedestal there are 4 figures of Buddha sitting on the rings of a cobra.

All the walls and vaults of the cave are painted with images of scenes from the life of the Buddha, and bright, mostly yellow paints were used for this.

Only in Maha Raja Vihariya can one observe a real natural miracle: water collects and flows along the walls, not reacting to any laws of nature. Surprisingly, it tends to go up the walls, and from there it drips into a bowl of gold - it is around this bowl that the figures of the Buddha, who is in a state of deepest meditation, stand!

For scientists who study the history of religion, this cave of Sri Lanka is also very interesting. After all, indoors you can see sculptures of the Buddha and nearby figures of ancient deities revered by people even before the advent of Buddhism.

Maha Alut Viharaya

This cave was converted into a sanctuary in the 18th century under the rule of Kirti Sri Rajasinha, the last king of Kandy. At the entrance to the cave there is a statue of this king - the last ruler who contributes significant amounts to the maintenance of the Cave Temple.

All vaults of the sanctuary (length 27.5 m, width 25 m, height 11 m) are covered with bright frescoes - there are about 1000 Buddha images looking at visitors from a height. There are also many sculptural images of the Buddha standing and sitting in the lotus position - 55 pieces. And in the very center there is a huge 9-meter statue of Buddha sleeping on a bed - it is very similar to the statue from the cave of Deva Raja Vihariya. Because of so many Buddhas painted in bright yellow, a person has a strange feeling of moving into some other reality.

Pachchima Viharaya

The Pachchima Viharaya cave of the Dambulla temple in Sri Lanka is the most modest when compared to the rest. Its length is 16.5 m, its width is 8 m, and the vault, which drops sharply in the depths of the cave, reaches a height of 8 m.

This shrine houses 10 Buddha sculptures. The main figure, depicting the Buddha in a pose of meditation and adorned with a dragon, is carved from the same rock that makes up the cave. All other statues are arranged in a row on both sides of the main image.

In the center of the cave is the Soma Chaitya stupa, which was once used as a safe for storing jewelry.

Until 1915, in Sri Lanka, this cave was used as a warehouse, but after restoration, it was returned to its sacred purpose. In this brightest, most colorful temple, 11 Buddha statues are installed, there are also other figures.

Opening hours, ticket prices

Cash desks, located to the right of the Golden Temple, decorated with a majestic Buddha statue, open from 7:30 to 18:00, there is a break from 12:30 to 13:00. If you immediately go up to the Cave Temple, then you will need to go back to buy a ticket.

Parking is located here, it is impossible not to notice - it is completely free, although enterprising Sri Lankans can request 50-100 rupees. Sometimes it is worth paying them, for example, for the safety of helmets that remain on the handlebars of bikes or motorcycles.

Ticket to stay in the temple complex Dambulla in Sri Lanka costs 1500 rupees, that is, about $10-11.

What is important for tourists to know

1. It is advisable to come to inspect the temple complex in the morning, because later, in the heat, it will be harder to climb to the caves. In the rain, you need to be careful, because the steps that lead to the caves will be slippery.
2. When visiting the temples of Sri Lanka, one should not forget about observing some local traditions. In many ways, this applies to clothing - it should cover the shoulders and knees.
3. You must take off your shoes before entering the temples. At the entrance, before ticket control, there is a shoe storage room (the service costs 25 rupees), although shoes can be left just like that, but then no one will be responsible for their safety. By the way, the floor in the caves is by no means pleasant, and in order not to walk barefoot, you can take socks with you.
4. Dambulla cave temple in Sri Lanka and photos on its territory is a special issue. You can’t take pictures with your back to the Buddha, as this is considered a huge disrespect, especially when it comes to active temples.

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How to get to the temple complex

The city of Dambulla is located at the intersection of the main highways of the island, so you can stop by the Cave Temple during any trip in Sri Lanka. You can get to this city by bus, taxi or by rented car.

Dambulla is connected by bus routes with Colombo and with all the cities included in the "Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka" (Kandy, Sigiriya, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa). You do not need to buy a ticket in advance, because buses run frequently - but only during the day, there are no flights at night. The city station, where buses arrive and leave, is located near the Dambulla Cave Temple: it takes 20 minutes to walk, but you can take a tuk-tuk for 100 rupees. There is a vehicle passing by the temple, so you can get off right there.

So, how to get to the Golden and Cave Temple in the city of Dambulla.

From Colombo

By car you need to go along the highway A1 Colombo - Kandy to the city of Varakapola, and then move to the highway A6 Ambepussa - Trincomalee and move along it to Dambulla. To get to the Cave Temple, already in the city you need to turn onto the A9 Kandy-Jaffna highway and drive along it for 2 km. Total length roads - 160 km, travel time is about 4 hours.

Buses from Colombo to Dambulla depart from the Central Bus Station. Flights that go towards Trincomalee, Jaffna and Anuradhapura are suitable, and you need to choose a bus whose number starts at 15. But before boarding, you need to clarify whether this transport passes through Dambulla.

The journey takes 5 hours. Tickets for some buses can be booked online at www.busbooking.lk, here you can also see the schedule and ticket prices.

There is another option - to go to Kandy, and from there get to Dambulla. detailed information how to get to Kandy and what you can see there is presented in.

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Travel by car will take about 2 hours. Following 75 km along the A9 Kandy - Jaffna highway in a northerly direction, you can get directly to the Golden Temple, which is to the left of the road.

Bus ride is the cheapest way to get to the temples of Dambulla - it will cost 70 rupees (0.5 $). You can use any flight that follows in the direction of Jaffna, Dambulla, Trincomalee, Khabarana, Anuradhapura.

Another option to get from Kandy to Dambulla– negotiate with a local tuk-tuk driver. Such a trip will take an average of 2 hours, and its cost will be from 3,000 rupees ($ 20) and more.

From Weligama, Galle, Matara, Hikkaduwa

Journeys from the southwest and south of Sri Lanka will be more challenging and it makes sense to consider seeing a few sights. The fastest way to get to Dambulla is via Colombo. Since the eastern part of Sri Lanka does not have a very well developed road network, in addition, the roads go through the mountains, the road will take a lot of time.

By car you need to move along the E01 highway, turning into E02, to Colombo, then move to the A1 highway, and drive as described in the “From Colombo” paragraph. The trip to Colombo will last approximately 1 hour. It should be noted that the highways E01 and E02 are paid - 600 rupees ($ 4).

The best way to get to the Dambulla temple is to take an express flight to Maharagama (this is a suburb of Colombo). This trip will cost 500 rupees ($3.5) and take 1.5 hours. After that, you need to take bus 138 to Colombo Central Bus Station - ticket price is 30 rupees ($ 0.25), travel time is about half an hour. How to go further, read the recommendations from the paragraph "From Colombo".

Prices on the page are for March 2018.

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The address: Sri Lanka
Foundation date: 1st century BC e.
Coordinates: 7°51"26.0"N 80°38"38.6"E

Content:

The small resort town of Dambulla in Sri Lanka is famous all over the world for its unique and inimitable temples and caves, where you can still see ancient statues of Buddha and Vishnu.

View of Dambulla Temple

Many travelers who have managed to visit different parts of the world will probably agree with the opinion that it is the local atmosphere that helps to achieve harmony with their inner world, get rid of stress and enjoy the world of beauty. The golden temple of Dambulla, whose area is neither more nor less than 20 hectares, is one of the most famous Buddhist temples in South Asia. It is located almost in the middle of a small island, 12 km from the equally famous archaeological site of Asia - Sigiriya. The Dambulla Temple is built on top of the mountain of the same name, which is just over 350 meters above sea level. The lowland is a picturesque tropical forest, once in which every traveler admires the beauty created by nature itself.

The rock monastery, which some guides call only a cave temple complex, has been a sacred place for Buddhist pilgrims from all over our vast planet for more than 22 centuries. The golden temple of Dambulla is a sanctuary, consisting of 5 large (main) and more than 70 small caves, interconnected by corridors of the same various sizes. And yet, the Dambulla temple, first of all, is famous all over the world not for the number of caves, but for the largest collection of Buddha statues made by ancient masters in lying, sitting and standing positions. Some of these sculptures reach a height of more than 15 meters. In fairness, it is worth noting that the Golden Temple also houses the ancient statues of the three kings who once ruled in Sri Lanka, the statues of gods and goddesses worshiped by ancient people, and who are still honored by Buddhists.

Entrance to the temple

Dambulla Golden Temple: History

According to historical documents discovered by scientists at this site, the first caves of the Dambulla temple were founded as early as the 1st century BC. The rock cave once belonged to King Valagambaha, who during his exile from Anuradhapura spent more than 14 years in it. After regaining the throne, the monarch erected the first cave temple and, as a sign of great gratitude and appreciation to the monks who helped the king survive in difficult times for him, gave it to the Buddhist Order. By the way, this historical fact is immortalized in the Brahmin inscriptions located directly above the entrance to Dambulla.

It was from that time that the Golden Temple of Dambulla became a sacred place for Buddhist pilgrims. Archaeologists who worked at the holy place also managed to find out that the man-made cave temple complex was repeatedly restored and updated: restoration work was carried out with almost every new ruler of the island of Sri Lanka. So, for example, in the XII century, during the reign of King Nissankamalla, 73 of the 153 Buddha statues were covered with the purest gold and, as you might guess, since then the Dambulla cave complex has been called the "Golden Temple".

Stupa with Buddha statues in Maha Raja Viharaya Cave

In the XVIII century, changes were also made, both in the architecture of the temple complex and in the wall painting. According to historians, around early XVIII centuries, a whole dynasty of famous artists lived on the territory adjacent to the temple, who put their hand to the temple painting of Dambulla. Probably many travelers who want to get to know new culture, it will be interesting to know that the area of ​​frescoes and Buddhist rock paintings, which depict almost the entire life of the Buddha (birth, enlightenment, seven weeks after enlightenment, renunciation of a rich life, preaching), is 2,300 square meters. This is a one-of-a-kind rock art gallery that certainly has a cultural and historical meaning not only for the Buddhist religion, but for all mankind.

Dambulla Golden Temple: 5 caves

As mentioned above, the Golden Temple of Dambulla consists of five caves, each of them has its own name and its own distinctive features: Devarajalena, Maharajalena, Maha Alut Viharaya, Pachchima Viharaya, Devana Alut Viharaya, it is perhaps worth dwelling on each of them in more detail.

Once in the first of the five caves of the Devarajalene temple, the traveler can see a reclining 14-meter statue of the Buddha, at the feet of which the devoted disciple Ananda sits, and the god Vishnu himself sits at the head. By the way, a chapel dedicated to the god Vishnu adjoins the entrance to this cave; rituals are still held in it with enviable regularity. In addition to these sculptures, 4 more Buddha statues are located in different parts of the cave. According to archaeologists, they were all created in the 1st century BC during the reign of King Valagambah. If the sculptures have survived to this day in a fairly decent form, then this cannot be said about the rock paintings and frescoes. Here they are quite poorly visible due to the thick layer of soot. According to the stories of the guides, the soot on the walls and ceiling was formed as a result of the constant burning of lamps and the fumigation of the cave with incense.

The second cave in which the wandering traveler finds himself after visiting Devarajalena is called Maharajalena. The traveler is “greeted” by a wooden statue of King Valagambach, whose hand is raised in a moralizing gesture. This is the most impressive cave in the entire man-made temple complex of Dambulla..

Reclining Buddha

She, like Devarajalena, dates back to the 1st century BC. It is surprising that here, in close proximity to the Buddha sculpture, there are statues of Maitreya and Nata, Upulvana and Samana, which, in fact, makes this temple the only place on the entire territory of Sri Lanka in which the gods stand next to each other. In total, there are more than 10 standing Buddha statues in the Maharajalen cave and about 40 more in meditation. They are made not only of granite, but also of wood, and even of brick. In Maharajalen, a spring is considered a miracle, the water from which flows along the walls, among the carved patterns, not down, but up. Once at the highest point, it falls down, where a golden bowl is located, around which Buddha statues sit in a state of deep meditation.

Pachchima Waharaya is a relatively small cave of the Golden Temple of Dambulla. In its center stands a stupa, in which, according to legend, the treasures of the wife of the founder of the temple were kept. Surprisingly, according to the stories of the guides, it was recently plundered by treasure seekers, and nothing is known about the whereabouts of sacred objects.

Maha Alut Viharaya is a comparatively "young" cave. The date of its construction is considered to be the 18th century, the time when the last of the rulers of Kandy ruled. The cave is filled like the others large quantity Buddha statues (sleeping, meditating, standing). The ceiling is striking in its variety of images of the deity. In official documents, you can find information that the ceiling of the Maha Alut Viharaya cave is decorated with more than 1,000 paintings of the meditating Buddha.

Devana Alut Viharaya is an even "younger" cave, which until recently (beginning of the 20th century) served as a warehouse. The exact date of its reconstruction is unknown. However, some wall records indicate that restoration work was carried out in this cave in 1915. In addition to 11 Buddha statues, there are sculptures of the god Vishnu in various poses.

Dambulla Golden Temple: Our Days

Hundreds of thousands of tourists visit Dambulla Golden Temple every year. The UNESCO organization has listed the cave temple complex in the World Heritage List, therefore, like numerous other historical and architectural monuments important for mankind, it is under constant protection. “This is a truly amazing place, once in which, all worldly thoughts remain “beyond the threshold”. The midday heat is quickly replaced by cave coolness, which simply disposes to the contemplation of numerous paintings and frescoes, statues of Buddha and gods, ”one of the travelers who visited the golden temple of Dambulla in Sri Lanka shares his impressions. It would also not be superfluous to add that in order to visit the temple, each tourist needs to purchase entrance tickets, the cost of which is relatively low: $10 for children and $15 for adults.