#dambulla

[wavesofnow]

5/8/25 Dambulla Cave Temple, Sri Lanka

Spent the afternoon visiting the ancient cave temple of Dambulla, one of the most famous cultural sites in Sri Lanka. The Buddhist temple dates back to the first century B.C. There are five main chambers and all of them are filled with magnificent representations of the Buddha, Bodhisattvas, and varies deities. The walls and ceilings are also painted, so it is a 360° immersive experience – everywhere you look is amazingly detailed artwork.

Considering the age, sacredness, and cultural significance of the temple, it's amazing visitors are allowed such intimate access to the site, and even welcomed to touch some of the statues, as here, where the Budhha's feet are presented for blessings. This is a living temple, not just a tourist attraction.

[madeiranroll]

To all women who worship the divine

[badlypackedtraveller]

At the Cave Temple, Dambulla

What amazes me about these statues is trying to comprehend exactly how they were constructed. Hewn out of rock using only primitive tools they surely must have taken more than one stonemason's lifetime to complete. We have seen Bhuddha statues dating from a period BC from the south to the north of the island and have noticed that they all bear a startling resemblance to each other. How did this facial similarity happen, how did that information travel with such accuracy?

[irctcofficial]

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[ashubhika]

Discover the rich cultural heritage and natural beauty of Dambulla, Sri Lanka, through its top attractions. From ancient cave temples adorned with intricate murals to breathtaking viewpoints offering panoramic vistas, Dambulla has something for every traveler. Explore historic sites like the Dambulla Cave Temple and Sigiriya Rock Fortress, or immerse yourself in the tranquil surroundings of the Ibbankatuwa Megalithic Tombs. Whether you're a history buff, nature enthusiast, or adventure seeker, Dambulla promises an unforgettable experience.

[thedineandwine]

Dine in Nature's Embrace

Experience the enchantment of cave dining at Heritance Kandalama, where every meal becomes a journey through both culinary delights and the wonders of the natural world. 

[drytechengi]

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[roshanzion2023]

We spent two full days in this hotel and it was so relaxing

[celfrd]

Dambulla - Picture taken on the cave temple complex

[aneverydaything]

Day 2441, 27 February 2025

Dambulla Royal Cave Temple in Sri Lanka

Eventually I will be posting some photos of the magnificent interiors of this cave temple complex on Postcards from Wanderings

[brownshotels01]

Explore the Cultural Heart of Sri Lanka: Unforgettable Experiences in Dambulla

Nestled within Sri Lanka's renowned Cultural Triangle, Dambulla serves as a perfect base for travelers seeking authentic experiences that blend natural beauty, cultural immersion, and adventure. The region offers an impressive array of things to do in Dambulla Sri Lanka that cater to every type of traveler, from history enthusiasts to nature lovers and adventure seekers.

One of the most serene experiences available is drifting in a traditional canoe on Kandalama Lake, just 25 minutes from Occidental Paradise Dambulla. This peaceful journey allows visitors to explore mangroves while listening to birdsong and learning from local boatmen whose families have inhabited these villages for generations. The experience becomes even more special when these skilled craftsmen share their culture by creating handmade souvenirs from natural materials.

For those who enjoy fishing or simply want to try something new, village fishing at Thalkotte Lake provides a unique opportunity with the majestic backdrop of Pidurangala Rock and Sigiriya Rock Fortress. No prior experience is necessary as local experts guide you through this traditional practice in a setting of extraordinary natural beauty.

Adventure enthusiasts will appreciate the thrilling outdoor activities available just two hours from the hotel. These include high rope courses, toddy tapping, Tarzan swings, Burma bridges, balancing logs, tree abseiling, and zip lines—all set within lush greenery that enhances the excitement.

Remarkably, some of the most spectacular experiences are closest to the hotel. The sunset nature hike to Mount Ederagala's peak is just two minutes away and rewards hikers with panoramic views of the surrounding mountain range, including iconic landmarks like Pidurangala Rock and Sigiriya Rock Fortress, along with serene lakes and verdant forests. Timing your hike to coincide with sunset transforms this experience into a magical encounter with nature's artistry.

Cultural immersion opportunities abound with cycling tours through traditional villages just five minutes from the hotel. These guided explorations allow visitors to witness traditional farming practices, see lush paddy fields, and appreciate Sri Lanka's rich biodiversity while enjoying the simple pleasure of cycling along rustic paths.

For culinary enthusiasts, the "Dine with Sri Lankan Flavors" experience offers a deep dive into local cuisine. After exploring a traditional village and visiting a mud house, guests can participate in gathering fresh ingredients that skilled local cooks transform into authentic Sri Lankan dishes using traditional cooking methods.

These carefully curated experiences from Occidental Paradise Dambulla showcase the rich tapestry of attractions that make this region a must-visit destination in Sri Lanka.

[dknuth]

Buddhist Cave Temples - Sri Lanka

Today, we drove north out of Kandy to Sigiriya. We stopped at two Cave Temples. The first one is at Aluvihare, which is the smaller and less known of the two. It dates to the 3rd century B.C. and has had an interesting history; in the first century B.C. Buddhist monks decided to transcribe key Buddhist texts into the local Pali language. They picked the Aluvihare temple as the place to do that. 500 scholarly monks congregated at the temple to chant the texts and transcribe them onto ola leaves (a type of palm).

These are interesting books as the leaves are a few inches wide, one to two feet long, and are bound into horizontal books with strings through the leaves. The text is written by embossing it with a metal stylus into the leaf. Ink is then wiped over the leaf, only sinking into the embossed areas. This writing method was largely responsible for the current style of the letters in the Sinhalese language. Typical straight lines used in most alphabets caused the leaves to crack when they dried. So curved, circular letters were developed.

Here is a sample of some of the old books.

(I may have that image upside down. I can't tell from the script.) Here is what a leaf used to make the pages looks like.

The decorated caves mix ancient and modern styles. The carvings are ancient, but the paint is modern.

I have read of heated discussions in Tibet monasteries where Western art historians want to do a massive amount of work to restore and stabilize ancient wall paintings, while the local monks want to paint over them. It depends on how you see the paintings. The Westerners see them as historical artifacts, and the monks see them as teaching tools that don't serve their purpose if they are in too bad a condition to use for education. I believe the same thing is going on here. These caves are not national treasures and have seen a lot of changes over the centuries, so maintaining their purpose as teaching tools takes priority.

Our second stop is in a very different condition. These are world-famous caves and a World Heritage Site, so preservation is the top priority.

The caves are high on a cliff, 160 meters above the plain. From the parking lot, there are 364 steps (Really? It felt like more.)

The definition of the sacred area of the temple here is different than in some other places. Here, the entire platform in front of the temple is included, so shoes come off well before reaching the caves. The ground there might be stone paving, native rock, or packed sand. It's pretty wet here, so the ground is sandy with standing water. I brought easy-to-slip-off shoes instead of sandals. If I wear them without socks, they are too big and won't stay on. So I was walking around in sock feet.

The white buildings in front of the caves and as gatehouses were added in the 1930s.

The caves are larger here which is a help for seeing the larger reclining Buddha statues.

This is not a depiction of sleeping but of the Buddha as he is dying and passing into Nirvana.

There are many statues in the four large caves. Most of them are various depictions of the Buddha.

The walls are completely covered in paintings.

Why are there so many Buddha statues? I suspect in part because wealthy supporters donated for their construction to show their piety and get recognized.

It is considered disrespectful to take a selfie with your back to an image of the Buddha. Most sites have a sign saying this. The sign here was the best I saw.

In the courtyard outside the caves is a bodhi tree, usually made from a cutting of a tree from a cutting going back to the original tree that the Buddha sat under when he achieved enlightenment.

The view shows the mountainous terrain.

The caves are remarkable for the many statues and paintings, but adding more photos would not effectively show that, so I will end here.

[badlypackedtraveller]

Keep quiet. Dangerous Wasps.

Up at 0600, tutktuk to the park gates and then a climb to the top of the Lion Rock. From the Ticket Office to the base of the Rock is a walk of 900m through formal gardens of a French or Italianate design. However, these gardens were laid out in the 3rd century and boast fountains that operate on gravity and water pressure. The first example of ancient technology of its time that is both inexplicable and miraculous.

The stairs make use of 3rd and 5th century masonry, also incredible, and then when it gets too hazardous for 21st century tourists scary open-sided steps cling precariously to the face of the rock. At the summit there is a palace complex at least the size of a football pitch including three bathing pools filled by channelled rainwater.

An overhang contains frescoes, impossible to imagine how or why the artists chose to work there. The Mirror Wall contains numerous examples of 5th century poetry in praise of the big bosomed, wide hipped beauties featured in the frescoes.

Noisy tourists ignore the signs “Keep quiet. Dangerous wasps” at their own peril.

Later in the day we take another tuktuk back into Dambulla to visit the Cave Temple, actually one cave and five temples dating from BC. We pay 2000rupee Foreigners entrance fee to marvel at enormous reclining Buddhas and fantastic art all around hewn from the rock. Cave walls and ceilings seem to waft like fine silks. It beggars belief how this was possible with only primitive tools.

I think I might have a go at being a Buddhist. It seems like a nice life. You always get a seat on the bus and you don’t have to pay.

The PickMe App is the one to use for the lowest set fare and value for money. However, all tuktuk drivers want more business from you and promise to organise tours too. This involves giving you their WhatsApp number and promising to call them wen the need arises. Today, on the one occasion when we could have used our new best friend, he didn’t answer the phone or return messages. Other tuktuk drivers hate PickMe and today’s driver told us a tale of a colleague being beaten up by four members of the opposition – old school drivers.

Walking down from the temple we stop for our daily King Coconut. The stall holder warns us to beware of aggressive monkeys and to stay by the stall while we enjoy our drink. Sure enough monkeys soon approach and are scared away by the stall holder shining a green laser pen onto them.

At the Post Office it takes a moment for the clerk to explain that the price for postcard stamps will be the same regardless of wherever in the world they are destined – an incredibly cheap 30rupee to UK or Canada. (These postcards were dropped in a post-box on a dusty back road in Jaffna and arrived in the UK three weeks later. Ed)

[irctcofficial]

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[studiova]

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