Sri Lanka’s best-preserved and biggest cave temple, the Dambulla Rock Cave Temple is not to be missed and here’s more on what to expect.
Getting There
Located in an area called the Golden Triangle, this site is within easy reach of Kandalama. Hotel options here such as the Safe & Secure certified Heritance Kandalama is an ideal choice since it’s only a 25-minute drive away. From this property, you can even see the giant golden Buddha statue outside the temple’s entrance.
A Site of Refuge
The history of the cave goes back to the 1st century BC; following his defeat in Anuradhapura, King Walagamba took refuge in one of the caves. When he regained the throne, 14 years later, he transformed the caves into rock temples and shrines and subsequent Sri Lankan kings have added elements too. In 1991, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Caves 1 & 2
At the first cave, one will find a magnificent reclining Buddha statue around 45 feet in length; here, you also get an image of God Vishnu and old paintings. In the second cave are statues of former kings including King Walagamba; other highlights include a stupa and numerous statues of Lord Buddha in various positions.
Caves 3, 4 & 5
At the third cave, there’s an impressive 30-feet-long reclining Buddha statue that’s been carved into the rock; there are many Buddha statues here too. The fourth cave features a seated Buddha statue that’s quite remarkable, while in the fifth cave, the reclining Buddha statue that’s a little over 30 feet in length is also noteworthy.
