The History and Civilization of Sri Lanka
ā Dambulla Cave Temple Dambulla Cave Temple, established in the 1st century BCE, is one of the largest and best-preserved temples in Sri Lanka, housing 157 exquisite statues and 2100 square meters of murals, boasting a long history and immense religious and artistic value. š« Admission: 2000 LKR ā° Opening Hours: 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM š Address: Dambulla Cave Temple, Dambulla ā Main Attractions š Cave 1 "Deva Raja Viharaya": Inside, there is a 14-meter-long reclining Buddha carved from a single rock. At the foot of the reclining Buddha are statues of Ananda Thera and other seated Buddhas, with a statue of Vishnu above the Buddha's head. š Cave 2 "Maharaja Viharaya": This is the largest of the five caves, containing sixteen standing Buddha statues, forty seated Buddha statues, two Hindu gods, two kings' statues, and a dagoba (Buddhist stupa) inside the cave. š Cave 3 "Mahavihara": In addition to fifty Buddha statues, there is also a statue of King Kirti Sri Rajasingha. The murals and paintings on the cave ceiling are typical of 18th-century Sri Lankan painting style. ā ļø TIPS āļø Buy tickets before going up to the temple complex. The ticket office is located next to the golden temple at the main entrance at the base of the hill; otherwise, you will have to come back down to buy tickets. āļø Shoes must be removed to enter the temple. There is a fee for storing shoes, so you might want to bring shoe covers to keep them safe in your backpack š. āļø The ground can be hot and rough, so it is recommended to wear socks. āļø Be mindful of the dress code when entering the temple; knees and shoulders need to be covered. āļø Photography is allowed inside the caves, but do not take photos with your back to the Buddha statues š . #Dambulla# Dambulla Cave Temple#trip diary#travel guide#SriLanka #SriLankaTravel #SriLankaTourism
