Cave Buddhist temple of Dambulla (Sri Lanka) - Earth before the flood: disappeared continents and civilizations. Buddhist cave temple complex Dambulla (Dambulla cave temple) Colombo train Dambulla

Address: Sri Lanka
Date of foundation: 1st century BC e.
Coordinates: 7°51"26.0"N 80°38"38.6"E

Content:

Small resort town ok Dambulla in Sri Lanka is famous throughout the world for its unique and inimitable temples and caves, in which ancient statues of Buddha and Vishnu can still be seen today.

View of Dambulla Temple

Many travelers who have visited various parts of the world will probably agree with the opinion that it is the local atmosphere that helps you achieve harmony with your inner world, get rid of stress and enjoy the world of beauty. The Dambulla Golden Temple, which covers an area of no less than 20 hectares, is one of the most famous Buddhist temples in South Asia. It is located almost in the middle small island, 12 km from the no less famous archaeological site of Asia - Sigiriya. Dambulla Temple is built on the top of the mountain of the same name, whose height is just over 350 meters above sea level. The lowland is a picturesque a tropical forest, where every traveler admires the beauty created by nature itself.

Rock monastery, which some guides call nothing more than a cave monastery temple complex, for more than 22 centuries has been sacred place for Buddhist pilgrims from all corners of our vast planet. The Golden Temple of Dambulla is a sanctuary consisting of 5 large (main) and more than 70 small caves, connected by corridors of equally varied sizes. And yet, the Dambulla Temple, first of all, is famous throughout 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. To be fair, it is worth noting that the Golden Temple also houses ancient statues of the three kings who once ruled Sri Lanka, statues of gods and goddesses who were worshiped by ancient people and who are still revered by Buddhists.

Entrance to the temple

Golden Temple of Dambulla: history

According to historical documents discovered by scientists at this site, the first caves of the Dambulla Temple were founded in the 1st century BC. The rock cave once belonged to King Valagambaha, who spent more than 14 years in it during his exile from Anuradhapura. After returning to the throne, the monarch built the first cave temple and, as a sign of great gratitude and appreciation to the monks who helped the king survive in difficult times, he donated it to the Buddhist Order. By the way, this historical fact is immortalized in Brahman 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 working at the holy site also managed to find out that the man-made cave temple complex was repeatedly restored and updated: restoration work was carried out under almost every new ruler of the island of Sri Lanka. For example, in the 12th century, during the reign of King Nissankamalla, 73 out of 153 Buddha statues were covered with pure gold and, as you might guess, since then the Dambulla cave complex began to be called the “Golden Temple”.

Stupa with Buddha statues in the Maha Raja Viharaya cave

In the 18th century, changes were also made both to the architecture of the temple complex and to the wall paintings. According to historians, around the beginning of the 18th century, a whole dynasty of famous artists lived in the territory adjacent to the temple, who had a hand in the Dambulla temple painting. Probably, many travelers who want to get to know each other better 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, insight, seven weeks after insight, renunciation of a rich life, reading a sermon), is 2,300 square meters. This is a unique gallery of rock paintings, which, of course, has cultural and historical significance not only for the Buddhist religion, but also for all humanity.

Golden Temple of Dambulla: 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, each of them is perhaps worth dwelling on a little more details.

Once in the first of the five caves of the Devarajalene Temple, the traveler can see a reclining 14-meter statue of Buddha, at whose feet the devoted disciple Ananda sits, and at the head of which sits the god Vishnu himself. By the way, adjacent to the entrance to this cave is a chapel dedicated to the god Vishnu; rituals are still held there with enviable regularity. In addition to these sculptures, there are 4 more Buddha statues in different parts of the cave. According to archaeologists, all of them were created in the 1st century BC during the reign of King Valagambakh. If the sculptures have survived to this day in fairly decent form, the same cannot be said about rock paintings and frescoes. Here they are quite poorly visible due to the thick layer of soot. According to 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 “met” by a wooden statue of King Valagambakh, 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. What is surprising is that here, in close proximity to the Buddha sculpture, there are statues of Maitreya and Nata, Upulvana and Samana, which, in fact, makes this a temple the only place throughout the island of Sri Lanka, in which the gods stand next to each other. In total there are more than 10 in the Maharajalen cave standing statues Buddhas and about 40 others in meditation. They are made not only of granite, but also of wood, and even brick. In Maharajalen, a spring is considered a miracle, the water from which flows along the walls, among carved patterns, not downwards, but upwards. 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 Vaharaya is a relatively small cave of the Golden Temple of Dambulla. In its center there is 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, quite recently it was plundered by treasure hunters, and nothing is now known about the whereabouts of the sacred objects.

Maha Alut Viharaya is a relatively “young” cave. The date of its construction is considered to be the 18th century, the time when the last of the rulers of Kandy reigned. The cave, like the others, is filled with a large number of Buddha statues (sleeping, meditating, standing). The ceiling amazes with 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.

Dewana Alut Viharaya is an even “younger” cave, which until recently (early 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.

Golden Temple of Dambulla: today

The Golden Temple of Dambulla is visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists every year. The UNESCO organization included the cave-temple complex in the list World Heritage Therefore, it, like numerous other historical and architectural monuments important to humanity, is under constant protection. “This is a truly amazing place, once in which all worldly thoughts remain “beyond the threshold.” The midday heat quickly gives way to cave coolness, which simply invites 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 amiss to add that to visit the temple, each tourist needs to purchase entrance tickets, the cost of which is relatively low: 10 dollars for children and 15 for adults.

The city of Dambulla is famous for the 2000-year-old Golden Cave Temple, for which most tourists come to Dambulla. From this article you will learn what is worth seeing in Dambulla and how you can get to Dambulla from other cities in Sri Lanka. For those who would like to stay in Dambulla - 5 best hotels, from a luxurious 5* to a budget option.

From this article you will learn:

1 | Why is it worth coming to Dambulla?

visit the largest cave temple in South Asia with a 2000-year history - the Golden Cave Temple of Dambulla,
get acquainted with examples of Sri Lankan visual arts from ancient times to the present day,
stroll through the largest wholesale market in Sri Lanka,
explore nearby attractions: the famous Sigiriya rock fortress and the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka - Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura,
visit national park Minneriya to see elephants and other wild animals of Sri Lanka in their natural environment a habitat.

In addition, the city of Dambulla is very well located - in the center of the cultural triangle and from it it is convenient to get to other historical attractions of Sri Lanka: Sigiriya, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Kandy.

2 | What to see in Dambulla

Most tourists limit themselves to the first item on the list, but if you wish, you can visit everything interesting places Dambulli:

Golden Dagobah near giant statue Buddha and Goddess Pattini Temple

Golden Cave Temple of Dambulla (Dambulla Cave Temples)- one of the main attractions and Buddhist shrines of Sri Lanka:
- worth a visit for the ancient Buddha statues and 2,000-year-old wall paintings;
- Opening hours: from 7:00 to 18:00;
- price: 1500 rupees (~ 10$),
- more details - Golden Cave Temple of Dambulla (Sri Lanka): a detailed guide to the temple with photos.
Golden temple Buddhist Museum at the base of a 30-meter "golden" Buddha statue
- it’s worth a visit to see examples of Buddhist art from Sri Lanka and other Asian countries, read the biography of Buddha through colorful paintings, study a copy of the golden stupa with the sacred tooth of Buddha (the original is kept in Kandy and only rare lucky people get the chance to see it);
- opening hours: from 07:30 to 18:00;
- price: visiting the museum is included in the price of the ticket to the Dambulla Cave Temple.
- GPS coordinates of the museum: 7.855484, 80.651462.
Goddess Pattini Temple (Sath Paththini Devalaya) with a golden dagoba in front of the temple:
- It’s worth looking into this small temple to see what the patron goddess of Sri Lanka, Goddess Pattini, looks like, and walk around the dagoba clockwise to improve your karma.
- opening hours: from 07:30 to 18:00, Dagoba - around the clock;
- price: free.
- GPS coordinates of the temple: 7.855643, 80.652207.
Dambulla Museum
- Worth a visit to see examples of Sri Lankan fine art from ancient times to the present day;
- opening hours: from 07:30 to 16:30;
- price: 250 rupees (~$1.6).
- GPS coordinates of the museum: 7.853966, 80.652496.
Wholesale Farmers Market (Dambulla Produce Market):
- even if you don't intend to buy a van of bananas, a walk through the market will give you an idea of the wide range of vegetables and fruits that are grown in Sri Lanka;
- opening hours: from 21 pm to 3 am;
- price: free
- GPS coordinates of the market: 7.865997, 80.651546

A couple of photos from the Golden Temple Buddhist Museum:

Buddha statue from North Korea

Buddha statue from Thailand

3 | How to get to Dambulla

Dambulla can be easily reached by bus or car, as two major road arteries of Sri Lanka pass through the city: Kandy - Anuradhapura and Colombo - Trincomalee. The nearest railway station is 23 km north of Dambulla - in Habaran.

How to get to Dambulla from Colombo Airport (~ 131 km)

comfortable 35-minute flight to Sigiriya from Colombo Bandaranaike Airport will cost ~$264, and from Sigiriya to Dambulla is less than 20 km and can easily be covered by taxi (you can find air tickets Colombo - Sigiriya on the Aviasales website);
transfer by car (taxi)- it’s about 3 hours on the road and ~$80 per car (you can find and book a transfer from Colombo airport on the website or);
rented car- you can easily and quickly book a car in Sri Lanka, so you can get it right at the airport on the website.
To use a bus or train, first you need to get from the airport to the city of Colombo.

How to get to Dambulla from Colombo city (~ 160 km)

by bus with air conditioning ~6$, about 4 hours travel;
by train No. 6011 at 06:05 from Colombo Central Station to Batticaloa: ~$4 and about 5 hours on the road (you need to get off at the Habarana stop, from where you can travel 23 km to Dambulla by tuk-tuk for ~$10);
by taxi, which can be ordered through the website or found on site.

Regular regular bus for budget travel in Sri Lanka

How to get to Dambulla from Kandy (~72 km)

on any of buses which are sent from bus station to Kandy and proceed towards Anuradhapura (and Dambulla):
- ticket price from $0.5,
- the journey will take at least 3 hours.
Taxi You can pick it up on the spot or order it on the website.
- cost from $50 (price depends on your bargaining skills, technical condition and car size),
- the journey will take about 2 hours (on the way I recommend stopping in a spice garden on the outskirts of Kandy and near the most beautiful Hindu temple in Sri Lanka - Sri Muthumariamman Kovil Temple in Matale).

How to get to Dambulla from Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura and Sigiriya

On scheduled flights buses(ticket price from $0.3). Just keep in mind that most buses operate only during daylight hours. Check the bus schedule on site (at the bus station or at your hotel).
From Dambulla to Sigiriya (less than 20 km) you can easily travel by tuk-tuk.
For longer distances, to Polonnaruwa (70 km) and Anuradhapura (63 km), it is worth taking a taxi.

Planning to visit Sigiriya? Information that may be useful to you -.

4 | Dambulla on the map of Sri Lanka

5 | The best hotels in Dambulla are:

To save you time searching for a hotel, the 5 best hotels in Dambulla have been selected for this article, from the most luxurious and impressive ($$$$), to the budget and, at the same time, cozy option ($).

Heritance Kandalama 5*, $$$$

this is not just the best hotel in Dambulla, it is one of the best hotels in Sri Lanka,
located on the shore of a picturesque lake surrounded by lush tropical vegetation,
Each room offers a magnificent view of the surrounding area,
the hotel has three incredibly beautiful swimming pools,
At breakfast and dinner, hotel guests can enjoy a wide selection of delicious dishes.

Hotel room Heritance Kandalama 5* can be booked on booking.com or agoda.com.

Jetwing Lake 5*, $$$

beautiful area with a large swimming pool,
a quiet, peaceful place for a relaxing holiday,
nice rooms with huge balconies and gorgeous views of the surrounding area,
delicious breakfasts, availability of food and drink delivery service to rooms,

Hotel room Jetwing Lake 5* can be booked on booking.com or agoda.com.

Rangiri Dambulla Resort 4*, $$

unusual format of rooms in the form of stylized tents with air conditioning and beautiful furniture,
a beautiful swimming pool for relaxing after sightseeing,
quiet and cozy place, away from noisy roads.

Hotel room Rangiri Dambulla Resort 4* can be booked on

The Dambulla Cave Temple, which is mentioned in the Mahavamsa (the main historical chronicle of Sri Lanka written in Pali) as Jumbukola Vihara (Dambulla Cave Temple), is located about 75 km northwest of (Kandy ), the last capital of the Sinhalese kings, which can be reached along the main road to Anuradhupura.

Dambulla Cave Temple

The temples that brought fame to this place are part of a spacious cave on the western slope of the cliff, located at an altitude of about 107 meters above the plain. It is now not possible to establish whether the caves in which the temples are located are completely natural, or only partly natural, or partly natural and partly artificial. There is a high probability that they were basically created by the forces of nature, and man only deepened them a little. Traditionally it is believed that some of the caves were excavated under King Vattagamani Abhaya in the first century BC. It can be assumed that the king and his descendants, as a donation to this temple, expanded and leveled the caves, and also cut overflows (katarama) along the rock to protect the caves from rainwater.

Caves and frescoes of Dambulla (general information)

Dambulla Temple consists of five caves (sanctuaries). Each of these arched caves houses statues of Buddha and various prominent historical or Buddhist figures. In total, 150 Buddha images were found in the caves. Cave No. 5 (the last one in the row) has no historical value, since it was built in the second decade of the 20th century. All other caves contain statues and frescoes dating back to various eras of Sinhalese sculpture and painting. Some believe that the earliest murals of Dambulla date back to the 8th century AD. However, it is not possible to test this theory due to the drawings applied on top of the frescoes. However, these caves are a treasure trove of images, many of which have patterns reminiscent of frescoes. For those who study the history of Buddhism, the frescoes of Dambulla, upon careful study, will give great amount information for research.

It is believed that the classical school of Sinhala painting ceased to exist after the fall of the kingdom (Polonnaruwa) at the end of the twelfth century. Not a single example of this style has reached us that dates after the 13th century. New examples of traditional painting date back to the 17th and 18th centuries.

It does not appear that this school was based on the artistic traditions of the ancient masters who created masterpieces in Sigiriya and Polonnoruwa.

This style is characterized by exclusively two-dimensional images; the compositions also do not reflect the art of artists of previous eras. Artistic norms, expressed in particular in decorative patterns and depictions of trees and climbing plants, have nothing in common with early Sri Lankan painting.

This school appears to have been significantly influenced by the artistic movements that flourished in the Deccan plateau region ( South India) under the patronage of Muslim rulers. And the frescoes decorating the Dambulla caves represent precisely this new school of Sinhalese painting. The walls of the caves in the interior of the temple are entirely covered with frescoes. The oldest frescoes are believed to be in Cave No. 2 and represent decorative patterns, but according to previous assumptions, none of them can be attributed to earlier periods. However, the images themselves are extremely similar to the ceiling ornaments of Sigiriya. There may have been older images here that may have been lost or hidden under new patterns. It can be assumed that the style of decorative patterns embodied some ancient ideas and can even be considered a continuation of the tradition of images in Sigiriya. However, from the Tudapata records found in Dambulla, which we have already referred to earlier, it becomes clear that Dambulla Caves No. 1, 2 and 4 were painted in the 17th century by Kandyan artists on the orders of King Senarat (1604-1635). ). During the reign of King Kirti Sri Rajasinha, the frescoes of Dambulla were restored and repainted. The images in Cave No. 4 represent the new school of Sinhala painting that was widespread in the Kandy provinces after the 17th century.

After passing through the gate of the Dambulla temple, the visitor first comes to cave number 1, called Deva Raja Viharaya (temple of the King of the Gods). It is believed that the name was given to the cave because the god Sakka (King of the Gods) put the finishing touches on the main image of the cave. This nearly 14-meter-long statue recreates the parinibbana (last moment) of the Buddha in traditional style. This perfectly preserved statue is carved from natural rock and processed on almost all sides, only at the back along the entire length it is connected to the rock. The face is expressionless, rude and lifeless. The traditional long robe covers the body down to the ankles, leaving the right shoulder and chest exposed. The face is round and expressionless. The eyes are barely defined, the forehead is narrow, and the ear does not have a clear shape. A group of dots schematically represents hair. The texture of the garment is conveyed through frequently cut grooves, closely grouped in pairs. The rest of the body is depicted realistically and in proportion, apart from the seemingly stiff feet and right leg.

There are five other statues in the cave, one of which - standing in the southern part of the room - is believed to belong to Arhat Ananda, the Buddha's most devoted disciple, who mourns the death of his teacher.

In the northern corner of the cave, opposite the main statue, is an elaborate sculpture of the god Visnu (some researchers believe that this image belongs to Upulvan, one of the four guardian gods of Sri Lanka).

For unknown reasons, the room containing this statue is always closed to the general public.

Although the walls and ceiling of the cave are covered with frescoes, they cannot be seen due to the soot from the incense that believers bring.

Cave No. 2 (Maha Raja Viharaya)

The next cave in which the visitor finds himself is undoubtedly the largest and most luxurious of all the temple caves. One enters the cave through a portal located in the front of the sanctuary and leading into a high arched doorway, which is guarded by stone figures representing gatekeepers standing on both sides. The cave is named Maha Raja Viharaya (temple of the Great King) because, according to popular belief, it was founded by King Vattagamani Abhaya, who personally participated in the construction.

The entire cave is painted with the most striking frescoes, preserved in excellent condition. The length of the cave is 52.5 meters, the width is 23 meters, and the height near the front wall is 6.4 meters. As you move deeper into the cave, the vault gradually becomes lower and turns into an arch in the far part of the room. There are fifty-three statues in the cave. Most of them depict Buddha in various poses. Many of the statues are significantly larger than human height, but there is not a single image in the cave that is noticeably smaller than life-size.

A visitor entering the cave through the door in the northern corner first sees a statue of a standing Buddha under an elaborate Torana dragon arch. Both images are hewn from natural rock. These are the main sculptures of this sanctuary. The Buddha's right hand is raised in a gesture of protection. It is a sturdy, skillfully carved stone figure with massive arms and legs. However, the sculptor did not even try to convey the real proportions of the body. The flowing folds of clothing are shown through grooves. The right shoulder and arm are exposed. The folds of the robe are gathered on the left shoulder. The head is covered with many cones, evenly spaced and crowned with a crest. The statue's eyes are open. She has full lips and a wide nose. The limbs seem immobile and the body feels stiff. The sculpture stands on a round stone pedestal in the shape of a lotus flower. The lotus image is quite crude.

To the right and left of the Buddha statue are standing figures of two deities: Natha and Maitreya, who, according to Buddhist beliefs, will become Buddhas in the future.

To the right of the entrance are beautiful stupas about 5.5 meters high. The wide round pedestal on which they stand is decorated with four Buddha figures, oriented to the four cardinal directions and seated on the coils of a cobra, whose wide hood casts a shadow on the statues.

The remaining Buddha statues in this cave are located in a row along the walls and the internal corridor leading to the mosaic room, and are not grouped in any way. There is not a single statue near the outer wall except a fairly new image of a reclining Buddha. In the northern part of the cave, the figures stand in two rows.

Closer to the eastern wall of the sanctuary, water drips continuously, leaking through the ceiling of the cave from the voids at the top of the rock, where it accumulates after rain. The drops are collected in a vessel located in a small square recess in the floor and are used exclusively for religious purposes.

All surfaces in this cave, be it stones or walls, are painted with bright colors with a predominance of yellow. The ceiling near the entrance mainly depicts scenes from the life of the Buddha before and after enlightenment. Here the artist also tried to depict the previous births of Buddha. Visitors to this sanctuary may be interested in learning about at least a few of these frescoes. Here are the main images located in this part of the cave:

Prince Siddhartha, the future Buddha, emerging from the palace to demonstrate his martial arts.
Prince Siddhartha demonstrating his archery skills.
Prince Siddhartha, leaving home in search of truth.
The monsters of Mara's army, the army of evil, attack Buddha.
The evil Mara is thrown from the elephant and defeated by the Buddha.

At the eastern edge of the cave, behind a row of Buddha statues, there is a small alcove formed by a huge rock outcrop. Its walls are completely covered with frescoes. At the entrance to this alcove there is a statue of the king, believed to be Nissankamalla, who actively restored this temple. It seems that in this part of the cave the artist decided to depict the history of the island. The subjects of the frescoes located here begin with the earliest and most incredible period of the country's history. Among these murals are the exploits of Vijaya, the country's first historical ruler, who is believed to have come from India. These stories stand out from the general background and occupy a huge amount of space. The artist also mentioned cruise this hero, depicting a ship surrounded by sea monsters.

The following murals worth noting depict the recognition on Buddha Island after the sacred relics and the Bo tree arrived there. The artist depicted King Devanampiyatissa (205-210 BC), who ruled the country before Buddhism came to Sri Lanka, driving a plow pulled by a pair of elephants, accompanied by monks led by an Arhat Mahinda, who brought Buddhism to Sri Lanka.

Another mural depicts the construction of great chaityas and other important religious buildings in Anuradhapura.

The most prominent historical fresco in this part of the cave is the duel between Duttha Gamani, the greatest hero of the Sinhalese, and Elara, the Indian usurper who ruled for 44 years. northern part islands. The image is filled with emotion and is much more proportional than other historical frescoes. The Indian king is depicted as being pierced by the spear of his enemy and falling from his elephant.

At the northern end of this alcove are two wooden statues. According to popular belief, these figures represent deities. One of them belongs to Vishnu, the famous Indian god, whose images in many temples in Sri Lanka are located next to statues of Buddha. The other is believed to depict Sumana (or Saman), one of the four guardian gods of the island. According to the Great Chronicle, Sanrantakuta, that is, Adam's peak, where Buddha left his mark, is so named because on this peak lives a devaraja (king of the gods) named Sumana. Both statues are skillfully made and painted, but are currently in need of restoration.

In the northern part of the cave there are four statues of a seated Buddha, facing the main hall. These statues are believed to be those of Kakusanda, Konagama and Kassapa, predecessors of Gautama, whom the latter statue depicts.

To the right of the northern entrance to this cave is a standing figure facing the main statue of the sanctum, which is believed to represent King Vattagamani Abhaya, who was the first to donate to the Dambulla temple. In every way, this is a most crudely crafted statue. And the king's attire is the simplest and least decorated.

Cave No. 3 (Maha Alut Viharaya)

This cave, named Maha Alut Viharaya (Great New Temple), is separated from Cave No. 2 by a brick wall. It is believed that until the 18th century it served as a storeroom.

The main entrance to this cave, second in size only to the passage to the second cave, is closed by a door. This cave was converted into a sanctuary at the behest of Kirti Sri Rajasinha, who reformed the Buddhist church in the eighteenth century. He was the last person to make significant donations for the maintenance of the temple in Dambulla, and it was thanks to him that most of the new frescoes appeared and restoration work was carried out. To the left of the cave entrance stands a beautifully carved statue of this king in the robes appropriate to his position, reminiscent of the Nayakkar kings who ruled the country before it was conquered by the British in 1815.

The length of the cave reaches 27.5 meters and 25 meters in width, and the gradually lowering roof of the cave has a height of about 11 meters. All the extensive vaults and walls of this cave are also covered with colorful frescoes. These images tell of a variety of events from the lives of famous Buddhists, some of them related to the life of the Enlightened One, others tell the history of Buddhism. The artistic tradition of this cave dates back to the Kandy period.

The cave contains fifty sculptures of Buddha.

The main statue of the sanctuary, facing the entrance, depicts a standing Buddha and is decorated with the dragon Torana. The statue and Torana are carved from a single rock.

One of the sculptures in this cave depicts a reclining Buddha with his head on his right hand, which rests on a pillow. This statue is very similar to the image in cave No. 1. The length of the sculpture reaches about 9 meters, the proportions of the body are respected, the face is beautiful, and its calm expression is surprisingly peaceful and friendly. In addition, the cave contains seven statues of standing Buddha, about 3 meters high; the rest of the sculptures are made in life size or slightly smaller. Most of them are painted bright yellow; three are wearing red robes. For those who study Kandyan art and sculpture, this cave will undoubtedly provide a wealth of interesting material.

Cave No. 4 (Paschima Viharaya)

This cave is named Pachchima Viharaya, or Western Temple. It is about 16.5 meters long and 8 meters wide; The vault of the cave, which sharply decreases as one moves deeper into the room, reaches a height of 8 meters.

There are ten Buddha figures in the cave. The main statue, decorated with a dragon, is the same size as all the other figures. It features a beautiful image of Buddha seated in a posture of meditation (dhyana mudra), carved from the same rock that forms the cave itself. The statue was painted with bright colors during the Kandyan period and is perfectly preserved. Facial features are conveyed perfectly. Elongated ears with pierced lobes. Well-defined nose, eyes and lips; slightly sloping forehead. Free-flowing clothes cover the body from shoulder to ankle, leaving only the right shoulder exposed. Folds on clothing are represented by grooves. Three grooves represent the neck.

The clothes on the statue fall in beautiful loose folds. The hair on the head is marked by rows of cones and collected in a bun at the back of the head. The remaining statues are located in a row on either side of the main image.

These sculptures are carefully crafted and painted in vibrant colors. Most of them depict Buddha at full height or taller. In the center of the cave there is a small stupa (chaitya) called Soma Chaitya (Soma Cetiya). The ceiling, walls of the cave and the front wall are brightly painted and decorated with a number of figures, mainly images of Buddha.

Golden Buddha Statue and Museum

Often in images of Dambulla you can see a large golden statue of a seated Buddha, but this is only modern statue under which there is a museum of Buddhism. From here the climb to the cave temple begins.

The Golden Cave Temple of Dambulla is protected by UNESCO.

Dambulla Photos

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There is a quiet and cozy resort town of Dambulla in Sri Lanka - where you can relax peacefully, away from the ubiquitous modern bustle. 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.

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

What is the Dambulla temple complex?

First, it’s worth understanding 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, just over 250 years old. The second, the Cave Temple, is an ancient monastic complex, the age of which scientists still cannot establish accurately, giving 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 administrative offices and the Museum of Buddhism. The museum's exhibition consists mainly of gifts presented to the temple at different periods, photographs of the leaders of the monastery and information about them, as well as sculptures of Buddha and paintings with the story of his life.

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

Deva Raja Vihariya (temple of the King of the Gods).
Maha Raja Vihariya (Temple of the Great King).
Maha Alut Viharaya (Great New Temple).
Paccima Viharaya (Western Temple).

And now a little information about each of them.

Deva Raja Vihariya

The first thing 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 along its entire length at the back, it remains connected to the rock.

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

Space in this sanctuary is limited. Pilgrims and tourists who want to take a good look at everything are forced to crowd very closely.

Pilgrims constantly gather at Deva Raja Vihariya, and servants bring offerings to Buddha - food. Candles and incense are always burning here, because of which the walls are heavily smoky and the paintings are almost invisible. However, on the left side of the Buddha, although poorly, individual 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 gatekeeper statues on both sides.

There are a total of 40 statues of Buddha in meditation and 10 statues of standing Buddha in this sanctuary. The main sculptures of the cave are a statue of Buddha standing under an arch shaped like a Thorana dragon. The Buddha figure is placed on a round pedestal made in the shape of a lotus flower.

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

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

Only in Maha Raja Vihariya can one observe the real natural miracle: water collects and flows along the walls, without reacting to any laws of nature. Surprisingly, it rushes up the walls, and from there it drips into a bowl of gold - it is around this bowl that there are figures of Buddha, who is in a state of deepest meditation!

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

Maha Aluth Viharaya

This cave was formed into a sanctuary in the 18th century under the reign 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 contributed significant sums to the maintenance of the Cave Temple.

All the vaults of the sanctuary (length 27.5 m, width 25 m, height 11 m) are covered with bright frescoes - there are about 1000 images of Buddha, looking at visitors from above. There are also a lot of sculptural images of 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 Deva Raja Vihariya cave. Because there are so many Buddhas painted bright yellow, a person has a strange feeling of being transported to some other reality.

Paccima Viharaya

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

This sanctuary houses 10 Buddha sculptures. The main figure, depicting Buddha in a pose of meditation and decorated with a dragon, is carved from the same rock that makes up the cave. All other statues are located 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 most vibrant, richly colored temple, there are 11 statues of Buddha, and there are also other figures.

Opening hours, ticket prices

The ticket office, located to the right of the Golden Temple, decorated with a majestic statue of Buddha, 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 later to buy a ticket.

Parking is located right here, it is impossible not to notice it - it is completely free, although enterprising Sri Lankans can charge 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, approximately $10-11.

What is important for a tourist to know

It is advisable to come to visit the temple complex early in the morning, since later, in the heat, it will be more difficult to climb to the caves. You need to be careful in the rain because the steps leading to the caves will be slippery.
When visiting the temples of Sri Lanka, you should not forget about observing some local traditions. This largely applies to clothing - it should cover your shoulders and knees.
You must take off your shoes before entering 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 cannot be called pleasant, and in order not to walk barefoot, you can take socks with you.
The Dambulla cave temple in Sri Lanka and photos on its territory are a special issue. You cannot take pictures with your back to 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, making it possible to stop by the Cave Temple during any trip to Sri Lanka. You can get to this city by bus, taxi or rented car.

Dambulla connects bus routes with Colombo and with all the cities included in the “Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka” (Kandy, Sigiriya, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa). There is no need to buy a ticket in advance, since 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's a 20-minute walk, but you can take a tuk-tuk for 100 rupees. There is transport passing by the temple, so you can get off right there.

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

From Colombo

By car you need to take the A1 Colombo - Kandy highway to the city of Varakapola, and then move to the A6 Ambepussa - Trincomalee highway and follow 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 with 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, where you can also view the schedule and ticket prices.

There is another option - 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 will get directly to the Golden Temple, located 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 take any flight that goes towards Jaffna, Dambulla, Trincomalee, Habarana, 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

Travel from the southwestern and southern parts of the island of Sri Lanka will be more challenging and it may be worth considering visiting a few attractions. The most in a fast way To get to Dambulla the route will be via Colombo. Because East End Sri Lanka has not very well developed road network, besides, the roads go through the mountains, the journey will take a lot of time.

By car you need to move along the E01 highway, which turns into E02, to Colombo, then move to the A1 highway and drive as described in the paragraph “From Colombo”. The journey to Colombo will take approximately 1 hour. Please note that highways E01 and E02 have a toll fee of 600 rupees ($4).

The best way to get to 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 will take 1.5 hours. After this, 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 travel further, read the recommendations from the paragraph “From Colombo”.

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The main attraction of Dambulla is the Golden Temple. Sri Lanka is full of shrines and temples, but this place stands out from the crowd. In the unique cave temple, you can see centuries-old statues of Buddha and Vishnu. Many tourists who have visited different cities around the world agree that the local atmosphere is unique. It helps you get rid of stress, come into harmony with your inner world and love life even more. Let's get to know this temple better!

general characteristics

The Dambulla Golden Temple is considered one of the most famous Buddhist temples in the world. It occupies 20 hectares of land and is located almost in the middle of the island of Sri Lanka. Dambulla (temple) is built on the mountain of the same name, a little over 350 meters high. 12 kilometers from the temple there is an equally famous archaeological monument of Sri Lanka - the Sigiriya rock plateau. The lowlands of Mount Dambulla are a tropical forest with picturesque landscapes. Once there, you can spend hours admiring the natural beauty. The forest further enhances the impression of visiting the temple.

The rock monastery, or as it is also called, the cave temple complex, has been a sacred place for pilgrims from all over the world professing Buddhism, at least for about the 21st century. Dambulla (temple) is a sanctuary that includes 5 large and more than 70 small caves, which are connected by corridors of various sizes and configurations. But the temple gained world fame not for the number of caves, but for the largest collection of Buddha statues created by local craftsmen. Here you can find lying, standing and sitting Buddhas different heights. The largest statues exceed 15 meters in height. The Golden Temple also houses statues of the three kings who once led Sri Lanka, as well as the gods and goddesses revered by ancient people. Some of these statues are still highly revered by Buddhists to this day.

After examining historical documents found in this place, scientists found that the first caves of the Dambulla Temple were founded in the first century BC. It all started with the fact that King Valagambaha, after being expelled from Anuradhapara, settled in a rock cave and lived there for a little over 14 years. Having regained his throne, he erected the first cave temple in history and donated it to the Buddhist order. Thus, the monarch thanked the monks who helped him survive during particularly difficult periods of his life. With this historical fact you can meet at the entrance to the Dambulla cave temple.

After the Golden Temple was gifted to the monks, Buddhist pilgrims began to consider it a holy place. Archaeologists studying the temple discovered that the man-made complex was repeatedly restored and updated. Measures to restore it were taken under almost every ruler of Sri Lanka. In the twelfth century, when King Nissankamalla ruled the country, 73 Buddha statues were covered with pure gold. It was from then on that the cave temple complex began to be called golden.

In the eighteenth century, the Dambulla Temple (Sri Lanka), the photo of which well illustrates its age, received significant changes that affected both the architecture of the complex and the wall paintings. According to historians, around the beginning of the eighteenth century, a whole dynasty of professional artists lived in the area adjacent to the temple. They had a hand in painting the complex. The area of Buddhist rock paintings and frescoes is 2300 m2. They depict almost the entire life of the Buddha: birth, insight, seven weeks after insight, renunciation of wealth and reading sermons. This gallery of rock paintings is unique of its kind. It has enormous cultural and historical significance not only for Buddhists, but for all humanity.

As you already understood, Dambulla (temple) has five large caves. Each of them has its own name and features, and we will dwell on each of them in more detail.

Devarajalena

Once in the first of the five caves, the tourist can see a 14-meter reclining Buddha statue. The disciple Ananad sits at her feet, and the god Vishnu himself sits at her head. Adjacent to the entrance to Devarajalen's cave is a chapel built in honor of the god Vishnu. To this day, various rituals are often performed there. In addition to the described sculptures that can be found at the entrance to the cave, there are four more Buddha statues located in different parts of the cave. According to archaeologists, all these sculptures were created in the first century BC, during the reign of King Walagambakh.

The sculptures have survived to this day quite well, which cannot be said about the frescoes and rock paintings. They are difficult to see due to the thick layer of soot on the walls and ceiling. As the guides say, the soot is formed due to the constant fumigation of the cave with incense and the burning of lamps.

Maharajalena

This is the next cave that a traveler usually enters after Devarajalena. Here travelers are “met” by the statue of that same king Valagambakh. His hand is raised up, as if he is teaching someone about life. This statue is the largest in the entire man-made complex of Dambulla. It, like the statues of Devarajalen Cave, dates back to the first century BC. It is surprising that here, right next to the Buddha sculpture, there are statues of Upulvana and Samana, Maitreya and Nata. Thanks to this, the Golden Temple of Dambulla has become the only place in all of Sri Lanka where you can find statues of gods standing nearby. In total, there are more than a dozen standing Buddha statues in Maharajalen and about forty in meditation. Not all of them are made of granite. Some are made of wood and even brick.

Another distinctive feature of Maharajalena is the source of water, which can only be described as a miracle. The fact is that water flows from it along the walls, among all kinds of patterns, not down, but up. Having reached the most high point, it just falls into the golden bowl. Around the bowl you can see multiple sculptures of Buddha in meditation.

Paccima Vaharaya

Among the five large caves, this one can be called relatively small. In the center of the Pachchima Vaharaya cave is a stupa. According to legend, treasures belonging to the wife of the founder of the temples were kept in it. The guides say that quite recently this stupa was plundered by treasure hunters, but today nothing is known about the location of the sacred accessories.

Maha Aluth Viharaya

This cave is considered relatively young. Its construction dates back to the thirteenth century AD. At that time, the state was dominated by the last representative of the rulers of Kandy. Like other caves, Maha Alut Viharaya is filled with a large number of Buddha sculptures, in different positions. The ceiling of the cave surprises with a variety of Buddha images. According to official documents, the ceiling is decorated with more than 1,000 paintings of the meditating Buddha.

Dewana Alut Viharaya

This cave is considered the youngest of the big five. Until the beginning of the twentieth century there was a warehouse here. It is not known exactly when it was built. However, there is information on the walls that restoration work was carried out here in 1915. In addition to 11 sculptures of Buddha, there are numerous sculptures of the god Vishnu in all sorts of poses.

Golden Buddha statue

The Dambulla Temple (Sri Lanka), the description of which we have reviewed, is associated by many with a huge statue of a seated Buddha, which can be found at the foot of Mount Dambulla. Its height is 30 meters. This is a modern statue that currently has no value other than aesthetic value. The building on which this statue is located houses a museum of Buddhism. From this picturesque place The ascent to the temple begins. A stone staircase leads upstairs.

Dambulla Temple today

Hundreds of thousands of travelers from all over the world come to Dambulla Temple (Sri Lanka) every year. Since UNESCO included it in the World Heritage List, it, like many other architectural and historical monuments, is under close supervision.

To get to the Golden Temple, you must purchase admission ticket. It costs $15 for adults and $10 for children. Upon entering the cave complex, visitors are asked to remove their shoes. Immediately after the visit, you can pick it up for 25 rupees. This fee is charged for guarding the shoes. Those who do not want to pay for this service simply leave their shoes aside, unattended. In this case, no one is responsible for its safety. Visitors who have paid the entrance fee are given two hours to get a good look at the Dambulla Temple (Sri Lanka). Visiting hours: 7.30-18.00.

Since the cave temple is located on a rock, you need to climb to it. The climb is simple, but many may find it lengthy. Visiting the attraction is only allowed in closed clothing, that is, shorts and short skirts are prohibited here. Luggage, unlike shoes, can be left at the police post completely free of charge.

It is interesting to note that monkeys can be found roaming freely throughout the temple grounds. They are used to large quantities people, so they are not afraid of them at all. When the sun begins to hide behind the horizon, hundreds of swallows fly here. After spending the night on the territory of a Buddhist shrine, they leave it at dawn.

Road to Dambulla

Getting to the city from neighboring cities is not difficult at all. There are three ways:

Bus. The bus stop is located one and a half kilometers from the cave temple, near the clock tower. Buses from all major cities go here island state. The road from Kandy, Polonnaruwa or Anuradhapura to Dambulla takes 2 hours and costs 50 rupees. You can get from Sigiriya to Dambula in 40 minutes and 20 rupees. From the capital of Sri Lanka - the town of Colombo, going to Dambula takes longer and is more expensive. The journey will take about 4 hours and 150-200 rupees.
Train. This method is less popular among tourists, since the railway station is located 23 kilometers from Dambulla. Trains run here from Colombo, Batticaloa and Trincomalee. You can get to the city from the station by bus or tuk-tuk.
Automobile. It is best to travel around Sri Lanka by rented car or by car with a driver-guide. Of course, such a train will cost more, but complete freedom of action is worth it.

Conclusion

Dambulla (temple) is amazing place, once in which, you can forget about all worldly thoughts. Summer heat here it quickly gives way to cave coolness, which really invites you to get acquainted with the frescoes, paintings and statues. The Golden Temple of Dambulla is unique place, a treasury of Buddhism, visiting which absolutely every person, and even those who are completely far from religious prejudices, receive pleasure and complete peace.

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