From Sigiriya, we found our way to Dambulla, a busy town close to the Rock. Constructed in the 1st century BC, the cave temple complex is another UNESCO World Heritage Site.
After buying tickets and going around the massive golden Buddha, we found a crowd of monkey gourging on the flowers people brought as offerings. Vlad could not have been happier. He almost got bit by one when he did not release a flower soon enough.
After a steep climb in the forest (with monkeys along the way) we found again incredible stretching all the way to the Lion Rock.
The temple complex has five caves of varying sizes. The caves are shallow, but filled with ancient sculpture and artwork. Hundreds and hundreds of Buddha statues and a mind-blowing collection of murals that cover everything.
The site had been used for shelter long before Sinhalese King Vattagamini Abhaya found refuge here. After having been driven from Anuradhapura by an Indian invasion, he lived in the caves for fifteen years, nursing his wounds and building an army. He returned to the capital and drove out the foreigners. In celebration, he built Dambulla’s Cave Temple at the place of his refuge.
It’s an awesome feeling to be in a dark mountain temple, which looks much as it did over 2200 years ago when a victorious Sinhalese King was celebrating the recovery of his kingdom.
The temple complex has five caves of varying sizes. The caves are shallow, but filled with ancient sculpture and artwork. Hundreds and hundreds of Buddha statues and a mind-blowing collection of murals that cover everything.
The site had been used for shelter long before Sinhalese King Vattagamini Abhaya found refuge here. After having been driven from Anuradhapura by an Indian invasion, he lived in the caves for fifteen years, nursing his wounds and building an army. He returned to the capital and drove out the foreigners. In celebration, he built Dambulla’s Cave Temple at the place of his refuge.
It’s an awesome feeling to be in a dark mountain temple, which looks much as it did over 2200 years ago when a victorious Sinhalese King was celebrating the recovery of his kingdom.
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