Dambulla Golden Rock Temple
Sri Lanka Is Famous Throughout The World For Its Centuries
Old Buddhist Cave Temples. There Is Large Number Of Cave Temples Built By
Ancient Kings. Out Of All Of Them, Over 21 Century Old Dambulla Cave Temple Is
The Largest, Most Visited And The Well Preserved Cave Temple In Sri Lanka.
Dumbulla Cave Temple Complex Consists Of Many Caves. Out Of
Those, Five Of Them Are Most Prominent. Those Five Continues Caves Have Many Buddha
Statues And Cave Walls And Ceiling Are Decorated With Paintings. Those Provides
Ideal Opportunity To Witness The Ancient Artistic Styles And Talents Of Early
Day Sri Lankan Artists. According To Records, Those Murals Covers The Area Of
2100 Square Meter Of Area And Totally 157 Statues. Those Paintings Are
Belonging To Anuradhapura Kingdom (2nd Century) To Kandian Kingdom (18th
Century)
Another
Interesting Thing In The Main Cave Is, The Incessant Drip Of Water From The
Spring. This Drop Of Water Flow From Ceiling Continuously Even In Dry Season
And Are Collected To A Large Bowl Placed Beneath. Some Believe That It Has Some
Healing Power.
The Initial Construction Of Dambulla Golden Rock Temple Was
Done During The King Walagamba's Time. The Most Number Of Sri Lankan Cave
Temples Were Created During His Ruling Time. King Wagamba Abandoned His Throne
And Left Anuradapura Due To South Indian Invasion. He Got Refuge In Caves
Throughout The Country Including This Dambulla.
Kaludiya Pokuna In Kandalama Is
Not To Be Confused With Its Name-Sake In Mihinthale . It Dates Back To The
Period, 853 – 857 A.D., During The Reign Of King Sena ,
Pidurangala Temple
Although Located Very Close To Sigiriya Rock
Fortress, Pidurangala Archaeological Site Is Not So Commonly Visited Place. The
Gravel Road By The Sigiriya Leads You To Pidurangala. You Can Follow The Archilogical
Department Name Road And Need To Travel Around 2 Km.
History Of Pidurangala Flows Beyond The 1 & 2 Century B.C. Pidurangala Was Used As A Monastery From Those Days. But This Place Becomes A Prominent Biddhist Monastery During The King Kasyapa Time ( 477 - 495 AC).
Some Believe That Sigiriaya Also A Buddhist Monastery Before The King Kasyapa Time. Once He Decided To Build His Fortress In Sigiriya, He Requested The Monk To Move To Pidurangala And Had Contributed Lot For The Development Of It. It Is Believed That The "Uppalavanna Kashyapa Giri Viharaya" Which Was Constructed By King Kashyapa Was Located In The Pidurangala.
History Of Pidurangala Flows Beyond The 1 & 2 Century B.C. Pidurangala Was Used As A Monastery From Those Days. But This Place Becomes A Prominent Biddhist Monastery During The King Kasyapa Time ( 477 - 495 AC).
Some Believe That Sigiriaya Also A Buddhist Monastery Before The King Kasyapa Time. Once He Decided To Build His Fortress In Sigiriya, He Requested The Monk To Move To Pidurangala And Had Contributed Lot For The Development Of It. It Is Believed That The "Uppalavanna Kashyapa Giri Viharaya" Which Was Constructed By King Kashyapa Was Located In The Pidurangala.
Pidurangala
Cave Temple Is Located Few Steps Above The Road And Few Buddha Statues Are
Located Inside. This Cave Temple Is Not Large As Dambulla.
The Boo Tree And The Aramaya Located In A Lower Level Of A Cave Temple.
The Boo Tree And The Aramaya Located In A Lower Level Of A Cave Temple.
The Main Path Towards To The Right Hand Side Of The Cave Temple Leads Towards The Top Of The Pidurangala Rock. There Are Clear Steps In Some Areas, But Not Always. Anyway The Climbing Is Not That Difficult. Once You Climb Up For 20 Minutes, You Will Reach A Complex Of Caves. There Is A 48 Feet Reclining Buddha Statue Is Located In The Main Cave. This Statue Was Made Out Of Bricks And Plastered With Clay And Lime Is Belonging To The King Kasyapa Time. It Seems This T This Place Was A Old Image House But Only The Lime Plastering Is Remaining.
Ancient City Of Sigiriya
The Name Sigiriya Means Lion's Rock.
This Rock Fortress Is Located In Mathale
District, Few Km Away From Dambulla – Habarana Main Road.
In Year 477, During The Anuradhapura Kingdom
Time, Prince Kashyapa Assassinated His Old Father, King Dathusena By Plastering
Him Up In A Wall And Took Over The Throne. But He Felt Anuradapura Is Not A Safe
Place To Establish His Kingdom, Because Of The Threats From The Real Owner Of
The Throne, His Brother Prince Mugalan.
So He Selected Sigiriya And Build This
Magnificent City On Top Of This 200 M High Granite Rock. Actually This Rock Was
Middle Of The Jungle With A Natural Protection. No Body Easily Can Reach There.
He Got Many Creative Craftmen And Architects In His Team, So He Was Able To
Build This Great Ancient City, Still The World Is Talking About.
He Ruled This Kingdom From Year 477 To 495, But Later
Defeated By Prince Mugalan. According To Historical Stories, He Actually
Commuted Suicide At The Last Phase Of The War, Because He Doesn’t Want To Get
Killed By Anybody. Later On King Mugalan Decided To Reestablished His Kingdom
In Anuradhapura, So This Place Was Converted To A Buddhist Monastery.
Sigiriya Rock Was Surrounded By Array Of Lakes And Waterways, Which Provide Natural Protection To The Fort. Its Believe That Crocodiles Lives Here Are Coming From The Generation, Who Were Originally Used For Protection Of The Fortress. In Addition, Of Cause, It Adds Beauty To This Place.
Sigiriya Rock Was Surrounded By Array Of Lakes And Waterways, Which Provide Natural Protection To The Fort. Its Believe That Crocodiles Lives Here Are Coming From The Generation, Who Were Originally Used For Protection Of The Fortress. In Addition, Of Cause, It Adds Beauty To This Place.
Once You
Cross The Main Entrance, You Will First Reach The Water Garden. This Area
Consist Of Many Ponds And Still You Can See Some Old Day Water Fountains Were
Working During The Rainy Season. These Ponds And Fountains Are Located Besides
The Main Path To The Castle Entrance. You Will Start Climbing Up, After Passing
The Water Garden.
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