Coordinates: 7°51′24″N 80°38′57″E / 7.85667°N 80.64917°E / 7.85667; 80.64917

Dambulla

Location of Dambulla within Sri Lanka.

Dambulla cave temple

Kandalama wewa reservoir

The city of Dambulla is situated in the Matale District in the Central Province of Sri Lanka, situated 148 km north-east of Colombo and 72 km north of Kandy.

Major attractions of the city include the largest and best preserved cave temple complex of Sri Lanka, and the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, famous for being built in just 167 days. The city also boasts to have the largest rose quartz mountain range in South Asia, and the Iron wood forest, or Namal Uyana.

Ibbankatuwa prehistoric burial site near Dhambulla cave temple complexes is the latest archaeological site of significant historical importance found in Dambulla, which is located within 3 kilometers of the cave temples providing evidence on presence of indigenous civilisations long before the arrival of Indian influence on the Island nation.

History[link]

A pagoda at Dambulla golden temple

The area is thought to be inhabited from as early as the 7th to 3rd century BC. Statues and paintings in these caves date back to the 1st century BC. But the paintings and statues were repaired and repainted in 11th, 12th, and 18th century AD. The caves in the city provided refuge to King Valagamba (also called Vattagamini Abhaya) in his 14 year long exile from the Anuradapura kingdom. Buddhist monks meditating in the caves of Dambulla at that time provided the exiled king protection from his enemies. When King Valagamba returned to the throne at Anuradapura kingdom in the 1st century BC, he had a magnificent rock temple built at Dambulla as a gratitude to the monks in Dambulla.

Ibbankatuwa Prehistoric burial site near Dhambulla, where prehistoric (2700 years old) human skeletons were found according to scientific analysis gives evidence on civilisations in this area long before arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Evidence of ancient people living on agriculture have been detected in this area for over 2700 years according to archaeological findings. (750 BC)

It was earlier known as Dhamballai. This was ruled by Kings like Raja Raja Chola, Rajendra Chola, etc. during their tenure in the late 10th century and early 11th century.

Dambulla cave temple[link]

It is the largest and best preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. The rock towers 160 m over the surrounding plains.There are more than 80 documented caves in the surrounding. Major attractions are spread over 5 caves, which contain statues and paintings. This paintings and statues are related to Lord Buddha and his life. There are a total of 153 Buddha statues, 3 statues of srilankan kings and 4 statues of god and goddess. The latter 4 include two statues of Hindu gods, Vishnu and Ganesh. The murals cover an area of 2,100 m². Depictions in the walls of the caves include Buddha's temptation by demon Mara and Buddha's first sermon.

Time line of the Caves[link]

• 7th to 3rd century BC: Early inhabitants
• 1st century BC: Paintings and statues
• 5th century AD: The stupa was built
• 12th century AD: Addition of the statues of Hindu gods
• 18th century AD: Most of what we see today
• 19th century AD: An additional cave and some repainting
• 20th century AD:UNESCO restoration and lighting....

See also[link]

• Place names in Sri Lanka

References[link]

• Dambulla Guide
• History and Heritage of Sri Lanka
• Unesco World Heritage
• Dambulla Rock Temple
• A list of traditional names for cities in Sri Lanka

External links[link]

• Dambulla, Central Province, Sri Lanka
• Discover Sri Lanka - More information & images about Dambulla Temple

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Dhambulla

• Dambulla on Google Earth
• Kandalama Wewa