Dambulla cave temple
Dambulla is a great place to visit. It is located on the island of Sri Lanka, near Mount Sigiriya. The main significant object of this resort is a temple with five stone caves, which carries the Buddhist faith. Dambulla Cave Temple has collected a whole collection of Buddha sculptures. There are specimens that are at least 2,000 years old.
Archaeologists have established that the temple was built in the l century BC, and in the XII century it was reconstructed. The cathedral in Dambulla was improved due to the initiatives of King Nissankamalla, who ruled the country at that time. It was then that the name "Golden Temple" was attached to the temple, since its main sculptures were gilded.
Magnificent frescoes adorn the walls, as well as the ceiling of the building. They are part of the national wealth of this country and a component of the valuable painting of this area.
On the ceilings of the temple, you can see entire storylines from the life of the Buddha. Here is his birth, abdication from the royal throne, as well as all seven weeks after enlightenment and many other major life moments.
Even in our time, the exterior walls of the building show the effects of plaster and paint, which indicate that the temple was colorfully painted in ancient times.
Among the caves of the Dambulla temple, there is one known as Devarajalena, which is entirely dedicated to the god Vishnu. For example, the cave that bears the name Maharajalena contains a stupa, as well as as many as 11 sculptures of the Buddha. There is a nine-meter Buddha statue in Maha Alut Vihari.
There is a miracle here that amazes many tourists, the fact is that in Dambulla the water tends to flow upward. You can see this in one of the caves, where water gathers at the top and then falls down. This phenomenon is difficult to explain, but the sight is simply mesmerizing.
At the bottom of the mountain, on which the temple stands, there is the largest sculpture of the Buddha, and the surrounding area has a wonderful floral decoration. The temple itself is the richest in Sri Lanka. He even has his own newspaper and radio station, which broadcasts regular religious programs. It also has everything for the life of monks, many of whom are very young. At the very entrance to the monastery, the decree of the king, which was located in it in the XII century, is engraved on a stone. The meaning of the inscription is the rules of conduct of monks on the territory of the temple, as well as its pilgrims.
