Explore Sri Lanka’s vibrant offering of cultural sites such as the Dambulla Cave Temple via a range of exciting Sri Lanka tour packages that will transport you to the island nation’s most exotic spots. Take advantage of the various tours to Sri Lanka that come to you courtesy of Sri Lankan Dreams which is renowned as one of the top names in the island’s travel industry. Discover Dambulla during your visit to this wondrous island nation and pay a visit to its iconic Dambulla Cave Temple, which hearkens back to the first century BC. It features five unique caves nestled under an expansive overhanging rock, which looks out over a lush valley teeming with tropical life. This unique structure has long been regarded as one of the country’s best-preserved examples of a cave temple, and it boasts a fascinating array of cultural treasures just waiting to be discovered. Here you will discover a variety of statues and paintings from antiquity that faithfully capture all aspects of Gautama Buddha’s life. The caves harbour a total of 153 Buddha statues, three statues of venerated Sri Lankan monarchs and four statues of gods and goddesses from the Hindu pantheon, notably Lord Vishnu and Lord Ganesh, who are both worshipped by Buddhists as well as the Tamil Hindu community on the island. Spreading over an impressive 2,100 square metres along the cave walls are some impressive murals detailing various chapters from the Buddha’s life, including the vanquishing of the demon Mara, as well as Buddha’s first sermon, considered to be amongst the most prominent of all the depictions. The five caves are imbued with a quiet aura of tranquil spirituality and provide the ideal locale for some inner reflection no matter what one’s religious background.
Angela Fernando is an impassioned travel writer who composes pieces under the pen name Sumaira Narayan. She loves writing about new and exciting places around the world and intends to visit them all someday.