Dambulla, this is a Buddhist temple complex of five caves located on the top of the mountain, founded in the second century BC. This is one of the most revered places among Buddhists around the world. The caves were in due time donated by the Order of the monks by the King of Valakamba for the fact that during one of the many wars of the romed at the time on Ceylon she sheltered him and he lived in them with monks of the whole 14 years. After that, the complex was completed, expanded and decorated with statues and numerous frescoes. The main stages of construction dated 12 and 17th centuries of our era
It is in Dambulla that the world's largest collection of Buddhas is located. The statue of the deity is squeezing on the roof of the active monastery at the foot of the mountain, meets pilgrims and tourists, amazing its greatness and size.
But the main thing is not a monastery, but the caves themselves. There are five of them in the complex, and the most ancient of them has the name Devarajalin and it is she who is the oldest with the oldest exhibits. In the cave there is fourteenth meter sculptures of the Buddha himself, near the legs of which sits his most faithful and devoted student Ananna. Near the head of the Divine sits God Vishnu, who is considered the patron of Dambulla. His chapel, adjoins directly to the cave. If we proceed from the information from the tablets, the creation of these monuments is dated to the first century BC, but many researchers believe that they were created at a later time.
The age of the second cave - Maharajalena is also dated to the first century and this is the biggest and most impressive of all. The walls and ceiling are covered with a variety of frescoes with a description of the life stages of the life of God important for all believers, as well as with the description of the main historical moments of the formation of Sri Lanka as an independent territorial unit on the world map. Along the walls and around the stupa, which stands in the middle stand, are sitting, lie the statues of Buddha and various gods made of granite, plaster and wood.
Maha Alut Viharaya. The second in size, but by the request of the appearance of the third has two arched openings for the entrance to theragment dragon. In the temple itself there are 56 statues, including 9 meter Sleeping Buddha. The ceiling is unique. It causes an image of 1000 Buddhas in meditative condition.
The remaining two are significantly inferior to the first in size, but it does not know that they are not at all interesting.
Some practical information. Getting to Dambulla is not so difficult. The place is located about 200 kilometers from the capital of Sri Lanka by bus. The time of the way will be about 4-hours, buses go every day.
In the Dambulle itself you can settle in hotels, which are located at the very foot of the mountain. Hotels a bit, but there are almost always places. The cost of living in a 3-star typteed hotel will cost about 3,000 rubles per day.
When visiting the temple complex, there is a sufficiently hard dress code. Do not pass tourists with naked knees and shoulders. So there are better shorts and open T-shirts in the room.
Visiting the temples is paid, and tickets are relatively expensive. As of 2011, the cost was approximately equal to 850 rubles.
And last. Around the Gold Caves of the Buddha, a huge amount of macaque, which are not at all afraid of people, they are more thangging and do not be afraid of small steam.