Dambulla Royal Cave Temple

The incredible Royal Rock Temple complex is located about 160 m above the road in the southern part of Dambulla. Moreover, It consists of five separate caves containing about 150 extraordinary images and statues depicting the Buddha; considered among the most important and evocative works of religious art in Sri Lanka. However, the first likenesses of the Buddha were created here over 2000 years ago, while further additions and embellishments were made under the following kings.

From the caves, there are splendid views of the surrounding countryside; Sigiriya, which is 20 km away, is visible. Also, It was believed that Dambulla was used as a place of worship starting from the 1st century BC; when King Valagamba (also known as Vattagamani Abhaya), driven out by Anuradhapura, took refuge in Dambulla.

Once the throne was regained, the sovereign had the interior of the caves carved to make a series of magnificent rock temples. Moreover, Later rulers added others decorations; among them Nissanka Malla, who had the entrance to the caves gilded (hence the name Ran Giri, or “golden rock”). Although the reworking of the original works of art and the creation of new ones continued until the 20th century, the general appearance of the complex is surprisingly harmonious.

The first cave, whose name means “temple of the king of the gods”, houses a 15 m long reclining Buddha. Nearby are depicted Ananda, the faithful disciple of the Buddha, and other seated Buddhas. A statue of Vishnu is kept inside a small shrine in the cave.

The “temple of the great king” is undoubtedly the most spectacular cave. It measures 52 m from east to west and 23 m from the entrance to the back wall; the highest point of the ceiling reaches 7 m. The cave is named after the two statues of kings placed inside. Entering, on the left, you can see a painted wooden figure depicting King Valagamba and later one of King Nissanka Malla. The central statue of the Buddha, once probably covered with gold leaf, is placed under a Makara Torana (portico decorated with dragons) and has the right hand raised in the protective gesture of the Abhaya mudra (which offers protection). In the cave are also represented some Hindu gods, and there is a container to collect water that constantly drips from the ceiling of the temple (even in times of drought) and which used for rituals.

It seems that this cave, the ‘new great temple’, formerly served as a warehouse and was transformed into a temple only in the 18th century by King Kirti Sri Rajasinghe of Kandy, one of the last monarchs of this city. Also, this cave is full of statues of the Buddha, among which one of exquisite workmanship that shows him lying down, and is separated from the Cave II only by a masonry partition.

The relatively small ‘western cave’ is actually not the one to the west, which is instead the Grotta V. The Buddha in the centre is seated under a Torana Makara and has his hands placed in the gesture of the dhyana mudra (meditative posture with cupped hands). The small dagoba (Buddhist reliquary) in the centre was damaged by some thieves who believed it contained the jewels that belonged to Queen Somawathie.

This more recent cave, which was once used as a warehouse, now houses the so-called “second new temple“. Inside there are a reclining Buddha and some Hindu gods, including Kataragama (Murugan) and Vishnu.

At the foot of the hill of cave temples stands the modern Golden Temple, a slightly kitsch taste built-in 2000 thanks to Japanese donations. At the top of this cubic building, there is a seated Buddha depicted in the dhamma chakra mudra (turn of the wheel of the Dhamma) position and a huge neon sign.