In the northern town of Matalai, where the landform is parallel to the ground, the 525-foot-tall Dambulla Golden Rock Temple is eye-catching with its high mound golden Buddha. Sri Lanka has about 15,000 monks and nearly 6,000 monasteries on its sacred land, but the Golden Rock Temple of Dambulla is one of its best architectural masterpieces. This temple complex is located under a huge overhanging rock and was built in the 1st century BC. The view from the top of the mountain is the best in Dambulla.
It was a cloudy day with light showers, but this did not stop me from exploring one of Dambulla’s most magnificent attractions. Mainly because this Sri Lanka’s best-preserved cave temple complex has five ancient caves with drip lines carved on them to keep the interior dry all year round. This rare temple has 153 statues of Buddha, three statues of emperors, and four statues of Vishnu and Ganesha. Even if you are not religious, you will be fascinated.
The murals cover the 23,000-square-foot temple complex, including wall impressions such as the Buddha’s first sermon and the temptation of the demon Mara. Inside, the cave ceiling is painted, and elaborate religious icons (Buddha and others) match the contours of the rock. However, arched columns and gabled porches were added later in 1938. Having said that, although some of the most influential statues and paintings similar to the life of the Buddha are scattered in these five caves, there are still 80 similar caves inhabiting nearby.
The ones I plan to explore on my next trip to Dambulla! But now, let’s take a look at Jinyan Temple and its five ancient caves, whose wall art will win your heart.
Entrance of Dambulla Golden Rock Temple
This world heritage site is located on a large rock with two opposite entrances. Both entrances have parking lots leading to the temple, but only one of them is where you can buy tickets. The entrance fee to Dambulla Cave Temple is 1,500 Sri Lankan rupees per person, and they expect you to pay in cash (Sri Lankan rupees or US dollars). The ticket office closes at 5 pm, so I suggest you visit in the morning or later in the afternoon. Visiting during the day allows you to enjoy the extraordinary scenery and makes the whole experience wholesome.
I arrived at the temple around 2.30 in the afternoon, climbed more than 200 stairs for 25 minutes, finally reached the main entrance, and was asked to take off my shoes. In this place, you will meet some vendors who try to sell souvenirs such as refrigerator stickers. I bought a pack of 10 magnets for 500 rupees. As for the dress code, you must wear something that can cover your knees and shoulders, and you must take off your hat before entering the temple.
Five Ancient Caves of Jinyan Temple
The entrance of the Golden Rock Temple of Dambulla is a small tower gate, and the interior of the cave complex will surprise you with its huge scale. It is almost hard to believe that these caves must have been hand-carved, let alone the fact that they were occupied by numerous monks for centuries. One can only imagine the effort required to simulate such a wide range of caves in solid rock!
To say the least, it was a breathtaking sight, because I crossed the small door and entered a vast site built 525 feet above the ground. At the offset, the adjacent caves are all under the same rock with a cobblestone walkway. The largest cave is approximately 75 feet in average from the entrance to the rear, 170 feet in average from east to west, and the highest point is 22 feet high.
God King Cave
The first cave I entered was Devaraja Lena, also known as the Cave of God Kings.
At the entrance of the first cave, you will see a 1st century Brahmi inscription describing the establishment of this monastery.
Inside, a 46-foot Buddha statue hewn from rock dominates the interior. As my guide said, this statue has been repainted many times over the years, and it is said that it experienced the last time in the 20th century. Ancient impressive paintings cover the walls and ceiling of this ancient cave.
Literally, hundreds of ancient and impressive Buddha statues cover the walls and ceiling of this ancient cave, which must have been developed over the years! Walking at the feet of the Buddha, you will notice the murals of his favorite disciple Ananda. As the story says, on his head, God Vishnu built a cave with his magical powers. The architecture, paintings or history behind the temple cannot fail to impress you.
King’s Cave
The second cave is the largest of all caves and is called Maharaja Lena, the cave of the King. Here, you can see 16 standing Buddha statues, 40 seated Buddha statues, statues of shaman and Vishnu with garlands, as well as statues of King Vata Gamma Niabaya and King Nissan Kamala. On the left side of Maharaja Lina, you will see a rock-hewn Buddha statue, alongside wooden statues of Guanyin and Maitreya.
As engraved on a stone near the entrance of the monastery, King Vattagamani Abhaya sanctified the monastery in the 1st century BC, and King Nissan Kamala gilded 50 statues in the 12th century. This cave also has a pagoda and a spring with healing power. Walking through this cave, I also noticed the distinctive tempera on the ceiling, dating back to the 18th century, depicting the life of the Buddha, from the dream of Mahayana to the temptation of demons.
Other illustrations depict major events in Sri Lanka’s history. Between the first and second caves, you will pass through a small Vishnu valley where it seems to be attracting a few believers.
Mahalut Vihara
Maha Alut Vihara is the third cave, and it is also known as the Great New Monastery. This cave is a rendezvous with Kangdayan style ceilings and frescoes painted in the 17th century under the reign of the famous Buddhist missionary King Kirti Sri Raja Singha.
In addition to 50 Buddha statues, this cave also houses a statue of King Kirti Sri Rajasinha.
Paschima Viharaya
The 4th and 5th caves are relatively smaller than the other caves and are said to date back to later times. Paschima Viharaya, or the cave of a western temple, besides more Buddha statues and statues, it is the fourth Buddha in a row to depict peace in a meditative pose.
Dewana Arut Vihalaya
Devana Alut Viharaya, the cave of the second new temple, is the fifth, last and nearest cave in the temple complex. In this cave, you will see various paintings and Buddha statues. The statues and pictures in other caves are carved from granite, and in this cave, they are built with bricks and stucco.
Each of these “temple rooms” is a symbol of many periods of Sinhalese art and sculpture. Although you will encounter many Buddha statues of various sizes and postures, the largest of which is 50 feet long. It usually only takes an hour or two to explore all the caves. The golden Buddha descended from the caves. It stops on a red-lip giant dragon decorated with neon signs in the posture of the wheel or the mudra of Falun.
Timeline of Dambulla Cave:
1st century BC: paintings and statues
2nd to 5th centuries BC: The stupa was built
3rd to 7th centuries BC: early inhabitants
12th century: statues of Hindu gods were added
18th century: Completed cave and shrine construction
19th century: additional caves and paintings were added
20th century: Promoting lighting and UNESCO reconstruction
