Dambulla, Sri Lanka (Ceylon)
Dambulla (In Tamila Tampuḷḷai). It was earlier known as ' Dhamballai ' and
was ruled by Kings like Raja Chola & Rajendra Chola during their
tenure in the late 10th and early 11th centuries. It’s a town
situated in the Matale District, Central Province of Sri Lanka (Ceylon), lying
at an elevation of 164M (538Ft) above the sea level. Due to its location at a major junction, Dambulla has the major
vegetable distribution market in the country. Major attractions of the area
include the largest and best-preserved Cave Temple Complex of Sri Lanka.
Sigiriya Rock Fortress also situated nearby Dambulla and the Rangiri Dambulla
International Cricket Stadium (The stadium was built in just 167 days). The
area also boasts the largest rose quartz mountain range in South Asia
& locals and believed that rose quartz was taken from here to built Taj
Mahal in India.
The area is thought to be inhabited from the early 3rd century
BC. Statues and paintings in these caves date back to the 1st century BC. But
the paintings and statues were repaired and repainted several times. The caves
in the city provided refuge to King Valagamba (also called Vattagamini
Abhaya) in his 14-year-long exile from the Anuradhapura kingdom.
Buddhist monks meditating in the caves of Dambulla at that time provided
the exiled king's protection from his enemies. When King Valagamba returned to
the throne at Anuradapura kingdom in the 1st century BC, he had a magnificent
rock temple built at Dambulla in gratitude to the monks in Dambulla.
Ibbankatuwa Megalithic Burial Site
At the Ibbankatuwa Prehistoric burial site near Dambulla,
prehistoric (2700 years old) human skeletons were found on scientific analysis
to give evidence of civilisations in this area long before the arrival of King
Vijaya and also notifying Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Evidence of ancient people
living on agriculture has been detected in this area for over 2700 years
according to archaeological findings(750 BC).
Dambulla Caves
It is
the substantial and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. The rock
towers by 160M (520Ft) over the surrounding plains. There are more than 80
documented caves in the surroundings. Major attractions are spread over 5
caves which contain statues & paintings. These paintings and statues are
related to Shakyamuni Gautama Buddha and his life. There are a total of
153 Buddha statues, three statues of Sri Lankan kings and four
statues of Gods and Goddesses. The latter four include two statues of Hindu gods,
Vishnu and Ganesh. The murals cover an area of 2,100 m2.
The Depictions in the walls of the caves include Buddha's temptation by demon
Mara and Shakyamuni Gautama Buddha's First Sermon.
Climate
Dambulla climate is
classified as tropical. There is more rainfall in the winter than in the summer
in this area. The average temperature is around 26.8 °C (80.2F). Here the
maximum lies to 32.2°C (89.96°F) and the minimum temperature is around 20. 6°C
(69.08°F). And, Yearly rainfall is around 1550 mm. May is the warmest month of
the year, January seems to be the coldest month of the year and December is the
month when maximum Rainfall occurs here.
How to reach Dambulla
By Train
It's
situated 156.1km (97mi) away from Colombo, Sri Lanka. Unfortunately, No railway
line is available for Dambulla. If you wish to travel Dambulla By train, then
you have to take Northern line or eastern line train to reach Kurunegala. Then
you have to catch a bus to reach Dambulla or else you will have to hire a
vehicle. This is the time saving option to reach Dambulla by Train.
By Road
From
Colombo, you can find two roads to reach Dambulla, one is Colombo to Ambepussa
(A1 Road /Colombo - Kandy Main road) then turn left at Ambepussa clock tower
junction to take Ambepussa - Trincomalee Road (A6 Road) to reach Dambulla. This
road takes approximately 4 hours to reach Dambulla.
Second
road is Colombo - Katunayake Expressway (E03) to reach Katunayake. Then you
have to take Katunayake - Veyangoda road (B208 Road) to reach Minuwangoda from
Minuwangoda junction turn left and then take Ekala -Kotadeniyawa road (B111
Road) to reach Kotadeniyawa. Now, you have to connect with Negombo - Giriulla
road (B322 road) to reach Giriulla then turn right to take Narammala -
Dankotuwa road (B308 road) to reach Narammala then you have to connect with
Madampe - Kurunegala Road (B247 road) to reach Kurunegala and after that you
have to connect with Ambepussa - Trincomalee road (A6 road) from Kurunegala to
reach Dambulla. This road also takes precisely 4 hours to reach Dambulla.
Things To Do In Dambulla
Ø Dambulla Cave Buddhist temple
visit - You
can visit here and see the beautiful frescoes where you can also
worship Buddha Statues freely.
Ø Aukana Buddha Statue - The Aukana Buddha
statue is a standing statue of the Shakyamuni Gautama Buddha which is
situated near Kekirawa, North Central of Sri Lanka. The statue having a height
of more than 12M (40Ft) was carved out of a large granite rock face during the
5th century. It depicts a variation of the 'Abhaya mudra' and the
closely worn robe is elaborately carved. This was Constructed during the reign
of King Dhathusena. The Aukana statue is one of the best examples of a
standing statue constructed in ancient Sri Lanka.
Ø Kala Wewa (Lake) - Kala Wewa (Lake) was
erected by King Dhathusena in 460 A.D. It is covered by 18.1 km2 surface area and is
situated at an elevation by 132 m above the sea level in Kekirawa, North
Central In Sri Lanka (Ceylon). This lake is considered as a twin reservoir lake
complex, which are Kala Wewa (Kala Lake) & Balalu Wewa (Balalu Lake)
which has a capacity of 123 million cubic meters. This reservoir complex has
feeding paddy lands in the area & ends of the Tissa Reservoir in
Anuradhapura. Tissa reservoir is situated almost 87km (54mi) away from the Kala
Wewa (Kala Lake), the canal that was made 40 feet wide and 6 inch slope per
mile to Tissa Reservoir from Kala Wewa( Kala Lake) and this is another wonder
of primeval hydraulic engineering facility in ancient Sri Lanka ( Ceylon).
Ø Jathika Namal Uyana - The Jathika Namal Uyana is the largest ironwood forest and
rose quartz mountain in Asia. It's situated 16km (10mi) away from Dambulla city
& surface elevation is above 180M (590Ft). This forest is covered 260 acres
(105.21 Hectare) by ironwood & rose quartz. Locals believe that rose
quartz was taken from here to built Taj Mahal in India.
Ø Hot balloon ride - You can enjoy hot balloon ride at Dambulla during your Dambulla
tour. You can see the mesmerizing view of the Dambulla region and the air view
of Dambulla and Kandalama lake. It will be an amazing experience for you as
well.
Ø Sathutu Dupatha (Pleasure Island) boat tour - Sathutu Dupatha boat tour could gain an amazing experience for
you when you visit Dambulla. There are safe places to bath if you wish to take
a bath on a lake (If you wish to take a bath, please ask safe places from
the villagers before you jump in the lake).
Places To See In Dambulla
· Aukana Buddha Statue
· Dambulla Cave Temple
· Ederagala Buddhist Temple
· Ibbankatuwa Megalithic Burial Site
· Jathika Namal Uyana
· Kala Wewa (Kala Lake)
· Kandalama Leke
· Menikdena Archeological
Reserve & Arboretum
· Popham's Arboretum
· Rangiri Dambulu Golden Temple
· Sathutu Dupatha (Pleasure
Island)
