SRI LANKA: Dambulla Caves
The five caves forming the Raja Maha
Vihara, in the Central Province of Sri Lanka, are commonly called the
Dambulla Caves after the nearby village. Climbing the long flight of steps
cut in the towering rock face is exhausting in the heat, but the reward at
the top is worthwhile, for cultural tourists, as well as religious pilgrims.
Every inch of the caves is embellished with murals depicting scenes of
significant events in the life of Lord Buddha, the largest cave has
forty-eight statues of him. There are also representations of the Sri Lankan
King, Valagam Bahu, who sought refuge at Dambulla when he was driven into
exile from Anuradapura by Chola invaders from South India in the first
century BC. Hindu artists added paintings of popular deities such as Vishnu
and Ganesh, in the 12th century, and while all the murals have been
repainted over the years, it is remarkable to think that they originally
date from so long ago. A sacred pilgrimage site for more than twenty-two
centuries, the Dambulla Cave complex was inscribed on the World Heritage
List in 1991.