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 events in the life of Lord Buddha, the
largest cave alone has 48 statues. There are also representations of the
Sri Lankan King Valagam Bahu who sought refuge at Dambulla when driven into
exile from the Anuradapura kingdom by Chola invaders from South India in the
1st 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 complex was inscribed on the World Heritage
List in 1991.