As one of the most popular UNESCO Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle, the Dambulla Golden Cave Temple is a must-visit highlight for all travellers. The Cave of the Great Kings is perhaps the most impressive and ornate area of this iconic cave compound, which was built back in the 1st century B.C.E. From the layout of the cave to the sculptures found within, here are some tips on how to uncover the many facets of the Cave of the Great Kings.
1. Do Your Homework
Those who wish to make the most of their visit to the Dambulla Cave Temple or any other historic point of interest should first and foremost read up on the venue. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the best-preserved and largest cave temple compound on the planet, this iconic spiritual epicentre has a colourful and engaging legacy that's documented in both online and offline resources. The Cave of the Great Kings, also known as the Maharaja Vihara Lena in the local tongue, is a particularly interesting section of the temple as it not only contains the sculpture of two great Sri Lankan monarchs, King Nissankamalla and King Valagambahu but also nearly 50 sculptures of Lord Buddha including a life-size one rendered in granite among many other treasures.
2. Explore in Order
As the Cave of the Great Kings is the 2nd cave tourists will come across during a tour of the Dambulla Cave complex, one cannot stress the importance of visiting the caves in order. While it may be tempting to head to the Maharaja Vihara Lena upon your arrival at the temple grounds, it is better to take in each of the caves in the order in which they are located so as to experience the temple as a pilgrim would have back in the 1st century BC when the venue was constructed by none other than King Vittagamini Abhaya. Not only will touring the caves in an ascending order give visitors a better understanding of the various renovations, improvements, and frescoes that are were added in later periods of the 1700s but also how the temple has been intentionally divided between multiple shrines.
3. Notice the Details
Apart from the sculptures mentioned above, the Cave of the Great Kings also contains a stupa that's surrounded by eleven statues of the Buddha in a seated position. Other details that you should take note of in the interior of the cave is its length and that more than fifty-five sculptures of Lord Buddha are not the only highlights found within. There are also statues of Hindu Gods including Ganesha, Vishnu, and Saman, which speak to the multi-cultural religious heritage of the island nation, even during the 1st century B.C. Don't forget to take a closer look at the exquisite murals and frescoes decorating the walls and the ceiling of the temple as they are visual representations of Lord Buddha's many incarnations and his battle with the demons before achieving enlightenment. The geometric designs on the cave are also impressive as well as how well the frescoes have retained their colours in spite of their age.
4. The Bowl
Another point of interest inside the Cave of the Great Kings is a massive bronze bowl that is believed to have been placed centuries ago to catch raindrops that drip from the ceiling. What makes this bowl special is that no matter the season, whether the country is facing a severe lack of rainfall or is struggling during a drought, the bowl is never empty.
5. Leave the Camera Behind
Those based at eco-hotels the likes of Heritance Kandalama or any other Kandalama hotel in the area should remember that flash photography is not allowed inside the caves. The flash from modern camera equipment is known to damage ancient murals so refrain from using your cameras inside the caves.
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