Coordinates: 7°51′24 N°80′38 Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...

The city of Dambulla is situated in the Central Province of Sri Lanka, the city is situated 148 km east of Colombo and 72 km north of Kandy. Major attractions of the city include the largest and best preserved cave temple complex of Sri Lanka, the Rangiri Dambullu international cricket stadium famous for being built in just 167 days, the city also boasts to have the largest rose quartz mountain range in South Asia, and the Iron wood forest or Namal Uyana. Image File history File linksMetadata Approach_to_Dhambulla_Cave_Complex. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Approach_to_Dhambulla_Cave_Complex. ... Location Map of Colombo with its administrative districts Coordinates , Government District Colombo Division, Colombo District Mayor Uvaiz Mohammad Imitiyaz (Independent Group) Geographical characteristics Area     City 248 mi²/ 642 km²     Land   / km²     Water   / km² Demographics Population     City (2001) 647,100 ( 2001 census )     Density   3,305/km²   Metro 2,234,289 (Colombo... The Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy Kandy (මහ නුවර in Sinhala கண்டி in Tamil) is a city in the centre of Sri Lanka. ...

History

The area is thought to be inhabited from as early as the 3rd century BC. Statues and paintings in these caves dates back to the 1st century BC. But the paintings and statues were repaired and repainted in 11th 12th 18th century AD. The caves in the city provided refuge to King Valagamba also called Vattagamini Abhaya in his 14 year long exile from the Anuradapura kingdom. Buddhist monks meditating in the caves of Dambulla at that time provided the exiled king protection from his enemies. When King Valagamba returned to the throne at Anuradapura kingdom in the 1st century BC, he had magnificent rock temple built at Dambulla as a gratitude to the monks in Dambulla. Anuradhapura, (අනුරාධපුර in Sinhala), is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, world famous for its well preserved ruins of the Great Sri Lankan Civilization. ...

Dambulla cave temple

Main article: Dambulla cave temple

It is the largest and best preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. The rock towers 160 m over the surrounding plains.There are more than 80 documented caves in the surrounding. Major attractions are spread over 5 caves, which contain statues and paintings. This paintings and statues are related to Lord Buddha and his life. There are total of 153 Buddha Statues, 3statues of Sri Lankan kings and 4 statues of god and goddess. The later 4 include two statues of Hindu gods, god Vishnu and god Ganesh. The murals, covers an area of 2,100 square meters. Depictions in the walls of the caves include Buddha's temptation by Mara (demon) and Buddha's first sermon. Seated Buddha statue at Dambulla cave temple Dambulla Cave Temple (also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla) is a world heritage site (1991) in Sri Lanka, situated in the central part of the country. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Dhambulla_7. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Dhambulla_7. ... Alternate meanings: Cave (disambiguation) The outside world viewed from a cave A cave is a natural underground void. ... The Mona Lisa is perhaps the best-known artistic painting in the Western world. ... A stone image of the Buddha. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... A sermon is an oration by a prophet or member of the clergy. ...

Time line of the Caves

• 3rd century BC Early Inhabitants
• 1st century BC Paintings and Statues
• 5th century AD the stupa was built
• 12th century AD Addition of the statues of Hindu gods Vishnu

and Ganesh To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

References

• Dambulla Guide
• History and Heritage of Sri Lanka
• Unesco World Heritage
• Dambulla Rock Temple

World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka

Anuradhapura | Galle and its Fortifications | Golden Temple of Dambulla | Kandy | Polonnaruwa | Sigiriya | Sinharaja Forest Reserve Image File history File links Flag_of_Sri_Lanka. ... Elabana Falls is in Lamington National Park, part of the Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves World Heritage site in Queensland, Australia. ... Anuradhapura, (අනුරාධපුර in Sinhala), is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, world famous for its well preserved ruins of the Great Sri Lankan Civilization. ... The Fort: View of the lighthouse Galle (ගාල්ල in Sinhala; காலி in Tamil) (pronounced as one syllable, rhyming with Gaul in English, in Sinhalese, IPA /gaːlːə/) is a town situated on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, 119 km from Colombo. ... The Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy Kandy (මහ නුවර in Sinhala கண்டி in Tamil) is a city in the centre of Sri Lanka. ... The second most ancient of Sri Lankas kingdoms, Polonnaruwa was first declared the capital city by King Vijayabahu I, who defeated the Chola invaders in 1070 CE to reunite the country once more under a local leader. ... Sigiriya is an archeological site in North Central Sri Lanka. ... Sinharaja Forest Reserve is a national park in Sri Lanka. ...