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469:(lena in Sinhalese meaning cave), or "Cave of the Divine King." An account of the founding of the monastery is recorded in a 1st-century Brahmi inscription over the entrance to the first cave. This cave is dominated by the 14-meter statue of the Buddha, hewn out of the rock. It has been repainted countless times in the course of its history, and probably received its last coat of paint in the 20th century. At his feet is Buddha's favourite pupil, Ananda; at his head,
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This temple complex dates back to the first century BCE. It has five caves under a vast overhanging rock, carved with a drip line to keep the interiors dry. In 1938 the architecture was embellished with arched colonnades and gabled entrances. Inside the caves, the ceilings are painted with intricate
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The conservation project undertaken between 1982 and 1996 focussed mainly on the preservation of the eighteenth-century mural schemes which represent around 80% of the total surviving paintings at
Dambulla. By the late 1990s, the majority of these schemes remained in excellent condition, with the
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As the
Dambulla Temple remains an active ritual centre, the conservation plans of the 1982-1996 project were directed at improving the infrastructure and accessibility of the site in accordance with its UNESCO World Heritage status. This involved the renovation of hand-cut paving within the complex
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Subsequent conservation strategies at the
Dambulla Temple Complex (mainly since 1982) have focussed on maintaining the integrity of the existing complex which has remained unaltered since the reconstruction of the temple veranda in the 1930s. This strategy was agreed upon during a collaborative
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Dambulla 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 area. Major attractions are spread over five caves, which contain statues and paintings. These paintings and
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Conservation at the
Dambulla Temple Complex has primarily concentrated on the preservation of its mural schemes. Senake Bandaranayake reports that the schemes were cleaned during an initial conservation project during the 1960s which involved the cleaning of the murals and the application of a
445:, 19 km away. Dusk brings hundreds of swooping swallows to the cave entrance. The largest cave measures about 52m from east to west, and 23m from the entrance to the back, this spectacular cave is 7m tall at its highest point. Hindu deities are also represented here, as are the kings
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Cleaning was not undertaken during the 1982-1996 project which instead focussed on the implementation of a series of remedial measures to stabilise the murals as well as developing a long-term conservation strategy to minimise further human or environmental damage.
401:, he sought refuge here from South Indian usurpers for 15 years. After reclaiming his capital, the King built a temple in thankful worship. Many other kings added to it later and by the 11th century, the caves had become a major religious centre and still are.
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The
Dambulla cave monastery is still functional and remains the best-preserved ancient edifice in Sri Lanka. This complex dates from the third and second centuries BC, when it was already established as one of the largest and most important monasteries.
533:. There is also a dagoba and a spring which drips its water said to have healing powers, out of a crack in the ceiling. Distinctive tempera paintings on the cave ceiling dating from the 18th century depict scenes from Buddha's life, from the dream of
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and the installation of modern lighting. Further investment in the Temple's infrastructure has seen the construction of a museum and other tourist facilities located away from the historical complex.
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Prehistoric Sri
Lankans would have lived in these cave complexes before the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka as there are burial sites with human skeletons about 2700 years old in this area, at
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More recent inspections by UNESCO in 2003 have proposed an expansion to the existing protected zone around the complex in order to minimise damage to surrounding archaeological features.
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521:, "Cave of the Great Kings." The Buddha statue hewn out of the rock on the left side of the room is escorted by wooden figures of the
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The temple is composed of five caves of varying sizes and magnificence. The caves, built at the base of a 150m high rock during the
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gilded the caves and added about 70 Buddha statues in 1190. During the 18th century, the caves were restored and painted by the
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561:(1747–1782), the famous Buddhist revivalist. In addition to the 50 Buddha statues, there is also a statue of the king.
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schemes of the larger shrines (Vihara 3 and Vihara 2) still retaining most of their eighteenth-century features.
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and his life. There are a total of 153 Buddha statues, three statues of Sri Lankan kings and four statues of
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In the second and largest cave, in addition to 16 standing and 40 seated statues of Buddha, are the gods
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patterns of religious images following the contours of the rock. There are images of the Lord Buddha and
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is traditionally thought to have converted the caves into a temple in the first century BC. Exiled from
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Rock, offering a panoramic view of the surrounding flat lands, which includes the rock fortress
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Conservation of
Ancient Sites on the Silk Road: The Dambulla Rock Temple Complex, Sri Lanka
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723:(Hong Kong: Visual Dharma Publications, Ltd.) ISBN 962-7049-05-0 / ISBN 978-962-7049-05-0
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times (1073 to 1250), are by far the most impressive of the many cave temples found in
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and Vishnu, which pilgrims often decorate with garlands, and finally, statues of King
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The Golden Buddha statue, Dambulla golden temple, just downhill from the Cave temple.
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UNESCO World
Heritage Site in Matale District, Sri Lanka
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The shrine rooms are representative of many epochs of
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Archaeological protected monuments in Matale
District
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693:Senake Bandaranayake (1997). Neville Agnew (ed.).
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791:Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications
329:and 43 kilometres (27 mi) north of
734:Photos from inside Dambulla Cave Temple
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501:Statue of Sleeping Buddha inside Cave 5
457:- the Buddha's most devoted disciple.
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721:Buddhist Sculptures of Sri Lanka’’;
55:adding citations to reliable sources
368:near the Dambulla cave complexes.
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849:World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka
770:World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka
672:, Discover Sri Lanka with Lakpura
670:Dambulla Cave Temple in Sri Lanka
658:Dambulla Cave temple of Sri Lanka
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286:Dam̆būlla Raja Maha
278:දඹුල්ල රජ මහා විහාරය
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221:7.85667°N 80.64917°E
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49:Please help
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806:Polonnaruwa
583:Sinhala art
431:Polonnaruwa
366:Ibbankatuwa
224: /
199:Coordinates
189:1991 (15th
186:Inscription
843:Categories
633:References
317:(1991) in
212:80°38′57″E
77:newspapers
447:Valagamba
435:Sri Lanka
319:Sri Lanka
209:7°51′24″N
176:Reference
170:Sri Lanka
884:Dambulla
811:Sigiriya
648:, UNESCO
599:Dambulla
535:Mahamaya
443:Sigiriya
439:Dambulla
349:and the
288:Vihāraya
162:Dambulla
157:Location
565:Statues
372:History
351:Ganesha
323:Colombo
313:, is a
274:Sinhala
191:Session
91:scholar
612:UNESCO
471:Vishnu
455:Ananda
453:, and
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331:Matale
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327:Kandy
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355:Mara
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