The Cave Temple, listed as a World Heritage Site in 1991, is situated on a hill. To witness its spectacular cultural relics, you need to make some effort. From the ticket office, it takes about 15 minutes to climb the stairs, accompanied by monkeys eyeing your food along the way.<\/p>\n
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<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\nIn the 1st century BCE, after King Valagamba was driven out by usurpers, he sought refuge here. When he regained his throne, he built the cave into a temple to express gratitude to those who had assisted him. The entire Cave Temple consists of five caves. Hidden beneath a long stretch of rock, these caves contain the world's largest and oldest murals.<\/p>\n
<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\nThe first cave is a temple housing a 15-meter-long reclining Buddha. The Buddha's feet, uniquely adorned with blooming lotus flowers, are quite special!<\/p>\n
<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\nThe second cave is the largest and best-preserved. All the Buddha statues here are carved from single pieces of rock. To commemorate their ancestors' struggle against Indian invaders, marked by their feet stained with red soil, the Buddha statues' feet are painted red.<\/p>\n
<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\nThrough successive kings' renovations and maintenance, the style of the Buddha statues in each cave has evolved, creating a timeline of Sri Lankan Buddhist art. The statues of the kings also reflect their devotion to Buddhism.<\/p>\n
<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\nCave Temple<\/strong>\r\n\r\nOpening Hours: 0700-1900\nTicket Prices: 2000 LKR (04\/2024)<\/pre>\n\u25e6 Traveling from Dambulla to Sigiriya<\/span><\/h6>\n
Traveling from Dambulla to Sigiriya is quite convenient, taking about half an hour by tuk-tuk. After negotiating with a tuk-tuk driver, we agreed on a round-trip fare of 3000 LKR.
\nFrom the ticket office, you walk along a long pathway flanked by an advanced water system that connects the moat and the artificial lake, ensuring a constant water supply throughout the year.<\/p>\n<\/span><\/div><\/a><\/div>
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In the 5th century AD, King Kasyapa built an aerial palace atop a massive rock, covering approximately 3 hectares. The king, who had seized the throne by killing his father, feared his brother's revenge. To protect himself, he moved the capital to this rock and built a palace there.<\/p>\n
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At the base of Sigiriya, there once stood a giant lion sculpture. Now, only the lion\u2019s paws remain, sparking our imagination.<\/p>\n
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Although the climb involves over 2,400 steps, it is not too difficult. However, the hollow design made even me, who isn\u2019t afraid of heights, break into a cold sweat.<\/p>\n