DEGALDORUWA CAVES

Kandy (Kandy District - LK)
7.333300,80.666700
Grottocenter / carte

Description

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A cave temple (CEYLON TRAVELLER 1973, 1983: 35) and UNESCO World Heritage Site (TRIMMEL 1998: 78). SITUATION: Degaldoruwa (CEYLON TRAVELLER 1973, 1983: 35; TRIMMEL 1998: 78) or Dagaldoruva (DHANAPALA 1957, 1964) lies from Kandy (N07°17'47”: E080°38'06”WGS84) about 1.5 miles (2.5 km) north-east of the Lewella ferry (N07°18': E080°39') across the Mahaveli Ganga. CULTURAL HISTORY: This cave temple was instituted by King Kirtisiri Rajasinha (1747-1780 A.D.) of Kandy. In the cave are a large recumbent and sedent Buddha statues [note 1]. On the inside and front walls of the cave are paintings of the Jataka (birth) stories. These paintings were done by Silvatenne Unnanse, a famous painter of the time, and recently restored (CEYLON TRAVELLER 1973, 1983: 35).A cave temple (CEYLON TRAVELLER 1973, 1983: 35) and UNESCO World Heritage Site (TRIMMEL 1998: 78). SITUATION: Degaldoruwa (CEYLON TRAVELLER 1973, 1983: 35; TRIMMEL 1998: 78) or Dagaldoruva (DHANAPALA 1957, 1964) lies from Kandy (N07°17'47”: E080°38'06”WGS84) about 1.5 miles (2.5 km) north-east of the Lewella ferry (N07°18': E080°39') across the Mahaveli Ganga. CULTURAL HISTORY: This cave temple was instituted by King Kirtisiri Rajasinha (1747-1780 A.D.) of Kandy. In the cave are a large recumbent and sedent Buddha statues [note 1]. On the inside and front walls of the cave are paintings of the Jataka (birth) stories. These paintings were done by Silvatenne Unnanse, a famous painter of the time, and recently restored (CEYLON TRAVELLER 1973, 1983: 35).

Documents

Bibliography 06/01/2018

History

EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1760 (±10): King Kirtisiri Rajasinha (1747-1780 A.D.) of Kandy 'instituted' the temple cave painted by Silvatenne Unnanse (CEYLON TRAVELLER 1973, 1983: 35). 1911: Hermann HESSE (1913; 1926 edited 1968, 3: 838-839), the writer, and Hans Sturzenegger (painter) visited near Kandi (Kandy) one buddhistischer Felsentempel (Buddhist rock temple), without identified name. 1998: UNESCO World heritage site (TRIMMEL 1998: 78). Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Caves nearby

Distance (km)NameLength (m)Depth (m)
9.2RAJAVILLAH NITRE CAVE
11.9VEVAGAMA BAMBARAGALA (Cave at)
13.3HINDAGALA VIHARA
17.1KALUDAWELLA NITRE CAVE
18.2Agalawatte Nitre Cave
18.4UDAWELA CAVE TEMPLE
20.7ALUVIHARA
21.5Maliga Vihara Cave Temple
21.5HUNUGALA LENA