DEGALDORUWA CAVES

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).