HINDAGALA VIHARA

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A modified natural sacred rock shelter or cave (temple cave) on a crag under a boulder (CEYLON TRAVELLER 1983: 36) is a Buddhist vihara (note 1) contains rock art and a large reclining (recumbent) statue of Buddha (DHANAPALA 1957 edited 1964). At one end of the cave is a dagaba (dagoba, stupa). SITUATION (CEYLON TRAVELLER 1983: 36): The Hindagala Vihara (note 2) is near the 6th mile (10th kilometre) on the Paradeniya (note 3) - Galaha (note 4) road: Here, on a crag under a boulder, is a cave temple [or, more likely, a temple cave] of the late Kandy period. CULTURAL HISTORY - rock art: On the outside and inside of the wall are paintings of the late Kandy period. On the cave roof below the drip-ledge [note 5] are paintings for which the base has been prepared by spreading lime plaster on the rock. These may be among the earliest paintings of the island. The older paintings at Hindagala may belong to the Sigiriya period as the colours and the style of drawing are similar (CEYLON TRAVELLE 1983: 36). 1983: 36).