DIMBULAGALA CAVES

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A complex of cave temples with hundreds of caves cut out of the rock in a Buddhist hermitage (LONELY PLANET 2003: 236) include at least four or five caves (note 1) or modified natural rock shelters with paintings. KUSCH (1973c: 22) confirms that there are Höhlen (caves) near Dimbulagala south-east of Polonnaruwa. SITUATION 2003 (LONELY PLANET 2003: 237): About 8 km along the road south of Mannampitiya (note 2) on the highway A11 from Polonnaruwa (N07°56': E081°00') east to Batticaloa (N07°43': E081°42'), the rock called Dimbulagala, Gunner's Quoin or Gunners Quoin (note 3) … stands out 545 m above the surrounding scrub (note 4). SITUATION 1974: Dimbulagala / Gunner's Quoin is a range of hills ten miles [16 km] south-east of Polonnaruwa [N07°56': E081°00'] and about seven miles [11 km] from Manampitiya. It is better known as Gunner's Quoin. The ascent is trying and sometimes dangerous, but it is a truly picturesque spot to visit. Ruins of various periods from 300 B.C.to 1,200 A.D. are scattered on the hillside (CEYLON TRAVELLER 1974: ?; 1983: 111). Dimbulgala or Gunner's Quoin, as it is popularly known, is a huge rock outcrop. Nearly three miles [4.8 km] long it rises dramatically 1,753 feet [534 m] high above the vast plains just south of Manampitiya. Quite naturally the veddahs made their homes in the caves of this rock … (CEYLON TRAVELLER 1974: ?; 1983: 235). CULTURAL HISTORY - human use: There are hundreds of caves cut out of the rock in a Buddhist hermitage that has been occupied almost continuously since the 3rd century BC. The temple at the base of the rock is the first of 15 cave temples in the complex that adventurous visitors can explore on their way to the top of the rock (LONELY PLANET 2003: 237). CEYLON TRAVELLER (1974, 1983: 112): Brahmi inscriptions over drip-ledges of several caves prove the antiquity of the place. One inscription shows that the caves were prepared by Queen Sundari, wife of Vikramabahu, son of Vijayabahi I of Polnnaruwa. Dimbulagala was a forest hermitage in medieval times and a centre of learning. There is still a hermitage and a shrine there. The site is also important as it was the residence of Dimbulagala Kasyapa Thera, mentioned in the Katikavatu of Polonnaruwa. CULTURAL HISTORY - rock art: CEYLON TRAVELLER (1974, 1983: 112) reports several caves with drip-ledges (note 5) and Brahmi inscriptions, which prove the antiquity of the place. One inscription shows that the caves were prepared by Queen Sundari, wife of Vikramabahu, the son of Vijayabahi 1 of PolonnaruwaNear the very summit are a series of caves with white plastered walls known as –>Maravidiya. Two of the caves are better preserved and contain paintings which once covered the whole plastered surface. On the summit and within the caves are two pools of clear water. In two other caves the paintings are in a bad state, but the bold outlines are clear. KUSCH (1973c: 22) had learned about fragments of paintings dating to the first hal of the 12th century. These, however, are said to have been destroyed by a -fanatic- (fundamentalist).nnaruwa. Dimbulagala was a forest hermitage in medieval times and a centre of learning. There is still a hermitage and a shrine there. The site is also important as it was the residence of Dimbulagala Kasyapa Thera, mentioned in the Katikavatu of Polonnaruwa. CULTURAL HISTORY - rock art: CEYLON TRAVELLER (1974, 1983: 112) reports several caves with drip-ledges (note 5) and Brahmi inscriptions, which prove the antiquity of the place. One inscription shows that the caves were prepared by Queen Sundari, wife of Vikramabahu, the son of Vijayabahi 1 of PolonnaruwaNear the very summit are a series of caves with white plastered walls known as –>Maravidiya. Two of the caves are better preserved and contain paintings which once covered the whole plastered surface. On the summit and within the caves are two pools of clear water. In two other caves the paintings are in a bad state, but the bold outlines are clear. KUSCH (1973c: 22) had learned about fragments of paintings dating to the first hal of the 12th century. These, however, are said to have been destroyed by a -fanatic- (fundamentalist).