Visit to the Golden Temple of Dambulla, Sri Lanka

After two glorious days on the beach, with its soft breezes and waves lapping gently on the shore, I took the train inland to Kandy, the centre of the Sri Lankan Buddhist community. The train ride itself was fascinating. At one point we passed close by a monastery nestled high up in the mountains, b...

After two glorious days on the beach, with its soft breezes and waves lapping gently on the shore, I took the train inland to Kandy, the centre of the Sri Lankan Buddhist community. The train ride itself was fascinating. At one point we passed close by a monastery nestled high up in the mountains, but that was only a taste of what was to come. Central Sri Lanka has a huge number of heritage sites, all within easy access of Kandy. I chose to visit the Golden Temple of Dambulla, around 72 km north of the city. This UNESCO World Heritage Site consists of five caves, each containing elaborately decorated statues and fascinating wall paintings that tell the story of Buddha\'s life. As I entered the first cave, I was utterly astonished by the scene before me. A group of monks were chanting, praying and lighting hundreds of candles around the cave. It was a magical atmosphere that I\'ll always remember.