Kandy, Sri Lanka
Our grand tour around Sri Lanka rolls on with a stop in Kandy. But first, we made a detour to visit the ancient monastery cave temples in Dambulla. Then Gary tested his driving chops dodging 15 different things happening out our front window at all times, while simultaneously tackling curvy mountain roads. In Kandy, we visited the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and meandered through the fruit and vegetable markets, wistful the organized chaos could replace our corporate dominated grocery stores back home. The highlight of the visit was when we thought we were the first humans to see pterodactyls in flight, only to quickly realize we were surrounded by thousands of fruit bats.
The cave temple complex has a history of more than 2,000 years and is one of the largest cave temples in southern Asia.
There are well preserved paintings and statues in five caves in Dambulla.
The second cave is the most spectacular, measuring 52 meters wide and contains many statues and wall paintings. Water drips from the ceiling, even in drought, and is used for religious rituals.
The Golden Temple-Dambulla
Vendors in the streets surrounding the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic sell offerings to worshippers.
The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
Vahahitina Maligawa—inside the temple complex
The entrance to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. The temple contains the most important Buddist relic—the tooth of the Buddha. Pilgrims wait in lines outside the temple to bring offerings to the Buddha. The temple is also the home of many special religious ceremonies throughout the year.
The temple is heavily guarded and you don’t actually see the tooth. The tooth is in a special chamber housed in a gold casket shaped like a stupa, which contains a series of six dagoba caskets of diminishing sizes.
Worshippers bring offerings of flowers and food to the Buddha.
In the 16th century, the Portuguese stole the tooth and burned it in devout Catholic gusto. The Sinhalese deny this claim and say the Portuguese only stole a replica, and that the real tooth remained with them. Rumors still circulate the real tooth is hidden somewhere secure, and the tooth in Kandy is only a replica.
The sacred tooth of Buddha was said to be snatched from the flames of the Buddha funeral pyre in 483 BC and smuggled into Sri Lanka tucked in the hair of a princess. The tooth was first taken to Anuradhapura, and then moved around the country throughout history, gaining importance and eventually symbolizing sovereignty.
As fast as worshippers bring offerings into the temple, they are hauling it out in garbage cans one after another.
Kandy vegetable and fruit market.
Fruit market
Avenue of the Royal Palms in the Royal Botanical Gardens
Royal suspension bridge
Those are not leaves in the tree—-they are hanging FRUIT BATS!
Bats everywhere!
Gary and Channing hard at work on math.
Hanthana House—our temporary home in Kandy
The quiet story in Sri Lanka that needs to be shouted from roof tops is the amazing hospitality at home stays. Home stay hosts welcome you into their homes and become local guides, chefs, cultural teachers, and friends.
