Dambulla Caves - 15 February

After the hot and humid climb up and back down Sigiriya Rock we were treated to a relaxing and refreshing lunch by the Dambulla Rotary Club. We then headed for the famous Dambulla Cave Temple, also located in the Central Province.

This temple is also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla and its history dates back to the 1st Century BC. Five caves with painted ceilings and Buddha statues make up this temple. The caves are in a very large overhanging rock and have been carved in so that the drip line keeps the caves dry. Inside one of the caves is a spring that drips water from the ceiling that is considered to have healing powers.

It was late afternoon by the time we finished exploring the caves so we headed back to Kurunegala for an evening on our own. We were all really craving western food but were unable to find any such restaurant in town, so we ended up at the Cargill's Food Mart where we bought crackers, a cheese ball, some fruit, cereal, milk, Pringles, tuna fish, peanut butter and jelly ... and then enjoyed a veritable western feast back at the hotel.

During our ride to Sigiriya and Dambulla I was able to chat about a lot of different things with the Athugalpura Rotarians. Of course President Obama was of great interest to them. I learned that this area's economy is based heavily on agriculture. The town of Dambulla is the agricultural hub where all harvested crops are brought for distribution. Because deliveries arrive at all hours Dambulla is known as the City That Never Sleeps. Banks and many businesses are open 24-7. I also learned that the Athugalpura Rotarians are very active with community projects with their main focus on a disease called Thalassemia. Thalassemia is an inherited blood disease for which there is no cure. It can be treated with blood transfusions and other complicated procedures, but the Rotarians find the most effective and least expensive approach is to prevent the disease through education and blood screening ... services they sponsor at the local hospital.