Friday, May 21, 2010
Aukana
At almost 39 feet tall, the Buddha statue at Aukana is a towering peaceful giant. Placed in a sunken courtyard, it puts the Buddha about on eye level with a grand Bodhi Tree.
Dambulla
The museum and Golden Buddha at the base of the mountain is like a carnival. The picture cannot capture how cheesy it is in person.
Dambulla is a series of caves with building facades built across the front of them. It creates an odd effect to walk through the doorway and find yourself in a cave; although, the inside of the caves are almost completely covered with paintings of the Buddha and such and filled with various Buddha statues, so they don't completely look like caves either.
My favorite ornamentation, a lotus pond. Can't believe I set down my bottle of EGB (Elephant Ginger Beer) in my own picture.
Often, I find the Bodhi Tree more grand that whatever else I've come to see.
And the view from the caves is also quite peaceful.
Dambulla is a series of caves with building facades built across the front of them. It creates an odd effect to walk through the doorway and find yourself in a cave; although, the inside of the caves are almost completely covered with paintings of the Buddha and such and filled with various Buddha statues, so they don't completely look like caves either.
My favorite ornamentation, a lotus pond. Can't believe I set down my bottle of EGB (Elephant Ginger Beer) in my own picture.
Often, I find the Bodhi Tree more grand that whatever else I've come to see.
And the view from the caves is also quite peaceful.
Pidurangala Sigiri Rajamaha Viharaya
Very near Sigiriya, Pidurangala has monastery ruins at the base of the rock mountain and places for meditating monks near the top.
Normally we see sites restored by archaeologists. Here we can see the effects of a years on brickwork. Ususally, ancient brickwork is actually in a shambles or completely disintegrated, but here we can see the structure actually sagging after time of settling and shifting and battered by wind, rain and sun.
Meditation cells in a cave near the top of the mountain at Pidurangala
This tank, hewn from the rock, captured rain water to support the monks meditation here.
The reclining Buddha, 48.5 feet long, was damaged by treasure seekers. Unfortunately, many historic works throughout India and Sri Lanka, and probably other places, seem to have been damaged or destroyed by either treasure seekers or, more often, invaders who believed their religion is the only path and debated the point by destroying all else.
Normally we see sites restored by archaeologists. Here we can see the effects of a years on brickwork. Ususally, ancient brickwork is actually in a shambles or completely disintegrated, but here we can see the structure actually sagging after time of settling and shifting and battered by wind, rain and sun.
Meditation cells in a cave near the top of the mountain at Pidurangala
This tank, hewn from the rock, captured rain water to support the monks meditation here.
The reclining Buddha, 48.5 feet long, was damaged by treasure seekers. Unfortunately, many historic works throughout India and Sri Lanka, and probably other places, seem to have been damaged or destroyed by either treasure seekers or, more often, invaders who believed their religion is the only path and debated the point by destroying all else.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Sigiriya
7 AM and the sun is already bright, but it is still morning cool to start the climb of Sigiriya.
Odd images in a cave half way up Sigiriya. Perhaps this site wasn't always used by Therevadins.
About half way up, the view is nice. That is actually a giant statue of the Buddha down there.
The final ascent. I'm not completely thrilled with heights, so these old stairs definitely focus my attention in the present. Just imagine using these acient steps carved in the rock face!
Well, that was fun.
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