Dambulla, Sri Lanka

I did another swap with Ravindra in Sri Lanka. I really do love postcards from that country, it looks like such a beautiful place!



This postcard shows the Golden Temple of Dambulla. A sacred pilgrimage site for 22 centuries, this cave monastery, with its five sanctuaries, is the largest, best-preserved cave-temple complex in Sri Lanka. The Buddhist mural paintings (covering an area of 2,100 m2) are of particular importance, as are the 157 statues. There are also 3 statues of srilankan kings and 4 statues of god and goddess. The latter 4 include two statues of Hindu gods, Vishnu and Ganesh.

My old penpal, Dinushka, once sent me a postcard of Dambulla as well, but that one shows a view from inside the temple:





As for the stamps... The one on the left shows a Stupa (a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics) in Mahiyangana (I'm not sure of the year of issue), while the one next to it was issued in 2009 and commemorates 50th Anniversary of Sri Lanka - Cuba Diplomatic Relations. The stamp next to that (on top) is from a set of 2 stamps issued in 2006, issued for 10th South Asian Games. The stamp next to that one on the right was issued in 1998 and commemorates the 50 years of Sri Lankan indenpendence. I'm not sure about the year of issue for the big stamp at the bottom, but it depicts Polonnaruwa eran architecture, in particular the Palace of King Parakramabahu the Great and audience hall of King Nissankamalla (1017 - 1235 AD).