Stories Behind Names of Places in Sri Lanka DAMBULLA - By Dr. Nimal Sedera

Stories Behind Names of Places in Sri Lanka DAMBULLA – By Dr. Nimal Sedera

Source : Qld Sri Lankan Newsletter – Dæhæna – May 2023

Dambulla is among the famous places in Sri Lanka, 146 km away from the capital city Colombo and located in the Central Province, 72 km north of Kandy. It is popular among the Buddhist pilgrims. The key thing that comes to our mind with the mention of Dambulla is the famous Dambulla Cave, which is supposed to be a unique cave housing a pagoda and large number of Buddha statues. This cave dates back to the time of King Walagambahu.

This cave was turned to a great place of worship by King Walagambahu. It is amazing how he had the vision to build a temple in the cave to last this long to remember him. Even to this date, Sri Lanka receives a substantial income from tourists visiting this place in large numbers. It is appropriate to mention here of the water drop falling from the cave rock roof nonstop from the time the cave was found. This water drop is collected in a pot and used for religious ceremonies of the temple.

Dambulla is seen from the famous rock fortress Sigiriya. They must be talking to each other in a language that we yet do not know. Most of the tourists going to the key tourist attraction Sigiriya come to see the Dambulla cave temple as well.

Anyone would tend to link the name “Dambulla” to King Walagambahu. But it is not so. Before it turned out to be a temple cave, the jungle around it was full of “DAMBA TREES”. Damba is a wild
60 tiny fruit the birds feed on. At that time, people have called it “DAMBAGAS LENA”. After King Walabambahu made the cave a
temple, people who were surprised of the water drop moving upward and dripping down began to call the place “DAMBAULLA” mixing the two names “Damba” and “Ulpotha” (spring). Over time “Dambaulla” turned to be called “Dambulla”.