Sri Lanka: Aluvihare Rock Cave Temple

Aluvihare is a temple in a cave among rocky landscape north of Kandy. The temple has origins in the 3rd century when the local king introduced Buddhism to the country and built a dagoba on the site. It was in this temple that over 500 monks worked in developing the philosophical Buddhist doctrines that became the foundation for Tripitaka. The multiple caves have brightly painted and decorated walls and roof, there are many Buddha statues as well. Some of the painting are gory and bizarre, depicting what goes on in hell (definitely R-rated material). Then there is also a cave with figures depicting various tortures and cruelties on an even bloodier scale. Fun stuff…
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