Our first tour was to the Dambulla Cave Temples. These caves have been Buddhist prilgrimage sites for over 2 millenia. The caves vary in age, from over 2000 years old to a mere 200 years old. Our guide explained the meaning of the various positions of the Buddhas. We were struck by the differences between these Buddhist art conventions and those in Thailand.

There is one picture labeled "Ceiling Fish Holy Water." This is a picture of the ceiling taken in the second cave temple. The dark part is water flowing from an underground spring which appears to be flowing uphill, but then drips into a container to collect holy water.

Our guide explained to us that there are multiple Buddha figures meditating so that a large number of pilgrims can sit in front of each one when visiting the site. Also, notice in the fifth temple, which was the last temple (the third is the 2nd to last) built, that the paint is peeling from the Buddha's forearm. This is because natural pigments were not used here.