I have seen very many temples in my time, and in general I have not got great photos from them other than as a touristic record. That's not because of the temples which are mostly gorgeous and atmospheric. It's more because I am not an architectural photographer, and I can not find ways to make an architectural shot look interesting in its own right as a photo.



As a result I didn't plan any temple visits, and in general avoided the towns and cities with famous sites. However on the trip I came across a couple of temples which I did want to photograph, for various reasons. I don't claim to have solved my temple problem, but I got some shots that I thought were good enough to put in an album.



The first of these was the Nagapooshani Amman Kovil, a magnificent Hindu temple on Nainativu Island, known for its vibrant Dravidian architecture and spiritual importance. The colorful gopuram decorated with intricate carvings is breathtakingly intricate and alive with energy. It also has a rather humorous sacred cow in the entranceway, which is a favorite with local crows.



The second was the amazing cave temple at Dambullah. I have never seen a temple quite like this one. It is a magnificent rock-cut monastery complex built into a towering 160-meter granite rock and dates back to the 1st century BCE. The site comprises five primary cave sanctuaries filled with a remarkable collection of 153 Buddha statues, depictions of Sri Lankan kings, and intricate murals covering over 2,000 square meters of cave ceilings. Although undeniably a tourist site, there is a serenity and atmosphere here that is quite moving.





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