Temple Architecture & Frescoes
Sri Lanka's temple art is among the most significant in Asia. The island has developed its own architectural style, distinctly different from Indian, Burmese, or Thai temples:
- Dagobas (Stupas): The bell-shaped white domes are the hallmark of Sinhalese temples. The largest (Jetavanaramaya in Anuradhapura, 122 m) were among the tallest structures of the ancient world.
- Vatadage: Circular relic houses, unique to Sri Lanka. The finest example is in Polonnaruwa.
- Cave Temples: From Dambulla to dozens of smaller cave temples — the tradition of converting natural caves into places of worship dates back to the 3rd century BC.
- Frescoes: The Maidens of the Clouds in Sigiriya (5th century) are world-famous, but the ceiling paintings of Dambulla and the wall paintings of smaller temples are also remarkable.
