Dambulla – Son of the Morning Light

Special Feature — THE FORGOTTEN TEMPLE: Dakkinagiriya & the Other Kaludiya Pokuna

March 27, 2023March 26, 2023 David BlackerLeave a comment

A thousand-year-old ‘mountain monastery’, lost in the Kaludiya Pokuna Forest, east of Dambulla; forgotten by the tour guides, and seemingly by time itself. For the visitor seeking something literally off the beaten track, the Dakkinagiri Viharaya is an intriguing but serene detour away from the well-trodden sites of Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle.”

https://sonofthemorninglight.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/img_2819.jpg — The stupa of the 9th century Dakkinagiri Viharaya, with Erawalgala behind it.

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The Death of Prabhāsvaratā*

November 25, 2022November 25, 2022 David BlackerLeave a comment

https://sonofthemorninglight.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/img_2821bw-1.jpg — A dying frangipani tree (known locally as a temple tree) stands before the ruined stupa of the 9th century Dakkinagiri Viharaya, deep in the Kaludiya Pokuna Forest, east of Dambulla. February 2018. The smaller of the guardstones flanking the steps is inscribed with writing attributing this Buddhist pabbata monastery to King Sena II of Anuradhapura. The other houses the carving of a Hindu Nagaraja deity.

^{• 18mm • f/7.1 • 1/160 • ISO400 • 600D & EF-S18-200/3.5-5.6 • circular polariser •}

^{*Sanskrit term for the Buddhist concept of luminosity or light}

The Kaludiya Pokuna Forest, Sri Lanka #31

December 15, 2020December 15, 2020 David BlackerLeave a comment

The Thimbirawa Tank, east of Dambulla and Kandalama. — The Thimbirawa Tank, east of Dambulla and Kandalama, is a fine example of the many small and lesser known reservoirs that dot Sri Lanka’s North Central Province. Shot for my cover story, ‘A Mountain Monastery Forgotten by Time‘, which ran in the March 2018 issue of Serendib, the inflight magazine of Sri Lankan Airlines.

Crumbling Guardian

December 9, 2019June 10, 2020 David BlackerLeave a comment

The Forgotten Temple, Sri Lanka #51 by Son of the Morning Light on 500px.com — A carved Nagaraja guards the steps to the ruined stupa of the 9th century Dakkinagiri Viharaya, in the Kaludiya Pokuna Forest, east of Dambulla. Shot on assignment for Serendib, the inflight magazine of Sri Lankan Airlines. My photo story, “A Mountain Monastery Forgotten by Time“, was the cover feature of the March 2018 issue.

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The Kaludiya Pokuna Forest, Sri Lanka #13

September 16, 2019June 11, 2020 David BlackerLeave a comment

The Kaludiya Pokuna Forest, Sri Lanka #13 by Son of the Morning Light on 500px.com — Located a few kilometers east of the Kandalama Tank, the Kaludiya Pokuna Forest is a protected woodland with a variety of wildlife, and some interesting archeological sites dating to the Late Anuradhapura Period. Shot on assignment for Serendib, the inflight magazine of Sri Lankan Airlines. My photo story, “A Mountain Monastery Forgotten by Time”, was the March 2018 cover feature on the 9th century Dakkinagiri Viharaya.

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No Fighting over Food, or Else!

May 9, 2018June 30, 2020 David BlackerLeave a comment

The Kaludiya Pokuna Forest, Sri Lanka #6 by Son of the Morning Light on 500px.com — A medieval Sinhalese inscription on the wall of a “kutti”, a shallow rock niche used by meditative Buddhist monks, in the Kaludiya Pokuna Forest, in north-central Sri Lanka. The script declares that the rice and buffalo curd donated to the Dakkinagiri Viharaya by a certain Mr Dathanaga in the 9th century would be given instead to the cows and dogs if the priests were to fight over the food. Shot for my photo story, “A Mountain Monastery Forgotten by Time“, which ran in the March 2018 issue of Serendib magazine.

Tank and Field

May 4, 2018June 30, 2020 David BlackerLeave a comment

Paddy Fields, Dambulla, Sri Lanka by Son of the Morning Light on 500px.com — A manmade bund, or dike, separates a small reservoir from the lush paddy fields that it irrigates. Mahakapuyaya, east of Dambulla, Sri Lanka. February 2018.

The Araula Mountains, Sri Lanka #2

April 25, 2018July 5, 2020 David BlackerLeave a comment

The Central Highlands as Seen from Sigiriya #2 by Son of the Morning Light on 500px.com — A series of rocky outcroppings of the Central Highlands, which lie further south, the Araula Range is 600m at its highest point, the Erawalgala Ridge, just east of Kandalama and Dambulla. In the foreground is the Kayanwala Tank, one of Sri Lanka’s many ancient manmade reservoirs. Shot facing south from the 200m high Sigiriya rock fortress in December 2017.

Morning Over the Kaludiya Pokuna Forest, Sri Lanka

April 18, 2018July 5, 2020 David BlackerLeave a comment

Kaludiya Pokuna Forest, Sri Lanka #28 by Son of the Morning Light on 500px.com — Shot for my story on the Dakkinagiri Viharaya, “A Mountain Monastery Forgotten by Time“, which ran in the March 2018 issue of Serendib magazine.

Evening over the Randeniya #4

April 10, 2018July 5, 2020 David BlackerLeave a comment

Evening Over the Randeniya #4 by Son of the Morning Light on 500px.com — Dead trees jab starkly out of the waters of the Randeniya Tank. Dambulla, Sri Lanka. February 2018.