The cave temples · UNESCO World Heritage
Dambulla
Five caves, 150 Buddha statues and 2,000 square metres of painted ceiling, in use for 2,000 years.
The Dambulla cave temple has been a place of worship since the 1st century BC and the paintings inside were refreshed by successive kings. It is a 20-minute climb and pairs naturally with Sigiriya, 15 minutes away.
What we do here
- Cave temple visit with a site guide
- Early-morning wholesale market
- Hot-air balloon over the Cultural Triangle (November to April)
Worth knowing
- UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991
- The largest cave, Maharaja Vihara, holds 56 statues
- Dambulla wholesale market is the biggest vegetable market in the country
