The Dambulla Cave Temple

The Dambulla Cave Temple is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka, a sacred pilgrimage site for over two thousand years, set in a series of caves beneath an overhanging rock. A UNESCO site, its five main caves shelter a remarkable collection of over 150 statues of the Buddha and kings, and their ceilings and walls are entirely covered in vivid, intricate murals depicting the life of the Buddha, glowing in the dim cave light.

What you actually see

• The cave statues - the over 150 Buddha and royal statues.
• The ceiling murals - the vivid painted ceilings and walls.
• The reclining Buddha - the great carved reclining figures.
• The rock and views - the climb up and the view over the plains.

When to go

December to April for the best weather in this region; go early to avoid the midday heat on the climb up to the caves. It is very close to Sigiriya, so the two are easily combined in a day.

Honest expectations

It is a working, sacred temple, so a modest dress code is enforced, with shoulders and knees covered and shoes removed at the caves, where the stone can be hot underfoot. It involves a climb up steps to reach the caves. Monkeys around the site can be a nuisance. It pairs perfectly with nearby Sigiriya.

Nearby

Sigiriya is just up the road; the ancient cities and Kandy are in the Cultural Triangle.