Dambulla Cave Temple
Five painted cave shrines high on a rock above Dambulla, filled with more than 150 Buddha statues and ceilings covered in murals, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Dambulla Cave Temple, also called the Golden Temple of Dambulla, is one of the most beautiful places of worship in Sri Lanka. Five caves are set into the side of a huge rock high above the town, and together they hold more than 150 statues of the Buddha, along with gods and kings, under ceilings painted from wall to wall with murals. The site has been used for worship for over two thousand years and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The approach is a climb of several hundred steps up the rock, with views over the countryside and plenty of monkeys for company. At the top, a white colonnade fronts the caves. Inside, it is cool and quiet. The largest cave holds dozens of seated and standing Buddhas, and the first cave contains a reclining Buddha around 14 metres long, carved from the rock itself. Take your time and look up: the painted ceilings, with their repeating Buddha figures and scenes from his life, are the real treasure.
This is an active temple, so dress respectfully, with shoulders and knees covered, and remove your shoes and hat before entering the caves. Photography is allowed, but do not pose with your back to a Buddha statue.
Buy your ticket at the office near the bottom of the steps, beside the big golden Buddha statue and the museum, before you start climbing. Dambulla sits at the centre of the Cultural Triangle, so it fits easily into a day with Sigiriya, about 20 km away, or on the road to Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura.
At a glance
- Entry fee: Around LKR 2,000 for foreign visitors. Buy the ticket at the office at the foot of the steps.
- Opening hours: Around 7:00am to 7:00pm
- Time needed: 1.5 to 2 hours
- Best time: On the edge of Dambulla town, on the A9 road. Buses from Colombo, Kandy and Anuradhapura stop in Dambulla, and the temple entrance is a short tuk tuk ride from the bus stand.
How to get there
On the edge of Dambulla town, on the A9 road. Buses from Colombo, Kandy and Anuradhapura stop in Dambulla, and the temple entrance is a short tuk tuk ride from the bus stand.