Cultural Triangle
Dambulla
A mountain hollowed into five painted temples.
Why Visit
The largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka, still an active place of worship after more than two thousand years.
A cave complex carved into a granite outcrop, its five chambers covered floor to ceiling in Buddhist murals and holding over a hundred statues.
History
According to tradition, King Valagamba (also known as Vattagamani Abhaya) took refuge in these caves in the 1st century BCE while driven from his throne in Anuradhapura by South Indian invaders. After reclaiming his kingdom around 89 BCE, he had the caves converted into a rock temple in gratitude for the shelter they provided, and Dambulla has remained an active Buddhist site ever since — making it one of the longest continuously used places of worship in the country. The complex is organised into five separate caves, each with its own name and character: the Cave of the Divine King, the Cave of the Great King, the Great New Monastery, the West Cave and the New Monastery of the Second King, together holding more than 150 Buddha statues and roughly 2,100 square metres of painted ceiling and wall. Later rulers added to it substantially: King Nissanka Malla gilded many of the statues in the 12th century, and King Kirti Sri Rajasinha of Kandy commissioned much of the surviving mural work in the 18th century, layering paint over centuries of earlier work in places. It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1991.
Things to Do
- Walk through all five painted cave temples
- View the reclining Buddha statues
- Watch the sunset from the rock's summit
- See the large golden Buddha statue at the entrance
- Look out over the surrounding plains and the silhouette of Sigiriya
- Combine with a Sigiriya visit on the same day
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dambulla known for?
The largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka, still an active place of worship after more than two thousand years.
When is the best time to visit Dambulla?
The best time to visit Dambulla is January to April, before the midday heat sets in.
What can you do in Dambulla?
Popular things to do in Dambulla include walk through all five painted cave temples, view the reclining Buddha statues and watch the sunset from the rock's summit.
Where is Dambulla located in Sri Lanka?
Dambulla is located in Cultural Triangle, Sri Lanka.
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