Things to do in Dambulla

Dambulla, in the Cultural Triangle, is home to the Golden Cave Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a good base for Sigiriya, the ancient cities and safaris.

Top things to do in Dambulla

Dambulla Cave Temple

Five caves on a rock hold more than 150 Buddha statues and painted ceilings, a site of worship for over 2,000 years.

Nalanda Gedige

A stone temple mixing Hindu and Buddhist styles, about 45 minutes south.

Hot air ballooning

Early morning flights over forest, lakes and rocks.

Ironwood Forest

Namal Uyana, a large ironwood forest with a pink quartz ridge.

Best time to go

The area is driest from about May to September; rain falls mainly from October to January.

Visiting the cave temple

The caves are reached by a climb of about 20 minutes up the rock. Tickets are sold near the base; remove shoes and hats and cover shoulders and knees. The Golden Temple museum at the foot has a large golden Buddha statue.

Nearby

Sigiriya and Pidurangala are about 30 minutes away, and Minneriya and Kaudulla about an hour. The market in Dambulla is a large wholesale centre for fruit and vegetables.

How long to spend

Half a day covers the cave temple; most visitors stay in Dambulla or Sigiriya for two nights to see both.

Plan your visit

Sigiriya is about 30 minutes away. For history, background and how to get there, see the Dambulla travel guide, and for accommodation see hotels in Dambulla.