Five painted caves in a granite outcrop, holding more than 150 Buddha statues and murals that cover over 2,000 square metres.
High on a rock above the town of Dambulla, five caves have been places of worship for more than 2,000 years. Tradition says King Valagamba sheltered here when he was driven from Anuradhapura in the 1st century BC, and turned the caves into a temple when he regained his throne. Later kings kept adding statues and paintings, and the complex became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.
Inside the five caves
Each cave is different:
- Cave of the Divine King holds a 14-metre reclining Buddha carved from the rock.
- Cave of the Great Kings is the largest and most impressive, with dozens of statues and a ceiling painted edge to edge. A spring drips from the roof into a pot that is never allowed to run dry.
- The Great New Monastery was painted in the Kandyan style in the 18th century.
- and 5. Two smaller caves with seated and standing Buddhas.
Together they contain more than 150 statues and murals covering about 2,100 square metres, the largest area of ancient cave paintings in Sri Lanka.
Visiting
- The climb from the road takes 15–20 minutes on sloping rock steps. Monkeys are bold, so keep food out of sight.
- Buy tickets at the office near the bottom of the steps before you start climbing.
- Cover shoulders and knees, and remove shoes and hats at the cave entrance.
- The golden Buddha and museum at the base belong to the modern Golden Temple and are separate from the ancient caves.
Combine it with
Dambulla is the hub of the Cultural Triangle: Sigiriya is 30 minutes away, and Polonnaruwa and Minneriya are an hour's drive.
