The Dambulla Cave Temple is an ancient Buddhist temple complex set into rock caves in Dambulla, in Sri Lanka's Central Province. It is also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla and as the Dambulla Royal Rock Temple. The site is listed here as a heritage site, and it is one of the country's best-known places of Buddhist worship and art.
What you will see
The complex is made up of caves carved into a rock outcrop, and its interiors hold a large collection of religious works. The caves contain more than 150 Buddha statues and extensive cave paintings covering their walls and ceilings. Many visitors spend most of their time moving slowly from cave to cave, looking at the statues and the painted surfaces around them.
Its history
The temple complex is recorded as dating back to the 1st century BC, which makes it one of the oldest sites of its kind on the island. Its long use as a place of Buddhist devotion is visible in the way the caves have been decorated and added to over time.
Planning a visit
The temple is on the Dambulla-Anuradhapura Road, in Dambulla, with the postal address Dambulla 21100. Because it is a working place of worship, visitors are expected to dress modestly and to remove their shoes before entering the caves. Allow enough time to walk through the complex at an unhurried pace, and check the contact details in advance if you want current information: +94 66 228 4561.
Dambulla is a small town, and the temple makes a natural focus for a day in the area. Its setting in the Central Province means it can be combined with other visits in the surrounding region, and the rock itself gives the site a distinctive presence that stays with visitors after they leave.