Heritage · Central Province
Dambulla
Five caves, two thousand years of painted ceiling.
The feeling
A golden Buddha the size of a building marks the base of a rock riddled with cave temples, their ceilings and walls painted continuously since the first century BCE. Walk up as the afternoon light turns the rock the colour of the statues inside.
Five caves, two thousand years of painted ceiling.
At a glance
Character
Heritage
Coordinates
07° 51′ N · 80° 39′ E
Best time
Late afternoon, year-round
On our routes
2 packages pass through here
Things to see
while you're here.
- The painted ceilings of the cave temples
- The Golden Temple's giant Buddha statue
- Views over the tank country from the rock
A closer look.
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