Sri Lanka's Golden Cave Temple
The Dambulla Cave Temple is one of the finest Buddhist monuments in Asia — a complex of five cave sanctuaries in a granite outcrop that have been in continuous religious use for over 2,000 years. The caves were first prepared as a royal retreat by King Vattagamani Abhaya in the 1st century BC, who added murals and Buddha statues after reclaiming his throne. Today they contain 153 Buddha statues, three figures of Sri Lankan kings, and four figures of gods — all watched over by some of the most extraordinary cave frescoes in Asia.
The murals cover every surface of the cave ceilings — 2,100 square metres of paintings depicting the life of the Buddha, the Jataka tales, and scenes of the ancient Kandyan court. The Golden Temple complex at the base of the rock, with its giant seated Buddha visible from the highway, is more recent but equally impressive. Dambulla sits at the junction of the Cultural Triangle, making it an almost unavoidable stop between Sigiriya and Kandy.
Cave One — Devaraja Viharaya
The oldest and most sacred cave, containing a 15-metre reclining Buddha and a figure of Vishnu at his feet.
Cave Two — Maharaja Viharaya
The largest cave: 56 Buddha statues, figures of King Vattagamani Abhaya and Nissankamalla, and exquisite ceiling frescoes.
2,100m² of Ancient Murals
The most complete and best-preserved ancient Buddhist cave paintings in Sri Lanka, spanning ceilings of five interconnected chambers.
Golden Temple
The modern complex at the base of the rock, with a giant golden Buddha seated above the cave entrance.
Rock Summit Views
The approach to the caves offers views across the flat central plains, with Sigiriya Rock visible on a clear day.
Best Time to Visit
Year-round. Remove shoes before entering and cover shoulders and knees — it is an active place of worship.
Getting There
On the main Colombo—Kandy—Trincomalee highway, approximately 4.5 hours from Colombo and 30 minutes from Sigiriya.
