Dambulla Cave Temple
Five cave shrines under a granite overhang, holding more than 150 Buddha statues and about 2,100 square metres of painted walls and ceilings.
Sources
What Dambulla Cave Temple actually is
Dambulla is a working Buddhist monastery in five caves beneath a rock overhang, roughly 150 to 160 m above the plain (sources differ). Monks have lived here since about the 3rd century BCE. Tradition credits King Valagamba (Vattagamani Abhaya) with turning the caves into a temple in the 1st century BCE, after he returned from some 14 years of exile; some sources say 15. UNESCO inscribed the site in 1991, as the ‘Golden Temple of Dambulla’.
Inside, UNESCO counts 157 statues and about 2,100 m² of murals. Wikipedia lists 153 Buddha statues plus three kings and four deities. Cave 2, the Maharaja Viharaya, is the largest, with 56 Buddha statues, 16 standing and 40 seated. Water drips from a crack in its ceiling. Cave 1 has a reclining Buddha cut from the rock, roughly 14 m (some sources say 15). The paintings you see are mainly Kandyan-period work of the 18th century, laid over older layers.
It is a short, steep climb and a short visit, and the caves are small. The art is dense, so slow down rather than trying to see everything. Do not confuse the cave temple with the modern gold Buddha at the foot of the hill.
Worth your attention
Cave 2, Maharaja Viharaya
The largest cave. Wikipedia counts 16 standing and 40 seated Buddhas, a painted ceiling that follows the rock, and a ceiling spring dripping into a vessel.
The reclining Buddha, Cave 1
Roughly 14 m long, cut from the rock, with Ananda at the feet. The cave is small and the figure fills it; the murals here are heavily eroded.
The ceiling paintings
About 2,100 m² of murals across the caves. Cave 3 was painted in Kandyan style under Kirti Sri Rajasinha (1747–1782).
Cave 5
The newest of the five, with statues of brick and plaster and a smaller reclining Buddha of about 10 m.
Before you go
Do this
- Go early or late; midday is hot and the floors get painfully warm
- Cover shoulders and knees, and bring socks for the hot stone
- Leave shoes and hat at the entrance, and expect a small fee for the rack
- Walk up to Cave 2 first, then work back through the others
- Keep belongings close; monkeys are common on the steps
Know this first
- About 360–370 steps, which takes roughly 15–20 minutes at a normal pace
- Ticketing is confusing: reports differ on where the counter is, and tickets are checked at the top
- Do not photograph worshippers, and never pose with your back to a Buddha
- Monkeys have been reported taking shoes left at the entrance
Getting to Dambulla Cave Temple
Most people see Dambulla Cave Temple as part of a stay around Dambulla. Our Dambulla guide covers where to stay, how long to give it and what else is nearby.
Coming straight from the airport, the relevant run is Colombo Airport to Dambulla — fixed price per vehicle, driver waiting inside arrivals with a name board.
Read the full Dambulla guideFrom Colombo Airport
Car up to 3 passengers; vans quoted on the route page. No night surcharge.
Dambulla Cave Temple — frequently asked
What is Dambulla Cave Temple?
A Buddhist monastery in five caves, still in use, with more than 150 statues and about 2,100 m² of murals. UNESCO lists it as the Golden Temple of Dambulla.
How many caves are there?
Five main caves, with more than 80 further caves documented in the surrounding area.
How old is it?
Monks have lived here since about the 3rd century BCE. The temple is traditionally dated to King Valagamba in the 1st century BCE, and the paintings are mostly 18th-century.
How long should I allow?
About an hour for the caves, up to two if you like murals, plus the climb. Add the museum separately if you want it.
Also worth stopping for around Dambulla
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