SRI LANKA - Dambulla

Dambulla is a small town known for its high concentration of cave temples. With more than 80 caves within its reach, Dambulla’s major attraction is Dambulla Cave Temple or more commonly known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Golden Temple of Dambulla is the largest and well preserved cave temple in Sri Lanka and have been used by local monks as meditation location since the first century BC.


The caves of Dambulla provided refuge to King Valagamba from South Indian invaders. Living in exile for 14 years from the Anuradhapura kingdom, he reclaimed the capital in the 1st century BC and had a magnificent rock temple built at Dambulla in thankful worship and gratitude to the monks of Dambulla.


You won’t miss the giant golden Buddha statue sitting on the roof of the Golden Temple while visiting Dambulla.  


Within the Golden Temple is a Buddhist museum displaying Buddhist statues, manuscripts and copies of the cave paintings. Entrance is through the dragon’s mouth.


Measuring 23m high, the Golden Buddha statue was constructed in 1998 and completed in 2001.


The landscape of the surrounding area.


‘Buddhist monks’ proceeding to the temple.


Saw a young monkey eating an ice cream.





Just beside the Golden Temple, is a stairway leading to the Dambulla Rock Temple. Yup! I have the pass with me.


The stairs also leads you to the roof of the museum where you can have a better look at the Golden Buddha statue.


The statue is claimed to be the foremost Buddha statue of the world designed in the pose of Dhamma Chakka.


More steps? After all that climbing of Sigiriya Fortress, my legs were tired.


After climbing up the stairs, you have to proceed on a steep slope of bare granite.


While climbing up to the cave temple, you can view the flora and fauna of the surroundings.


 I scratch your back, you scratch mine.


Spotted a few mountain goats on the hills surrounding the cave temple.




Taking a picture with the goat.


A goat trotting up the stairs.


Showed my pass and I’m on my way to the temples.


At last the Cave Temple is visible. Built at the base of a 150m high rock, Dambulla Cave Temple is by far the most impressive of the many cave temples found in Sri Lanka. The caves are under the vast overhanging rock.


There are five caves at the Dambulla Cave Temple and the monastery is still functional and remains the best preserved ancient structure in Sri Lanka.




The first cave is called Temple of the King of the Gods and it's well preserved statue depicts the passing away of Buddha. The statue of Buddha is 14m long.


The third cave is named the New Great Temple.


The fourth cave is named Western Cave. It has 10 figures of Buddha, all hewn out of rock and painted with vibrant colors.


The fifth cave is named Second New Cave. It's also the smallest of all five shrine rooms.


The temples in each caves were constructed during different periods ranging from the first century BC to the twentieth century. Frescoes and statues depicting significant events of Buddha’s life including images of Hindu deities and pass kings can be found in the caves.


The most impressive and also the largest of all is the second cave.


Measuring 52m by 23 and a height of 7m, the cave is named The Temple of the Great Kings.


The stupa is surrounded by eleven seated Buddha statues.


This cave houses 16 standing and 40 seated statues of Buddha.


Hindu deities are also represented here as well as King Valagamba and King Nissanka Malla.


This cave is slightly brighter than the other caves which are small and dark.


At the entrance of one of the cave.


Time to look around the outer area of the cave.


Nice place to take some photographs.


One thing to note is that you have to leave your shoes at the entrance before entering the surrounding area of Dambulla Cave Temple. Yep…you have to walk barefooted.


Surrounding area includes the place where I’m sitting right now.


See me without my shoes? It’s best if you bring a along a bag to put your shoes or you can always leave your shoes at an allocated place, for a fee of course (foreigner price). No guarantees your shoes won’t go missing though.


If you are into religious or arts you will be impressed by the Golden Temple of Dambulla.


Maybe I was comparing the cave temple with Sigiriya which I went earlier on or I was too tired but I think Dambulla Cave Temple was worth a visit only because it was on the way to my next destination. Anyhow, it was interesting overall.


A golden stupa across the road of the temple. Time to make a move.


Visited Matale Spice Garden for some introduction on the different types of Sri Lankan spices that earned the country the name ‘Island of Spices’. 


Passed by a Mari Amman Hindu temple. According to the guide, it is a famous Hindu temple.


After visiting this Hindu temple, I proceeded to the next destination.


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