Dambulla Cave Temple

Five caves carved into rock 22 centuries ago, housing a hundred Buddha statues and thousands of square meters of paintings. Dambulla Cave Temple is Sri Lanka's largest and best-preserved cave complex—an active pilgrimage site and museum of Buddhist art under one (stone) roof.

History

Foundation

The temple was founded in the 1st century BC by King Valagamba. Driven out by Tamil invaders, he took refuge in Dambulla's caves for 14 years. Upon regaining his throne, he transformed his sanctuary into a temple—gratitude for protection. Since then, every Sinhalese king has added statues and paintin...

Practical Information

Updated: Jan 2, 2026

Visit Duration

Minimum1 hours

Recommended1.5 hours

Maximum2 hours

Entrance Fee

Adult

3,000 LKR~3,000 $

Child

1,500 LKR~1,500 $

Foreigners 3000 LKR (~$10). SAARC 1500 LKR. Children 5-12 half. Cash only! Golden Temple below free. 7am-7pm

Best Time to Visit

Early morning (7-9 AM) before tour buses arrive. Afternoons are crowded. December to April for dry weather.

Crowd Level

Moderate — comfortable

Price Range

Budget

How to Get There

Located on Colombo-Kandy road. 30 min from Sigiriya, 2 hours from Kandy, 4 hours from Colombo. Buses stop at Dambulla junction. Often combined with Sigiriya day trip.

What to Expect

15-20 min uphill climb (stairs) to caves. Golden Temple at base (free, modern). Cave temples above with ancient Buddha statues in various poses, painted ceilings depicting Buddha's life. Dress code enforced.

Best Photo Spot

Giant golden Buddha from parking lot. Inside caves — 14m reclining Buddha in Cave 1. No flash photography.

When to Visit

Best Time

JanFebMarAprDec

Good Time

MaySepOctNov

Avoid

JunJulAug

Connectivity

Wi-Fi

Not available

Charging

No outlets

Mobile signal

Good

Facilities & Services

restrooms

guided tours

gift shop

parking

Working Hours

Updated: Jan 2, 2026

Monday07:00 — 18:00

Tuesday07:00 — 18:00

Wednesday07:00 — 18:00

Thursday07:00 — 18:00

Friday07:00 — 18:00

Saturday07:00 — 18:00

Sunday07:00 — 18:00

Note

Foreigners 2000 LKR (~$6), SAARC 1000 LKR. Ticket office closes at 5 PM! Shoe storage 200 LKR. 15-20 min uphill walk. Best visit 7-9 AM or 4-6 PM - less heat and crowds. Modest dress required.

Accessibility

Wheelchair Access

Not accessible

Audio Guide

Not available

Staff Assistance

Not available

faq.title

faq.subtitle Dambulla Cave Temple

No, the Golden Buddha is a modern (2000s) addition at the base. The real treasures are the ancient cave temples at the top with 2000-year-old murals and statues.

Travel Tips

Useful tips for visiting Dambulla Cave Temple

Buy tickets at South Entrance before climbing. Shoes off inside caves. Cover shoulders and knees. Monkeys are aggressive — don't show food. Combine with Sigiriya (30 min away).

Located on Colombo-Kandy road. 30 min from Sigiriya, 2 hours from Kandy, 4 hours from Colombo. Buses stop at Dambulla junction. Often combined with Sigiriya day trip.

Giant golden Buddha from parking lot. Inside caves — 14m reclining Buddha in Cave 1. No flash photography.

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Weather

Average temperature by month

Now

25°

91%12 м/с

Today

28°25°

Tomorrow

28°25°

Thu

28°25°

Fri

30°24°

Sat

28°24°

Sun

27°24°

Mon

27°25°

31°

23°Jan

31°

23°Feb

32°

24°Mar

32°

25°Apr

31°

26°May

30°

26°Jun

30°

26°Jul

30°

26°Aug

30°

25°Sep

30°

25°Oct

30°

24°Nov

30°

23°Dec

Water temperature

28°

29°

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28°