Dambulla Cave Temple

Located 72 km north of Kandy in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, this is the best-preserved cave temple in the country.

It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.

The temple consists of five main caves, from Cave 1 to Cave 5.

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1.2 Cave 1
Deva Raja Vihara
A 15-meter-long reclining Buddha lies within this narrow cave. The soles of the feet are painted red, symbolizing the belief that Buddha walked on red soil to arrive in Sri Lanka.

3.4 Cave 2
Maha Raja Vihara
This is the largest cave in the temple complex, adorned with stunning murals covering the walls and ceiling. It houses approximately 60 Buddha statues.

5.6 Cave 3
Maha Alut Vihara
Built in the 18th century under the orders of the King of Kandy, this is a relatively newer temple.

7 Cave 4
Pacchima Vihara
A smaller cave temple featuring a seated Buddha statue in meditation at the center.

8 Cave 5
Devana Alut Vihara
The newest temple, restored in 1915, which was once used as a storage space.

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⚠️ Please refrain from taking photos with your back to the Buddha statues.

⚠️ Visitors are required to remove hats and shoes at the entrance (a small tip is needed for shoe storage; socks are allowed). Both men and women must avoid wearing revealing clothing inside the temple.

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Access
📍Kandy - Jaffna Hwy, Dambulla, Sri Lanka