Dambulla Cave Temple is known as one of the most impressive temples in Sri Lanka because of the rock structures there and the ancient paintings that illustrate a magical heritage.
Planning your trip to Dambulla
If you are thinking of coming to Dambulla from your boutique hotel in Kandy, make sure you include the destinations such as Sigiriya and the Pidurangala Rock to this same journey. You can also visit this temple on your way to Kandy from Colombo as it is located 150km east of Colombo and then end your day’s journey at a Kandy resort such as Kings Pavilion to explore Kandy the next day.
Why this temple is so important?
The UNESCO has declared this temple complex as a World Heritage Site in 1991, and this is also the largest cave temple complex that Asia has as of now.
A bit from the history
There is a great historical value here, as its history dates back to the 01st century BC. Out of the many caves you find here, the Cave of the Great Kings, the Cave of the Divine King and the Great New Monastery have been functioning as places of devotion back in the old Sinhala period.
The structure of the temple
Inside some caves, you find statues of Lord Buddha that are generally huge in size, especially when compared with other statutes to be found today. Paintings and frescoes are covering the walls and ceilings and this is why you should not miss this well-preserved heritage during your tour there.
