The historic town of Dambulla is located 148 km north-east of Colombo and has several interesting places to visit, it is also the ideal base to explore the surrounding region.
Visit the Cave Temples
The Golden Cave Temple Complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which dates to back to the 5th century and is the oldest preserved cave site on the island. Located on the summit of a massive rock boulder which looms 600 ft above ground, the temple consists of a series of 5 caves and each contains status, paintings depicting Buddhist lore and priceless relics.
Take a Ride on a Hot Air Balloon
Catch a spectacular sunrise and enjoy a sprawling view of the picturesque vicinity of Dambulla aboard a hot air balloon. Several tour operators organise hot air balloon rides near Kandalama, Sri Lanka. Resorts such as the Heritance Kandalama would contact the relevant companies upon the request of interested parties.
Climb the Sigiriya Rock
The Sigiriya Rock, which used to be the majestic domain of an ancient king, is a spectacular site worth exploring. The climb is relatively easy with plenty of things to see such as the famous frescos of the celestial Apsaras and the palace ruins
Explore the Rose Quartz Mountains
A 40-minute ride from Dambulla will take you to the Jathika Namal Uyana, home to the largest rose quartz mountains in Asia which is said to be 550 million years old. Sturdy footwear is a must if you do wish to explore.
Roland Lefevre is a travel writer who specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe. Google+