I had fallen into the role of a tour guide by accident, and everyone looked at me, asking, “Are you sure the Dambulla Cave Temple is worth the visit and the stop?” And then: “Are you sure Dambulla Cave Temple is worth the walk up this steep hill?”
I was on my tour in Sri Lanka, and as a first-time visitor myself, I had no answers to their questions. All I could do was hope what I saw on the Internet was true (and that what our actual tour guide had told us was true). Most of the time, travel requires hope and bravery in equal doses, with a splash of common sense.
I was on a small group tour with G Adventures (more on that coming later, be sure to subscribe!). Still, we had all decided to break away for the day and do the activity I had planned for myself – a hike up Sigiriya Rock followed by a stop at the Dambulla Cave Temple. I didn’t mind the company at all, and the driver I had prearranged was more than willing to accommodate the larger group.
My bare feet slapped on the cool rock, my body sweaty and my heart open. Monkeys played on the fence that kept us tourists from walking away from the temple and down a cliff. Water lilies sprang up in joy, seeming to turn toward the massive, impressive view of the Sri Lankan countryside.
Dambulla Cave Temple was beautiful.
I am not sure I would recommend this stop as a standalone place to travel to, given its location, but pair it with Sigiriya Rock and you have an absolutely wonderful Sri Lankan adventure. One that I happily (and with relief) believe was “worth it.”
About Dambulla Cave Temple
Dambulla Cave Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (which, long-term readers will recall, we love). It dates back to the first century BCE – so long ago I can’t even conceive the length of time this has been there.
The temple is a total of five rooms, and they are all built under a rock outcropping, protecting them from the elements (like extreme heat, humidity, and rain) throughout the centuries. There are 153 Buddha statues and 23,000 sq feet of murals. The largest Buddha is just under 50 feet (15 meters) long and one of the caves has over 1,500 Buddha paintings on the ceiling.
Everything is in exquisite condition for its age and stunning in vibrancy, artistry, detail, and color.
Having seen Göreme in Cappadocia, Turkey, I can say that the preservation and original artwork on display are rare.
The temple is believed to have been built by a former Sri Lankan king who was overthrown in a rebellion and fled to this spot for safety. The king later regained power through battle and created the temple here as a sign of gratitude. The temple held a monastery, too.
Perched on top of a hill, guraded by mountain rock, there are panoramic views of the Sri Lankan country and a certain coolness inside the caves themselves. It is a place of incredible peace.
Restoration and conservation efforts in the cave temple started in the 1960s and have basically been ongoing. Yet the intention is not to alter any of the original structure of what exists. Realizing that, seeing the detail and the intricacy is mind-blowing.
Getting to Dambulla cave Temple
I did this adventure in tandem with our trip to Sigiriya Rock. The two are usually packaged together in guided tours, given their proximity (they are approximately 19 kilometers apart).
I had arranged for our group to leave from Kandy. It seems to be the best departure point for daytrippers (although trips from Colombo are offered).
The town of Dambulla does have a bus station if you are navigating Sri Lanka via public transportation. However, as mentioned before, getting around Sri Lanka with Uber, tuk tuks, PickMe and private drivers is easy and not too expensive.
As a reminder, I would not encourage anyone to drive in Sri Lanka if you haven’t had practice. The rules of the road are quite loose and the drivers are fast. Additionally, the roads are not always the best-maintained.
I had hired gihansatoursandtravels.com for our group, and our driver was fantastic. He picked us up at our hotel in Kandy, took us to Sigirya and waited for us while we hiked to the top, drove us to the Dambulla Cave Temple, and even accompanied us through the temple, explaining some of what we were seeing.
You can check out Get Your Guide for other options for a shuttle trip to Sigiriya Rock.
We left our hotel in Kandy at 7:00 am and, after Sigiriya and the Cave Temple, we were back at our hotel at 3:00 pm. It was about two hours driving time in each direction, and we did not stop for lunch.
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There were quite a few boutique hotels, spas, cute cafes, and shops right outside the Sigiriya entrance. While we didn’t stop at any, I could see spending a night or two in this area. Start at this blog post on the town of Sigiriya if you’re interested in more time in the area.
What to Know to Visit the Dambulla Cave Temple
The temple sits on top of a hill, nestled into the side of a mountain. The parking lot is below, so you can expect a decent walk uphill to get to the entrance and temple. We were surprised by this (and a little tired after the heat and hike up Sigiriya).
Be sure to wear shoes that will allow you to make the trek up.
Additionally, we didn’t need more than an hour at the Cave Temple. It was not at all crowded during our visit and is not terribly large, so we were able to see everything we wanted without feeling rushed in about an hour.
PRO TIPS ON VISITING DAMBULLA CAVE TEMPLE:
- As with all mosques, temples, and other places of religious worship in Sri Lanka, shoulders and knees must be covered to visit.
- There is a fee to get in. Plan to bring cash.
- You will check your shoes at the booth at the top of the hill before you enter the temple. So you will be walking without shoes on the mountain ground. You can also check a backpack here. Plan to tip the attendant in cash.
- Do not touch or feed the monkeys. They can be quite nasty little creatures, even if they are cute to look at.
- No flash photography is allowed inside. You shouldn’t need it anyhow, but exposure to flashes through the years can ruin the paint and vibrancy.
There wasn’t much at the Dambulla Cave Temple by way of history or signage regarding the significance of what we were seeing (and we had no expectations that our driver would provide it). Visiting the Dambulla Cave Temple was an opportunity to quietly and reverently witness a site of ancient and ongoing worship, rooted in gratitude.
Sri Lanka is so different than my life in the United States in so many ways – some challenging and some I am envious of. The Dambulla Cave Temple was a reminder of the beauty and history of this country, of all of the ways it is unique and its own, while being open to all. Standing on the stone outside the cave temple, I felt an exquisite peace not usually available to me. And that, my friends, that moment, made it worth it.
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