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Dambulla Cave Temple — Matale

Cover photo: Arian Zwegers (Flickr, CC BY)

District

Matale

Province

Central

Best for

Culture lovers and photographers; five painted caves with 150+ Buddhas

Map

See it on the map

About this place

Five painted caves in a 160-metre rock face with 150+ Buddhas, kings and Hindu gods, plus the free Golden Temple below. Arrive by mid-afternoon, dress modestly, and stay for the sunset valley glow.

Visitor brief

Good to know before you go

• Caves open 7am–7pm but the ticket counter closes at 5pm.
• Foreign visitors pay around LKR 1,500–2,000; Golden Temple below is free.
• Modest dress enforced; shoes off before the climb, no flash inside.
• Sunset is the sweet hour: fewer groups, cooler rock, glowing valley.

How to travel there

Dambulla town on the A9 Kandy–Jaffna road, 72 km north of Kandy and 17 km from Sigiriya. Buses from Kandy and Colombo stop in town; tuk-tuks cover the last stretch. Take one to the top car park and walk down.

Where to stay

Stay in Dambulla town guesthouses (budget-mid) or Habarana eco-resorts (mid-luxury); Sigiriya pairs as one long day or an easy overnighter.

Nearby places

Sigiriya Lion Rock, Pidurangala Rock, Golden Temple of Dambulla, Habarana

Scams to watch for

• Shoe-minding overcharge at the climb base; the going rate is around LKR 25 a pair.
• Wasps occasionally close sections; obey any ropes.

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