5 Days Sri Lanka Tour: Dambulla, Sigiriya, Kandy & Bentota
Rock, temple and sea in five days: Dambulla caves and Sigiriya from Habarana, a Kandy evening, the Peradeniya gardens, then the beach at Bentota.
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Dambulla, Sri Lanka
Home to the Dambulla Cave Temple, also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla — a UNESCO World Heritage Site with five caves containing statues and paintings depicting the life of the Buddha, some dating back over two thousand years.
What to expect
- Five cave shrines with statues and murals, some over 2,000 years old
- Usually combined with Sigiriya on the same day, given the short distance between them
- A working Buddhist temple, so modest dress is expected
Tours that include Dambulla
Every tour is private and can be adjusted to spend more or less time here.
Cultural Triangle & Coast
Five days from airport to airport: elephants, Sigiriya rock, Dambulla caves, Kandy, a Madu River boat ride and a free beach day at Bentota.
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6 Days Sri Lanka Tour: Habarana, Kandy & Waskaduwa Beach
Six unhurried days: Pinnawala and Dambulla, Sigiriya from Habarana, two nights in Kandy with the Peradeniya gardens, then two beach nights near Kalutara.
View Tour6 Days Sri Lanka Tour: Sigiriya, Kandy & Bentota Beach
Ancient rock fortress, hill-capital temple and a proper rest by the sea in six days, with only two hotel changes and a private driver-guide throughout.
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Hill Country & Heritage Trail
Elephants, cave temples, a rock fortress, a hill capital, tea slopes and the Ella viaduct in six days, with a private vehicle and an English-speaking driver-guide.
View Tour7 Days Sri Lanka Adventure Tour: Sigiriya, Kandy & Kitulgala
Ancient rock fortress, elephant safari and a Kandy hill walk, then waterfall abseiling and white-water rafting at Kitulgala, finished on a quiet beach.
View TourFive caves with150+ Buddha statues
Dambulla cave temple: five caves, painted ceilings
The Dambulla cave temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best-preserved cave complexes in Sri Lanka. Five caves hold more than 150 Buddha statues and ceilings covered in painted scenes from the life of the Buddha. A short climb up the hill leads to the entrance, with views over the plains and the rock at Sigiriya in the distance. Take off your shoes and cover your shoulders and knees before you go inside.
UNESCO World Heritage Site
One of the best-preserved cave complexes in Sri Lanka.
Dress for a temple
Take off your shoes and cover your shoulders and knees.
In the Cultural Triangle
A handy base for Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa and the elephant parks.
How Dambulla fits the Cultural Triangle
Dambulla sits in the middle of the Cultural Triangle, so it is a handy base for Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa and the elephant parks. Most visitors see the caves in the morning, when it is cooler, and the Golden Temple at the foot of the hill. Many of our itineraries spend two nights here. If you are travelling with older relatives, tell us, because the steps are steady but long, and we can plan a slower pace and fewer stops that day.
Monkeys live around the stairs, so keep food and loose items out of sight. Photography rules inside the caves vary, and your guide will explain what is allowed so you can enjoy the paintings without worry.
Nearby and easy to combine
Planning a visit to Dambulla?
Tell us your dates and interests and we'll build a private itinerary around it.