Overview
Carved into a granite outcrop above the plains, the Dambulla cave temple is one of the best-preserved Buddhist sanctuaries in Asia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Five caves hold more than 150 Buddha statues, from a reclining figure stretching the length of a cave to rows of seated images beneath ceilings painted edge to edge with murals.
We time the climb for early morning or late afternoon, when the light is soft and the steps are cool, and pair it with Sigiriya, a village lunch or a sunset over the Kandalama reservoir.
