Just 2 hours from Kandy lies the Golden Temple of Dambulla and its caves of Buddhas. The temple's many caves contain Buddha statues that are thousands of years old. A must-see archaeological site in Sri Lanka and for the Buddhist religion in general, Dambulla is an architectural feat of rare beauty.
The interior of Dambulla temple near Kandy.
- © Sean Hsu / Shutterstock
The Golden Temple of Dambulla is a historic monument dating back to the 1st century. Old as it is, it is one of the largest and best-preserved cave complexes in Sri Lanka.
Built by Raja Maha Vihara, the Golden Temple is built on the huge rock that is the town of Dambulla. In 104 BC, the râja Vattagamani Abhaya, dethroned from Anurâdhapura by Tamils, built this temple as he regained his throne.
Today, the Golden Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The archaeological site of Dambulla dates back to 104 BC.
- © STUDIO MELANGE / ShutterstockThe Dambulla site contains 157 statues, 153 images of Buddha, 3 royal images and 4 images of divinities. In other words, there is an enormous amount to see and detail to observe in these relics. In this temple, Buddhist and Hindu deities stand side by side. Buddha and Vishnu can be found among the 2,100 m2 of murals.
The Golden Temple, a sumptuous edifice
The Golden Temple is recognisable by the enormous golden Buddha enthroned on its roof, an impressive 30-metre high statue. The temple is colourful, filled with mouldings and detailed hand-made frescoes, and inside, the museum of the history of Buddhism welcomes you free of charge. The museum is open to the public and is well worth a visit, especially if you are interested in history as well as religion.
The archaeological site of Dambulla dates back to 104 BC.
- © Don Mammoser / ShutterstockThe mysterious caves of Dambulla
Take the stairs from the Golden Temple and you'll come to a series of ornate caves. Of the 80 caves, only 5 are open to the public, and the Dambulla caves contain statues of Buddha in almost every position - seated, lying down, standing up, etc. The walls, ceilings and floors are entirely covered with magnificently detailed paintings and hand-carved frescoes. Inside the caves, the warmth and luminosity of the outside world disappears to make way for the cold, damp air of the rock. The place is grandiose.
"I was really taken by the magic of these places. The cold, the mouldings, the statues, each more beautiful than the last, it's breathtaking. It's an intoxicating place that I absolutely recommend. One of the jewels of Sri Lanka! Sandrine, travelling solo.
How do I get from Dambulla to the Golden Temple?
The taxi journey from Kandy takes around 2 hours. You can choose a driver and stop off at a spice garden on the way. Several travel agencies in Kandy offer day trips.
Beware of travel agencies
In tourist towns like Kandy, you will find several prices for the same activity or the same journey. Travel agencies sometimes inflate prices to take a higher commission.
We advise you to find out beforehand and compare prices between several agencies. You can also buy tickets directly at the train or bus station for almost all journeys.
Opening times
The Golden Temple and its caves are open every day from 7am to 7pm.
Admission
The entrance fee for the Golden Temple is LKR 1,500.
Where to eat?
Sandra restaurant A small wattle and daub building, Sandra restaurant offers visitors a buffet of Sri Lankan specialities.
Address:
No 166 , temple junction, Dambulla 21100, Sri Lanka
Times:
8am - 9pm every day except Thursday.
