Landmarks in Dambulla
- 01
Golden Temple of Dambulla and Buddhist Museum
A large gilded Buddha statue at the foot of the cave-temple rock, with a Buddhist museum beneath it. It is the landmark most people photograph in town.
- Time needed
- 30 to 45 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning or late afternoon, when the light is softer and it is cooler
- Tickets
- The museum has its own entry arrangements and timings; ask on arrival. Dress modestly, remove shoes where asked, and check the current fee. The Golden Buddha can be seen from the road without a ticket.
Read the Golden Temple of Dambulla and Buddhist Museum guide →
- 02
Kandalama Reservoir
A large irrigation reservoir east of Dambulla, rehabilitated in the 1950s, which gives Kandalama its lake-and-jungle setting and a different view of the Cultural Triangle.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Early morning or late afternoon, for cooler air and softer light
- Tickets
- We found no official ticket or visitor arrangement for the reservoir; it is an irrigation tank. Ask your hotel or driver about safe viewing points and do not enter restricted areas such as the dam.
Places of worship in Dambulla
- 03
Dambulla Cave Temple (Royal Rock Temple)
A Buddhist temple of five caves inside a granite rock, with painted ceilings and over a hundred Buddha statues. A UNESCO site and the reason most people stop in Dambulla.
- Time needed
- About 2 hours
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Early morning, on a weekday; avoid the hot afternoon and full-moon (Poya) days unless you want the crowds
- Tickets
- Foreign visitors pay an entry fee in rupees, reported as cash only; check current rates and hours with the temple. The ticket office has been reported at the side-road car park rather than at the Golden Buddha. Dress modestly; shoes come off, and photography rules differ by cave.
