Dambulla
Dambulla is a large commercial town located in the Matale district in Sri Lanka. Moreover, it has immense historical and religious value as well. The most famous attractions in Dambulla are the ancient rock cave temples and its large-scale wholesale market. The Golden Rock Cave Temples is also one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites (1991) with a history that extends to prehistoric and proto-historic times. Dambulla city is a famous tourist destination with a lot of splendorous sites, such as the cave temples, ironwood forest, Rose Quartz Mountain, and megalithic cemetery together with comfortable hotel facilities.
Things To Do in Dambulla
1. Dambulla Rock Cave Temple
As mentioned before, Dambulla Rock cave temples are the most famous tourist attraction in Dambulla town Sri Lanka. There are more than 80 documented caves around this area. Of all those caves the most attractive happens to be only five caves which contain statues and paintings. These caves are one of the finest storehouses of Sinhala art and sculpture. These caves stand on the base of a 150m high rock during the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa period.
2. Dev Raja Viharaya
Dev Raja Viharaya is the first cave that you will come across when entering the temple through the main entrance. This cave temple is for the king of gods. Anyone stepping into this temple can experience a 47ft long reclining Buddha image depicting the passing away of Buddha. Moreover, there are five other amazing images and paintings on the walls inside this cave temple.
3. Maha Raja Viharaya
Maha Raja Viharaya or the temple of the great king is the largest cave temple of the five. It is marked that this 72-foot-long, 25-foot-wide, 21-foot-high cave temple was found by the great king Vattagamini Abhaya. Also, there are 16 standing and 40 seated statues of Buddha. It is also home to the statues of King Walagamba and King Nissankamalla. This shrine room also contains many paintings together with many more statues of the Buddhist order making it represent many eras of the Sinhala art and sculpture.
4. Maha Aluth Viharaya
The 90 feet long, 81 feet wide, and 36 feet high Maha alut Viharaya, or the great new temple is said to be used as a storeroom until the 18th century. It is the second-largest cave that holds a number of Buddha images along with paintings and many more.
5. Paschima Viharaya
The fourth cave, namely Paschima Viharaya, or the Western temple is 50 feet long, 20 feet wide, and 27 feet high. It also holds a series of Buddha statues and the most impressive is the one that lies at the Makara thorana (dragon archway).
6. Devana Aluth Viharaya
Devana Alut Viharaya or the second new temple was also once a storeroom with recumbent Buddha and a number of Hindu deities.
7. Golden Temple
Dambulla Travel is also famous for the newly built Golden Temple with a 30m high gilded Buddha along with the Buddhist Museum. The museum has Buddhist image collections from Thailand, Myanmar, China, Korea, and Singapore.
8. Dambulla International Cricket Stadium
Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium built in the recent past has also become the main attraction of the visitors to the town. A stunning view of the cave temples, Dambulla Lake, and the rock can be taken from the stadium.
9. Ironwood Forest
A visitor tour in Dambulla will never leave the place without exploring the Ironwood forest (Na Uyana). Ironwood forest is a man-made forest, which is home to the famous Rose Quartz Mountain range. Indeed this place is also among the famous attractions that you must not skip at Dambulla.
10. Megalithic Cemetery
Dambulla is also home to the Megalithic cemetery located at the foot of the Ibbankatuwa mountain range.
Tour Packages To Dambulla
Find the best affordable Sri Lanka tour packages featuring Dambulla from Sanki Leisure. We are always ready to offer you the most memorable travel experiences, which fulfill your travel requirements. Choose Dambulla Sri Lanka tours and make your vacation a most delightful one.
- Fortress in the Sky tour package
- Discover Sri Lanka tour package
- Sri Lanka Highlights tour package
- Best of Sri Lanka tour package
- Cultural and Heritage tour package
- Round Island tour package
- Culture and Nature tour package
Ideal places to rest
Experience the wonder of Asia while resting at a salubrious hotel in Dambulla as per your desires.
Luxury: Feel the real luxury with comfortable accommodation facilities. You will have a wide variety of options. Such as Jetwing Lake, Heritance Kandalama, The Elephant Corridor, Aliya Resorts and Spa.
Medium: Experience the best resting options with the most suitable rates that fulfill your requirements. Such as Pelwehera Village Resort, Rangiri Dambulla Resort, Athena Lake
Budget: Find the best affordable accommodation facilities that suit your budget from a variety of options. Such as Lario Resort, Hotel Eden Garden, Serendib Garden Resorts, and JC’s Village hotels in Dambulla.
