Travel Guide of Dambulla in Sri Lanka by Influencers and Travelers

Dambulla is a town situated in the north of Matale District, Central Province of Sri Lanka. It is the second largest population centre in district. It is situated 148 km north-east of Colombo, 43 km north of Matale and 72 km north of Kandy. Due to its location at a major junction, it is the centre of major vegetable distribution in the country.

The Best Things to Do and Visit in Dambulla

TRAVELERS TOP 10 :

1 - Dambulla Cave Temple

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2 - Dambulla cave temple

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3 - Sightseeing | Dambulla

A day tour from Kandy to Dambulla Cave Temple and Sigiriya Lion Rock, minneriya safari is a captivating journey through Sri Lanka's cultural and historical gems.

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4 - Sigiriya

   14 km away

Sigiriya Airport is an air force base and domestic airport located in central Sri Lanka. Located near the city of Dambulla, the airport is also known as SLAF Sigiriya.

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5 - Ancient City of Sigiriya

   15 km away
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6 - Birdwatching | Habarana

   21 km away

"Embark on a thrilling adventure at Hurulu Eco Park, Habarana. Encounter majestic elephants in their natural habitat amidst stunning landscapes. An unforgettable safari awaits! #SriLankaSafari"

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7 - Pidurangala Rock

   16 km away
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8 - Minneriya National Park

   26 km away

Minneriya National Park is a national park in North Central Province of Sri Lanka. The area was designated as a national park on 12 August 1997, having been originally declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1938.

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9 - Minneriya

   34 km away

Minneriya is a small town in Sri Lanka that is famous for two things — the great Minneriya lake built by King Mahasen and Minneriya National Park which is a hot spot for safari lovers because of its abundance of elephants.

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10 - Kaudulla National Park

   38 km away

Kaudulla National Park is a national park on the island of Sri Lanka located 197 kilometres away from the largest city, Colombo. It was designated a national park on April 1, 2002 becoming the 15th such area on the island.

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11 - ගල් විහාරය - Gal Viharaya

   40 km away
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Disover the best Instagram Spots around Dambulla here

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Pictures and Stories of Dambulla from Influencers

8 pictures of Dambulla from Agnieszka Kowalczyk, Brian Kyed, and other travelers

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Why should you visit Dambulla ?

Travel to Dambulla if you like:

  🏰 Temple     🐾 Wildlife  

Learn More about Dambulla

Located 72km from Kandy, Dambulla is a fairly large town, which is considered as a "head market" specializing in distributing vegetables and agricultural products throughout the country. But that's not what makes this place a landmark. On the tourist map of Sri Lanka, the name Dambulla is almost associated with Cave Temple or Golden Temple - Cultural heritage recognized by Unesco in 1991.

A temple built inside large caves with countless large and small Buddha statues with meticulous and sophisticated drawings and sculptures on the walls and ceiling of the cave. It can be counted that there are a total of 5 caves with 153 Buddha statues, 03 statues of the kings of Sri Lanka, 04 statues of gods and goddesses. These caves are also known as shrine rooms and were built in different time periods, of which the fifth cave is considered to have the least historical value because it was built last. To fully understand the meaning and historical value of this attraction, visitors can hire an on-site guide to follow the explanations. Hang Pagoda used to sell entrance tickets for visitors, about $15, but recently this regulation has been abolished. Visitors to the temple do not have to pay any fees.

To get to Cave Temple, just go to the bus station (there are many bus stops in Kandy, so please specify where to go so the driver can take you to the right stop), find a car with a sign to go to Dambulla and then climb up. , the price is about 100 rupees/person/turn. The pagoda is located right off the road, opposite a green park. The road from Kandy to here is very beautiful, there are passages like in a fairy tale, when the ancient trees on both sides of the road fall head-to-head into a green arch and turn the road into a sunlit tunnel.

Frequently Asked Questions by Travelers planning a trip to Dambulla

What are the best hotel in Dambulla ?

You can stay at Liyya Water Villas, New Peacock resort, Sevonrich Holiday resort or Tropical Life resort
https://www.booking.com/hotel/lk/liyya-water-villas-dabulla.html
https://www.booking.com/hotel/lk/new-peacock-resort.html
https://www.booking.com/hotel/lk/sevonrich-holiday-resort.html
https://www.booking.com/hotel/lk/tropical-life-resort-and-spa.html

What time does the Cave Temple, Dambulla open ?

From 7am to 5pm, I recommend to visit at 7am to avoid the crowds

What are the best restaurants in Dambulla ?

The best restaurants in Dambulla are Golden Palace restaurant, Rithu restaurant and Athula restaurant.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g304133-d16733115-Reviews-Golden_Palace_Restaurant-Dambulla_Central_Province.html
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g304133-d9694624-Reviews-Rithu_Restaurant-Dambulla_Central_Province.html
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g304133-d3742717-Reviews-Athula_Restaurant-Dambulla_Central_Province.html

   Where to Stay in Dambulla

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Discover more travel spots to explore around Dambulla

  🏰 Temple spots     🐾 Wildlife spots  

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