Introduction
Dambulla is part of the revered Cultural Triangle and is situated to the north of Kandy, in the Central District of Sri Lanka. The cave temple complex, for which Dambulla is rightly famous, is the best-preserved complex in Sri Lanka - and, as such, the site makes a fascinating addition to a tailor made Sri Lanka holiday.
Dambulla's famous rock temples are found atop a giant granite outcrop just outside the town. The work of King Valagambahu, who sat on the throne at Anuradhapura in the first century BC, the temples are carved into five separate caves, each containing beautiful frescos and impressive statues and carvings of Buddhism's most sacred figures. In one, the great lying Parinirvana Buddha stretches 14 metres, carved directly from the base rock. Dambulla is also the site of one of the world's largest golden Buddhas, as well as an excellent Buddhist museum, adding an intriguing context to a fascinating World Heritage site.