2 km
from city center 1 out of 11
Places To Visit in Dambulla

The Dambulla Cave Temple, also called the Golden Temple of Dambulla, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the best-preserved and most extensive cave temple complex in the country, comprising five main caves, each possessing numerous statues of Lord Buddha and some figures of kings and statues of Lord Vishnu.

2 km
from city center 2 out of 11
Places To Visit in Dambulla

The Dambulla Golden Temple sits at the bottom of the stairs that lead to the Royal Cave Temple. It is topped by a 30m statue of golden Buddha which is one of the largest Buddha statues in the world. At the foot of the Golden Buddha is Golden Temple Buddhist Museum housing exhibits of Buddha donated from around the world.

14 km
from city center 3 out of 11
Places To Visit in Dambulla

Sigiriya, often referred to as the "Lion Rock," is an ancient rock fortress and UNESCO World Heritage Site located just 30 minutes from Dambulla, making it a perfect day trip. Rising dramatically from the surrounding plains, Sigiriya is a colossal rock formation standing around 200 meters tall. Its sheer vertical walls and flattened summit once served as a fortified royal citadel. Buses are available from Dambulla regularly, and they take around 40 minutes to reach Sigiriya.

16 km
from city center 4 out of 11
Places To Visit in Dambulla

The Pidurangala Rock is a few kilometres away from the famous UNESCO site, the Sigiriya Rock. It is known for the view of Sigiriya Rock from the top of the rock, the white temple situated at the base of the cliff, and the enormous reclining Buddha statue located under an ancient boulder. The Pidurangala Rock also has a white temple called the Pidurangala Vihara, where the monks live and Buddha is worshipped.

26 km
from city center 5 out of 11
Places To Visit in Dambulla

The Minneriya National Park is just 30 minutes away from Sigiriya and can be visited on a day trip from Dambulla. It is famous for its herds of elephants migrating for food, water, and shelter and forming a 'gathering' that can be witnessed by the visitors. The dry season is the best time to visit this place, as the majestic elephants migrate to the Minneriya Tank for water.

0 km
from city center 6 out of 11
Places To Visit in Dambulla

The Popham's Arboretum was founded and funded by Sam Popham in 1963. It is a botanical garden with different variants of trees and wildlife coexisting in their natural environments. The highlight of the Arboretum is the Night Safari, where tourists get to walk on the trail of the rare Slender Loris.

5 km
from city center 7 out of 11
Places To Visit in Dambulla

A historical site from the pre-Buddhism period of Sri Lanka, Ibbankatuwa Megalithic Tombs is an ancient burial site located around 5 Kms south of Dambulla. This site is one of the remnants of the Ibbankatuwa settlement, close to the Dambulla Oya River and dates back to the period of 700 to 400 BC. Discovered in 1970, these tombs are now a protected archaeological site in Sri Lanka.

26 km
from city center 8 out of 11
Places To Visit in Dambulla

Ritigala situated between Polonnaruwa and the old town of Anuradhapura is a hilly forest and a place of Buddhist worship. The monastery is named after the 40m tall Ritigala trees in the mid-slopes of the hill. The highest of the peaks in the Ritigala mountain range is the Ritigala Kanda which makes for an excellent trekking adventure. It is often visited on a day trip from Dambulla.

0 km
from city center 9 out of 11
Places To Visit in Dambulla

The Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium was built to organise one day international (ODI) matches in Sri Lanka throughout the year. This stadium was strategically built in the dry zone of the country since it receives less rainfall compared to the rest of the places. It overlooks the Dambulla Tank, and the Dambulla Rock, and has a capacity of approximately 16800 people.

9 km
from city center 10 out of 11
Places To Visit in Dambulla

Jathika Namal Uyana is a nature reserve home to Sri Lanka's largest quartz mountain and Ironwood forest. A walk through the old forest takes you to the base of the quartz mountain which is a 30 minute hike. The area also houses the remains of a Buddhist monastery, stupa, and other structures, and a small but stunning waterfall.

46 km
from city center 11 out of 11
Places To Visit in Dambulla

A 21 m high reservoir created as a result of the Kandalama Dam serves as an irrigation tank up to Kekirawa region. The tributaries of Mirisgoniya River are the primary source of water in the reservoir. The picturesque and tranquil surroundings is a popular tourist attraction.