Cultural Triangle
Dambulla
Painted caves high above a crossroads town
Dambulla sits where the main roads of the Cultural Triangle meet, about half an hour from Sigiriya and two hours from Kandy. Above the town, a cave temple fills five caves with Buddha statues and painted ceilings, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Go early, before the rock heats up. Below it, the town has one of the island's busiest wholesale vegetable markets, and the Kandalama reservoir is a short drive away.
Dambulla
- Part of the island
- Cultural Triangle
- Suggested stay
- 1 night
- Best months
- Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
- Things to do
- Ask us
Weather
When to go
Sri Lanka has two monsoons, so the best months depend on the coast. This is the pattern here.
- Jan: good
- Feb: best
- Mar: best
- Apr: best
- May: best
- Jun: best
- Jul: best
- Aug: best
- Sep: best
- Oct: expect rain
- Nov: expect rain
- Dec: good
Stays
Where to stay
Prices per night for two people sharing, for dates about six weeks away. Yours may differ.
Budget
Clean, simple guesthouses and small hotels
Hotel Sunflower Dambulla
$38Hotel with outdoor pool and garden near the cave temple.
Pool · Wi-Fi
Eden Grand
$40Three-star hotel with restaurant and air-conditioned family rooms.
Restaurant · Air conditioning · Family rooms · Wi-Fi
Comfort
Mid-range hotels, often with a pool
Hotel Gala Addara
$63Bed and breakfast with an outdoor pool.
Pool · Breakfast · Wi-Fi · Parking
Moi Dambulla by DBI
$67Hotel with pool, restaurant and garden.
Pool · Restaurant · Air conditioning · Family rooms
Superior
The nicest stays that still keep costs sensible
Kandalama Lodge
$129Lodge near Kandalama with an indoor pool and restaurant.
Pool · Restaurant · Air conditioning · Parking