How to Visit Dambulla Cave Temple & Golden Temple, Sri Lanka

The Dambulla Cave Temple is one of the best attractions in Sigiriya, so you should add it to your Sri Lanka Itinerary.

Wondering how to visit the Dambulla Rock Temple? Sigiriya or Dambulla is the best base for visiting the Golden Temple of Dambulla.

Plan to spend at least 1-2 hours at the cave temple and see the beautiful paintings and Buddha statues.

This ultimate guide to visiting Dambulla Cave Temple includes the best time to visit, how to get there, practical information, and entrance fees.

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Where is Dambulla Royal Cave Temple?

Dambulla Cave Temple is located in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, about a 30-minute drive from Sigiriya, 2-2.5 hours from Kandy, and 3 hours from Colombo.

Dambulla Cave Temple History

Buddhist monks first carved out a cave by hand to create a monastery, and the temple complex dates back to the first century BCE.

The Dambulla Cave Temple is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. It is a sacred Buddhist site and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Dambulla Temple is around 2000 years old, and the rock towers are 160 meters above the surrounding plains.

The Dambulla Cave Temple has five stunning caves. You can visit the caves and admire the beautiful Dambulla Cave Temple paintings & wall murals and the 150 Buddha statues.

Read our → Sri Lanka Itinerary

Best Time to Visit Dambulla

Sri Lanka is a popular destination all year round! But the best time to visit Dambulla is during the dry season, from December to April.

The weather is sunny and dry during these months, perfect for exploring the Sigiriya & Dambulla areas. The rainy season runs from May to September.

As this is a popular attraction, we recommend avoiding weekends!

How to Get to Dambulla Cave Temple from Colombo

By train

There is no direct train connection between Colombo and Dambulla, so we don’t recommend traveling by train. However, if you want to travel by train, you must first take a train from Colombo Fort to Habarana. After that, from Habarana station, you can get to Dambulla by taxi or tuk tuk.

The distance between Habarana and Dambulla is approximately 25 minutes.

As the train is one of the most popular and cheapest modes of transport in Sri Lanka, the tickets sell out quickly! Therefore, we recommend buying them days in advance (especially in high season).

You can easily buy your train tickets online through 12Go or Bookaway.

There are only 3 trains from Colombo Fort station to Habarana, and the journey takes at least 4-6 hours! First class seats start from 7.5 USD, and second class seats from 5 USD.

TIP
Book a day trip from Colombo to Sigiriya and Dambulla via GetYourGuide.

By bus

The cheapest way to get from Colombo to Dambulla is by local bus.

There are direct buses (No. 48, 48/3, 49) from Colombo’s Bastian Mawatha Bus Terminal towards Dambulla. Then, you will have to get off at Dambulla bus station, and from there, you can take a taxi or tuk tuk to Dambulla Cave Temple.

The local bus tickets start at around 200 LKR (0,65 USD), and the journey takes 5-6 hours, depending on traffic. Buy your bus ticket online.

From Sigiriya to Dambulla

The distance between Sigiriya and Dambulla is just 30 minutes. From Sigiriya, you can easily get to cave temple by tuk tuk for 1000 LKR (3 USD).

Alternatively, you can take a local bus from Sigiriya to Dambulla for 50 LKR. Then, from the Dambulla bus stop, you can get to the temple by tuk tuk for around 200 LKR (0.65 USD).

TIP
Take a day trip from Kandy to Sigiriya and visit Dambulla Cave Temple and Lion Rock. Book your tour online.

Cave Temple Opening Hours

The Dambulla Cave Temple is open daily from 7 AM to 7 PM, but the ticket counter closes at 5 PM.

Dambulla Cave Temple Entrance Fee

The entrance fee to Dambulla Cave Temple is 2000 LKR (6 USD) per person. You cannot pay the entrance fee by bank card, so bring enough local money. The ticket office is at the bottom of the hill.

Shoes must be removed before entry! There is a shoe rack in front of the entrance where you can leave your shoes for a small donation (25-50 LKR).

TIP
Parking is free, but don’t leave food or valuables in the tuk tuk!

Dambulla Cave Temple and Golden Temple

Are you looking for the best places to visit in Dambulla, Sri Lanka? You can easily combine a trip to Dambulla Cave Temple with a visit to the magnificent Golden Temple.

The Dambulla Golden Temple offers fantastic photo opportunities from the outside, and you can visit the museum for just 2 USD. The Dambulla Museum is open daily from 8 AM to 4 PM.

Many people make the mistake of climbing the stairs to the Dambulla Cave Temple after the Golden Buddha statue. But there is no ticket office at the top! So once you reach the top, you have to walk down to the ticket office and climb again to the cave temple.

We recommend starting your visit at the Dambulla Temple and then walking down the steps to the Golden Temple of Dambulla. If you have a vehicle or driver, go to the other parking lot, and you can easily reach the museum with a short walk.

See also → Things to Do in Sigiriya

Tips for Visiting

It’s safe to visit the Dambulla Cave Temple in Sri Lanka, and well worth it.
There is a dress code, so you should wear respectful clothing when visiting the temple. Bring a sarong or borrow one at the temple to cover your shoulders or knees.
You should wear comfortable shoes and clothes! There are 364 steps to climb from the parking lot to the cave temple, which takes about 10 minutes.
You can only enter the temple complex without shoes, but the concrete will be hot at midday if you’re barefoot. So bring socks or plan your visit for the morning or afternoon.
Toilets are only at the Golden Temple. But take toilet paper and hand sanitizer with you.
Take care of your valuables! Because there are monkeys in the temple area.

Where to Stay in Dambulla

You can spend 1-2 days in Dambulla, these are our accommodation recommendations.

Best hotels in Dambulla

Luxury: Jetwing Lake or Amaya Lake Dambulla
Mid-Range: Sigiriana Resort by Thilanka
Budget: Blue Mountains View

more hotels in Dambulla

TIP
Alternatively, stay in Sigiriya, about a 30-minute drive from Dambulla.

We hope you found our guide to Dambulla Royal Cave Temple useful and will inspire you to visit Sri Lanka. If you have any questions or thoughts, let us know in the comments below.

Travel Resources

Hotels – Booking.com
Car Rentals – Discover Cars
Flights – Skyscanner
eSIM – Airalo
Travel Insurance – SafetyWing
Tours & Attractions – GetYourGuide
Bus/Train/Transfer – Bookaway

How to Visit Dambulla Cave Temple & Golden Temple, Sri Lanka