Dambulla Cave Temples

Buddhism is the predominant religion in Sri Lanka with over 70% of the population identifying themselves as followers of Theravada Buddhism. Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka in the third century B.C. by the son of Mauryan Emperor Ashoka – Arhantha Mahinda Thero through a mission from Eastern India. The Sinhalese king at the time – Tissa, took to the Buddhist fold, and provided patronage to establish the religion there.

An UNESCO World Heritage site, the remarkable paintings of the Dambulla Cave temple showcase the finest example of Buddhist art in the country. Legend has it that in the first century B.C., a Sri Lankan king was provided refuge in the caves by Buddhist monks when he was in exile. As a token of gratitude, the king built a temple in the caves. His successors have since preserved and added to the cave temple complex, leading to what it is today.

Though hardly 160 kms from Colombo, the drive from Colombo to Dambulla averages a whopping 4 – 4 1/2 hours. Quite a few places along the way seemed to have bumper to bumper traffic. We arrived at Dambulla just after noon, and were surprised at the hustle and bustle as we drove through town. Lorries, tractors, and smaller trucks everywhere, sacks and sacks of produce were either being loaded or unloaded from these. Onions, pumpkins, beans, potatoes, mangoes, plantains, jackfruit, chilis, carrots, brinjals, beetroots, cabbage, okra, cauliflower, the market seemed to be filled to the brim with every fruit & vegetable you can think of. You could barely walk by without getting run over by traffic or by busy men wielding trolleys and carrying produce. Turns out, Dambulla is the largest wholesale vegetable market in Sri Lanka.

Once you park and get your tickets, you will need to climb uphill through a maze of stairs before getting to the cave temples. You will see hawkers selling souvenirs & refreshments all along the way. The place is also filled with cheeky monkeys that seemed to be bold enough to snatch snacks from you. Just be careful to not openly flaunt food while walking. If you buy anything from the vendors, just stop, take a break, and finish eating the food before starting up again, and you will be fine.

Even though a cave temple might conjure up images of a labyrinth of dark caves, the temples here are all really rock overhangs. Once inside, you will be amazed at the five cave sanctuaries, and the beautiful Buddhist mural paintings depicting scenes from the life of the Buddha and various statues of Buddha and others (157 statues, if I remember correctly). Each of the poses of the Buddha and his hand gestures (called mudras) carries spiritual meaning and symbolizes different meanings such as wisdom, fearlessness, enlightenment, patience, morality, generosity, etc.

Do dress modestly. No shorts, and for women, shoulders need to be covered. If you do end up with shorts, they do lend a sarong to wrap yourself up for a small fee. It is a sign of immense disrespect to turn your back to the Buddha – so do not take any selfies with the Buddha murals or statues, or you will be called out by the guards. Also, do remember, no services at the top, and toilet use requires a fee. If you are mentally prepared for these things, they will not bother you.

Do’s & Dont’s:

1. Do dress modestly. Do not wear shorts. Women should have their shoulders covered.
2. Don’t take selfies. It is a sign of immense disrespect to show your back to the Buddha.
3. Don’t climb uphill with open food or drinks. You risk having your food or drink snatched away by monkeys that can get aggressive. If you are thirsty or hungry, stop at the vendor, finish up eating/drinking, and then proceed climbing.

How to get there:

A four hour drive from Colombo to Dambulla: