How to create a dreamy holiday in Dambulla From ancient temple complexes, adrenaline rushes to shopping!

There are some of the earliest and most historic temples located in Dambulla, Sri Lanka. Its magnificence will astound anyone! Successive kings overtime had added and transformed the temples over the decades to form a complex of five distinctive cave temples in Dambulla that you can witness today. Here is a guide that will detail a visit to Dambulla to create a dreamy and unforgettable holiday!

Jerzy Strzelecki, Sigiriya from Kandalama (js), CC BY-SA 3.0 

Overview

The Dambulla city is only a five-hour drive away from the bustling city and capital, Colombo. It is famous for its historic cave temples which is the best-preserved complex in this country. This is also known as a golden rock temple which is a World Heritage site that comprises five sanctuaries. Over 80 caves have been documented within a 2000 radius of this temple's complex. There are five main complexes that have sculptures and paintings of Lord Buddha which comprises a glorious 45 ft long statue of the sleeping Buddha. Most tourists visit the city only to witness these intricate statues in the beautiful and magnificent temples. Just make sure that you book accommodation close to the historic attractions of this city. For instance, you can check out a Kandalama hotel the likes of Heritance Kandalama which is located close to many of the ancient historic marvels of the city.

The best times to visit Dambulla

The best time to visit the city will be either in July, August or January. May to the month of October will also be an ideal time to visit this place. If you are going to travel to Dambulla between March and May, you will find it quite warm where the average high temperature is around 32°C which would fluctuate and increase up to 34°C. This season will offer around 4 to 10 days of rain during these months. Due to its high temperature, outdoor activities are considered to be uncomfortable and the rain makes it quite impossible. Therefore, this is not the best time to visit. June to August typically boasts of warm and dry weather where September through to November experiences very pleasant weather with average temperatures being consistent between 29°C to 33°C. December to February witnesses a lot of rainfall so choose your time to head to Dambulla wisely.

Things you can do

Apart from the temple complexes, when in Dambulla, if you are an adrenaline enthusiast you must check out the white-water rafting expeditions. If you would like to see Dambulla from a different vantage point, do not miss out on the hot air balloon rides. Are you an outdoor enthusiast? Well, then you can have one of the most amazing outdoor experiences at the local jungle Safaris here. You will witness a range of animals, reptiles and birds species comfortably going about their day. You also have excellent spa services to relax in and cricket matches to watch to entertain you.

Shopping

This commands a section of its own in this article. Apart from Dambulla's scenic beauty and relatively untouched natural attractions, there is still more to explore. Check out the Sigiriya Crafts Complex to lose yourself among intricately carved and excellent local handicrafts here. There are unique and beautiful crafts and artistic offerings created by the best artisans. It boasts an assortment of souvenirs, home decor items, sculptures and so much more. The artefacts here will be worth a shopping spree! What more? They are moderately priced too! Therefore, enjoy an epic shopping experience here in Dambulla, picking up some of the most historic artefacts! It will be perfect for gifts and souvenirs capturing the essence of Sri Lanka.