Dambulla Cave Temples

The Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple, also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla, is a World Heritage Site located in the central part of Sri Lanka. It is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka, with five cave shrines containing statues and paintings related to Gautama Buddha and his life. The temple complex dates back to the first century BCE and has been continuously used as a Buddhist site for over 22 centuries. The caves are decorated with intricate patterns of religious images, including images of the Lord Buddha and bodhisattvas, as well as various gods and goddesses. The temple is still functional and remains the best-preserved ancient edifice in Sri Lanka