Dambulla is the site of a series of cave temples, filled with extraordinary Buddhas, carved straight from the rock. There are over 80 documented cave temples on site, but only five are open to the public. Like other holy sites in Sri Lanka, remember to remove your shoes (you can leave them with someone for a few rupees) and also cover your arms and legs.

The Golden Temple of Dambulla is a World Heritage site, which UNESCO describe as ‘an outstanding example of the religious art and expression of Sri Lanka and South and South-East Asia. The excavated shrine-caves, their painted surfaces and statuary are unique in scale and degree of preservation’.