Golden Temple of Dambulla

The cave temples of Dambulla date back to the first centuries BC and are the largest and best preserved Buddhist cave temples in the country. Since 1991, the impressive, also known as the "Golden Temple of Dambulla" cave system, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.In the 2nd and 3rd century BC, the cave temples of Dambulla were considered one of the most important monasteries in Sri Lanka. In the 1st century BC, King Valagambahu's first cave was turned into a temple after serving as a hiding place from the South Indian persecutors during his 15-year exile from Anuradhapura. Until the 11th century, others followed his example and over time created the huge gilded temple complex and thus the religious center of Sri Lanka.

The golden Buddha is nearly 30 meters high and mighty. The complex is still a monastery, as well as a school and a training center for monks. There is also a Buddha museum here.