Historical background
King Valagamba took refuge in these caves in the 1st century BCE and later converted them into a magnificent rock temple. Successive kings added to the murals and statues over 2,000 years. UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Religious significance
The largest, best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka — five caverns containing 153 Buddha statues, three royal statues and 2,100 sq metres of vivid ceiling murals.
Visitor experience
A 20-minute climb past mischievous macaques delivers you to the cave entrances. Inside, painted ceilings curve overhead and gilded reclining Buddhas seem to glow in the lamplight.
Things to do
- ✦Explore all five caves
- ✦Examine the rock-fold murals of Cave 2
- ✦Visit the Golden Temple and museum at the base
- ✦Pair with a sunset climb at Pidurangala
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