5 Places You Should Visit in Dambulla – Captivating Attractions for the Sightseer

The fortress atop the Sigiriya Rock was constructed many centuries ago by the renegade King Kasyapa, and its intriguing ruins are one of Sri Lanka's renowned sightseeing attractions. This monarch constructed lavish palaces and gardens at this distinctive location, the remnants of which may be seen today. The Sigiriya complex is also renowned for its frescoes – paintings of beautiful women – as well as its Mirror Wall and the interesting graffiti left at the site by visitors over the course of centuries. Visitors may take the opportunity to ascend to the summit of the massive rock, which will be a challenging but rewarding undertaking.

Your tour of the attractions in the vicinity of Dambulla would not be complete without visiting the well-known Pidurangala Rock. This natural attraction is situated in proximity to the Sigiriya Rock and is also related to the latter historically. On the other hand, Pidurangala is more arduous to climb, making it less popular amongst tourists. The Pidurangala Rock Temple is a significant attraction for sightseers, offering a number of features of interest. A highlight here is the cave temple, which inherits a history stretching back many centuries. You will find a number of interesting objects within this temple which reflect Buddhist as well as Hindu influences.

Culture lovers should undoubtedly take the opportunity to visit the fascinating Sigiriya Museum which contains a number of interesting features. Here you will find a host of exhibits, mainly relating to the Sigiriya Rock Fortress site. Visitors may experience the popular audio-visual presentation that provides interesting background information on Sigiriya. You will also find various other displays that will capture the interest of the history lover. This museum also contains a good bookshop featuring many interesting books about Sri Lanka and its cultural attractions. Visitors will also notice a reproduction of the Sigiriya frescoes at this establishment.

If you like religious attractions you are sure to be entranced by the remarkable Dambulla Cave Temple. At this site, you will find five individual caves containing a splendid collection of Buddha figures and paintings that are considered to rank amongst Sri Lanka's finest cultural treasures. The initial Buddha statues to be created here were made more than 2,000 years ago; over the course of subsequent centuries, many of the local rulers added and embellished to the works of art within the caves. You will also have the opportunity to enjoy the splendid views of the surrounding areas that may be experienced from the cave temples. A choice of accommodation to consider from which the Dambulla Cave Temple would be within convenient reach would be Heritance Kandalama which may be regarded as a pleasingly located Sigiriya hotel.

Nature lovers visiting this area may take the opportunity to tour the attractive Minneriya National Park. You will see that this nature sanctuary consists mainly of forest, grassland and scrubland. Within this reserve, you will find as many as 24 mammalian species, 160 varieties of birds and many other reptiles, amphibians, butterflies and fish. Amongst the prominent kinds of animals at this reserve are its elephants, deer, monkeys, leopards and sloth bears. You will also encounter interesting birds such as peacocks, painted storks, pelicans and cormorants amongst many others. This park is renowned for its gathering of elephants, which occurs at the time of the dry season.