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Exploring the Dambulla Cave Temples and More: A Cultural Journey Through Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is a treasure trove of ancient heritage and one of the most iconic UNESCO World Heritage Sites is the Dambulla Cave Temples. The temples are a must-visit destination for anyone exploring the cultural heart of the island.
The Golden Temple of Dambulla
Before even reaching the caves, we stopped to admire the Golden Temple of Dambulla. The Golden Buddha that sits atop temple is especially awe-inspiring. It made me feel very small. Although we didn’t go inside the temple itself, the outside was impressive enough. Surrounded by colourful flowers and life-sized monk statues clad in traditional orange robes, the scene was majestic and beautiful.
Dambulla Cave Temples
The Dambulla Cave Temple complex, much like Sigiriya Rock Fortress (although not quite as strenuous) was up a bit of a steep climb. And also like Sigiriya, there are monkeys lining the path and panoramic views of the surrounding countryside to be admired.
The Dambulla Cave Temples are made up of five different caves. Each cave is filled with stunning Buddha statues, intricate murals and religious artifacts. The caves here are said to date back to the 1st century BC and form the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. While I couldn’t tell you which cave was which, they were all equally beautiful, with cool interiors and a sacred, tranquil atmosphere.
Dambulla Cave Temple dress code
Like many temples around the world, you are expected to dress respectfully. This means that shoulders and knees must be covered. I wore linen trousers and covered my shoulders with a large scarf. Shoes must be removed before entering. I would recommend packing a pair of socks to walk around in because the ground outside the caves gets extremely hot under the Sri Lankan sun!
A Surprise Wedding and Sri Lankan Hospitality
After our temple tour, we stopped at a nearby restaurant for lunch. We discovered that they were hosting a wedding! Initially hesitant, I felt a bit guilty about crashing a wedding, but the bride and groom were very gracious and were happy to let us take a couple of photographs of them in their beautiful wedding clothes. I don’t think I would have enjoyed seeing 8 sweaty tourists rocking up at my wedding uninvited, but they didn’t seem to mind.
Visiting a Spice Garden in Sri Lanka
Part of our tour included being taken to a spice garden where we learned about the island’s rich botanical heritage. From cinnamon and cardamom to turmeric and clove, our guide explained how each plant is grown and used in Ayurvedic medicine and Sri Lankan cuisine. We also each received a surprise neck and shoulder massage which was a very odd experience and not at all relaxing. I’m awkward at the best of times without being on the receiving end of a spontaneous group massage in the middle of some spice jungle! At the end of our visit we were taken to a gift shop where we purchased a couple of cinnamon-based items.
Bonus: We met a sleepy little cat lounging in the garden. As a cat lady, this is always worth noting.
Discovering the art of Batik in Sri Lanka
Another interesting thing to do on a cultural tour of Sri Lanka would be a visit to a Batik Workshop. On our tour we got the opportunity to watch the local ladies making beautiful batik art. Batik is where patterns and illustrations are drawn onto fabric with hot wax. The fabric is then dipped in a dye. The waxed part of the material is resistant to the dye, leaving a beautiful design once the wax has been washed off. This process can be repeated to create more intricate and colourful patterns. We ended up purchasing a pretty purple elephant batik artwork to hang up in our house. I think I would like to give batik a whirl one day!
If you’re planning a trip to Sri Lanka, be sure to include the Dambulla Cave Temples. They’re truly unlike anywhere I’ve ever been. For a deeper dive into local culture, add a spice garden tour and a visit to a batik workshop to your itinerary. And if it’s rich cultural experiences you’re after, Kandy is an absolute must. Check out my blog post, Sightseeing in Kandy: Sri Lanka’s Cultural Capital, for some travel inspiration!
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