DAMBULLA
Area: Sri Lanka
Country: Sri Lanka


Location:
Inland, 90 miles NE of Colombo and Bandaranaike international airport. 10 miles S of Sigiriya rock fortress. 50 miles N of Kandy.

Telephone code from UK:
94 66

Position:
Main crossroads in centre of island, surrounded by flat countryside of settlements, small industries and agriculture.

Description:
More heritage site than village, Dambulla is renowned for its 1st-century rock cave temple and Buddha statue. It has grown in recent years, however, with the area's population spreading along the roads that radiate from the main junction.

Suitability:
Day-trippers and coach tours stopping off on the way to Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa temples.

Accommodation:
Pair of self-contained, modern, eco-friendly properties used primarily as stopovers by tour groups visiting the country's principal historic sights.

Shopping:
Very little locally.

Entertainments:
Hotel based.

Eating:
Hotel based.

Public-transport:
Infrequent trains and buses to Colombo. Taxis and motorised rickshaws at major junctions.

Local-excursions:
Half day: Sigiriya; Polonnaruwa; Anuradhapura temples. Full day: Kandy; elephant orphanage.