Sri Lanka: Padeniya - Dambulla Cave Temple

Padeniya - Dambulla

The temple is really nice and unique. Walking through the sculptures and paintings under the giant rock bare feet, with dogs and monkeys all around you, surrounded by peace and green, gives a sort of spirituality to this place.

The only thing I haven’t appreciated was having to pay for a guy to keep my shoes outside of the temple.

To reach the cave temple carved in Dambulla rocks, you'll need to ascend a substantial flight of stairs, which I believe most people can manage.

While climbing the stairs, you can appreciate the breathtaking scenery, as depicted in the photos.

Along the way, you might come across some monkeys. Upon reaching the top, you'll be treated to lovely mountain views.

Before entering the temple, you'll be asked to remove your shoes, and there's a place available to keep them for a fee of 100 Rupees per pair. Alternatively, you can choose to leave your shoes outside at your own risk. The area is generally clean, so going barefoot inside the temple or outside is okay. If you'd prefer not to, you can wear socks.

Please note that appropriate attire is required, which means no shorts even for guys, either full-length pants or skirts that extend below the knee, along with a modest top.

Inside the temple, we didn't observe any guides or signs explaining the significance of this place. You'll explore caves filled with numerous Buddha statues and wall paintings, making it a pleasant religious place to admire.

However, it would be even better if there were more information provided. After completing the tour, you can retrieve your shoes and descend a different set of stairs.

Along the way, you might encounter vendors selling fruits, and you may even come across friendly dogs.

At the bottom of the stairs, there's a massive golden Buddha statue, but there isn't much else to do in the vicinity.

overall, I would recommend you to visit this place for a 1 or 2 hours stop.