Dambulla is a popular center of Buddhist pilgrimage, archeological and historical interests. It is one of the largest rock temples in Sri Lanka, sited on a gigantic rock which towers more than 160m above the surrounding land. It has a history dating back to prehistoric times down to the modern period. The Dambulla cave temple represents one of the oldest sites for Buddhist monasticism, with a history as a pilgrimage site for twenty-two centuries.

The history of Dambulla is thought to date back to 1st century BC when King Valagamba was driven out of Anuradhapura and took refuge here, in his 14 year long exile from the Anuradapura kingdom. When he regained his throne, he had the interior of the caves carved into magnificent rock temples as a gratitude to the monks in Dambulla. Many other kings added to it later and by the eleventh century, the caves had become a major religious center. King Nissanka Malla gilded the caves and added about seventy Buddha statues in 1190 C.E. During the eighteenth century, the Kandyan Kings restored and painted the caves.

The caves are a mixture of religious and secular paintings and sculpture. Major attractions are spread over five caves which contain statues and paintings of Lord Buddha and his life. A total of 153 Buddha statues, three statues of Sri Lankan kings and four statues of gods and goddesses also stand in the site. The latter include statues of the Hindu deities, Vishnu and Ganesh. The cave monastery has been a sacred pilgrimage site since its founding. It has five sanctuaries, including the Cave of the Divine King, Cave of the Great Kings, Great New Monastery, and two lesser caves of more recent creation. The caves, in continuous use for more than two millenniums, have been developed in stages. The centuries' long effort to maintain the cave temples demonstrate constant and continual adherence to Buddhism in Sri Lanka.

This complex has been occupied continuously for more than 22 centuries up to the present day. Dambulla was voted a World Heritage site in 1991.

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