Dambulla is one of Sri Lanka’s major cities. it is a couple of hours drive north from Colombo, and 1 1/2 hours north from Kandy. Dambulla’s history is believed to go back to between the 7th and 3rd centuries BC. The first cave paintings and statues can be dated back to the first century BC. Dambulla is best known for having Sri Lanka’s best-preserved cave temple, also known as the Royal Rock temple or Dambulla Cave Temple. Today the temple is a World Heritage site.