Colombo Airport to Dambulla

Dambulla, the crossroads town below the island’s great cave temple, is 130 km from the airport by Google’s route, about two and three quarter hours by car.

• 130 km by road from the airport
• about 2 h 45 min driving time (Google)
• from $73.12 one way, City car
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup

Fares to Dambulla

Every vehicle’s starting price covers 50 km of the 130; the other 80 km are charged at its rate per km.

VehicleSeatsBagsOne wayReturn

City carSuzuki Wagon R or similar2 seats2 bags$73.12one way$146.24 returnBook Station wagonHonda Shuttle or similar3 seats5 bags$76.12one way$152.24 returnBook Economy carToyota Prius or similar3 seats3 bags$82.13one way$164.26 returnBook Standard carToyota Premio or similar3 seats3 bags$91.14one way$182.28 returnBook SUVSsangYong Kyron or similar4 seats6 bags$95.15one way$190.30 returnBook Luxury SUVToyota Prado or similar4 seats6 bags$212.71one way$425.42 returnBook Mini vanToyota Hiace or similar7 seats10 bags$99.16one way$198.32 returnBook Mini busToyota Hiace High Roof or similar14 seats14 bags$121.19one way$242.38 returnBook 20-seat coachToyota Coaster or similar20 seats20 bags$140.20one way$280.40 returnBook 37-seat coach37 seats37 bags$270.50one way$541.00 returnBook 45-seat coach45 seats45 bags$320.60one way$641.20 returnBook 51-seat coach51 seats51 bags$380.70one way$761.40 returnBook

Fares to the centre of Dambulla, 130.2 km by Google’s route, as the booking form works them out. Your hotel may be a little nearer or further: enter its address in the form for its own fare.

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The drive

From the airport the car takes country roads through Minuwangoda and Divulapitiya to Mirigama, where it joins the Central Expressway (E04). The expressway ends near Kurunegala, and the last 50 km or so follow the A6, the old road to Trincomalee, north through dry-zone farmland.

Arriving in Dambulla

The cave temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, sits in a granite outcrop above the town: five caves full of Buddha statues under painted ceilings, a climb of about a quarter of an hour from the road. At its foot stands the modern Golden Temple with its large gilded Buddha.

The town itself is a crossroads, where the road from Kandy to Jaffna meets the road from Kurunegala to Trincomalee, and its wholesale vegetable market is one of the busiest in the country. Hotels are spread around the town and out towards the Kandalama reservoir.

Sigiriya is about 20 km further on, and many travellers stay in one place and see both. Rides between hotels, or a day with the car waiting, are booked in the same form.

Other routes from the airport