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CulturalRef. 561

Dambulla cave temple

Cultural World Heritage property in Sri Lanka, inscribed in 1991 under criteria (i), (vi).

Dambulla cave temple, Sri Lanka
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Jolle~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims… · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Ajanta CavesAnuradhapuraArchaeological Heritage of the Lenggong ValleyAyutthaya Historical ParkBaganCentral Highlands of Sri LankaChhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj TerminusChurches and Convents of GoaDambulla cave templeDong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest ComplexElephanta CavesEllora CavesForest Research Institute Malaysia Forest Park SelangorGreat Living Chola TemplesGroup of monuments at MahabalipuramHampiHistoric Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic TownsKaeng Krachan Forest ComplexKandyKonark Sun TempleLuang PrabangMaratha Military Landscapes of IndiaOld Town of Galle and its FortificationsOmbilin coal minePattadakal Group of MonumentsPhu Phrabat, a testimony to the Sīma stone tradition of the Dvaravati periodPolonnaruwaRamappa TempleSacred Ensembles of the HoysalasSi Thep historical parkSigiriyaSinharaja Forest ReserveSundarbans National ParkThungyai Naresuan Wildlife SanctuaryTropical Rainforest Heritage of SumatraVictorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of MumbaiWat Phra MahathatWestern Ghats7.857° N, 80.648° E
State Party
Sri Lanka
Year of inscription
1991
Criteria
ivi
Location
Matale District
What it is
Buddhist temple
Reference
WHC 561 · Wikidata Q45690

Why it is on the List

(i)A masterpiece of human creative genius.(vi)Directly linked to events, living traditions, ideas, beliefs or artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance.
nearby

Closest World Heritage sites

Straight-line distance between the recorded coordinates.

Sigiriya, Sri Lanka17 kmSigiriyaSri Lanka · 1982CulturalPolonnaruwa, Sri Lanka40 kmPolonnaruwaSri Lanka · 1982CulturalCentral Highlands of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka48 kmCentral Highlands of Sri LankaSri Lanka · 2010NaturalAnuradhapura, Sri Lanka59 kmAnuradhapuraSri Lanka · 1982CulturalKandy, Sri Lanka63 kmKandySri Lanka · 1988CulturalSinharaja Forest Reserve, Sri Lanka184 kmSinharaja Forest ReserveSri Lanka · 1988Natural
Sri Lanka

More sites in Sri Lanka

All 8
1991

Also inscribed in 1991

All of 1991

Data: Wikidata (CC0) · danger list as published in 2026 · independent atlas, not affiliated with UNESCO or Petit Futé.