Dambulla

Dambulla is situated 85 miles (137 kilometers) northeast of Colombo and 85 miles (137 kilometers) northeast of the national capital, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte.

Go exploring while you are in Dambulla. Start by visiting the the Dambulla Cave Temple.

The area around Dambulla is brimming with sights and attractions, from firm tourist favorites to hidden gems that await the more intrepid traveler. If you're keen to explore more of the area, head 10 miles (16 kilometers) to get to Sigiriya. Here you can spend an hour or two visiting the Sigiriya Archaeological Site and Sigiriya Museum.

If the weather means you don't want to be outside, spend some time in Sri Lanka's history museums and art galleries. For a low-cost outdoors activity that will interest the entire family, take the time to head to the region's fascinating open-air markets.

For those who love the water, include some watersports in your itinerary. Swimming is popular with locals and tourists and another great outdoor sport is snorkeling.

Much of the appeal of traveling to a new place is discovering new flavors, tastes and aromas. Don't miss the opportunity to eat at the region's cafés and restaurants. Chicken and also beef are often used in food in this area. No journey through Sri Lanka would be complete without getting a taste of kiribath with onion samba (milk rice) or vegetarian kottu (stir fried mix). When it is dessert, you should try king coconut. Taste a coconut milk, an non-alcoholic Sri Lanka drink that is very common in Sri Lanka.

The closest major airport, Bandaranaike International Airport, is located in Colombo, 70 miles (113 kilometers) to the southwest of Dambulla, so take that into account when booking your trip.