Dambulla

Dambulla's cave temple is one of the best-preserved Buddhist shrines in Sri Lanka — five caves carved into a granite outcrop, over two thousand years old, packed with Buddha statues and covered in murals from floor to ceiling. It's a short, steep climb up to the entrance with a view over the surrounding countryside on the way. Most people visit on the way between Sigiriya and Kandy, and an hour or so is enough, though the site rewards a slower look if you have it.