Known primarily because of its beautiful murals, the Dambulla Rock Monastery is located just outside the premises of the main city. Surrounded by well-preserved paintings, the monastery, even today is an avid place of worship by followers from all parts of the world. this monastery has also been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The monastery lies on a 160 metre rock which oversees the beautiful grassland of Dambulla. With various statues of Buddha surrounding the premises, the structure is also bound by about eight odd caves. Paintings and cave murals suggest that there were activities as early as first century BC.