The Dambulla Cave Temple or the Golden Caves of Infinite Buddhas is another UNESCO World Heritage Site located 148km from Colombo, approximately a 4.5 hours drive. It is an isolated rock mass, 500 feet in height with a history dating back to the 3rd Century BC when it was a meditation center where Bhikkus lived in caves. There are 35 such caves still to be seen with some having inscriptions written 2300 years ago. The magnificent Rock Temple was built during the 1st Century BC by King Valagamba during the Anuradhapura period. In 103 BC King Valagamba seeks refuge here and lived in exile for 14 years once he lost his Kingdom to the South Indian invaders. After he defeated the enemy and regained the Throne in 89 BC, King Valagamba converted 3 of the caves in to magnificent shrines with many splendid statues and painting as attested by the 1st Century BC Brahmi inscription of Cave No: 2. At present there are five such caves with hundreds of Buddha statues and beautiful paintings drawn on the uneven surface of the caves, done and renovated by many Kings and elite during various periods of the history after initially created by King Valagamba. During the 12th Century AD King Nissankamalla of Polonnaruwa renovated the caves, painted the statues in gold and re-named the place as the Golden Cave Temple in Dambulla. This is written in a well preserved large stone inscription done in the 12th Century AD by King Nissankamalla.