Locations
Sri Lanka is home to numerous distinct ethnic groups, and four major faiths are practised here. Every culture and religion in Sri Lanka has contributed to the country’s diversity.
Along with the country’s rich culture and customs comes interesting architecture. The following are some wonderful sites of worship and religious importance that you should absolutely visit while in Sri Lanka.
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The Sacred City of Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura was Sri Lanka’s historic capital. During this time, Buddhism was introduced to the country. Devotees continue to revere sites of worship constructed during the time, such as Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, Samadhi Buddha Statue, and Ruwanweliseya.
Ruwanwelisaya
Great King Dutugemunu ruled the island between 161 and 137 BC and created the impressive Ruwanweliseya, which is regarded one of the world’s highest ancient structures. It is 103 metres tall and 290 metres in diameter.
Jetavanaramaya, Anuradhapura
The Jetavanaramaya monastery, located in the ancient city of Anuradhapura, is one of Sri Lanka’s largest monasteries. This magnificent building was the third-largest structure in the ancient world. According to mythology, in the Jetavanaramaya monastery, a portion of Lord Buddha’s sash or belt was fastened and kept.
Temple of the Tooth Relic, Kandy
Sri Dalada Maligawa, popularly known as the Temple of the Tooth Relic, is located in Kandy, Sri Lanka’s most renowned city. It holds a relic of Buddha’s tooth and draws thousands of pilgrims every year.
Thuparamaya
Thuparamaya, Sri Lanka’s earliest dagaba, is said to have been erected during the era of King Devanampiyatissa, who ruled the island between 247 BC and 207 BC. It is a designated archaeological site located in Mahamewna Park.
Lovamahapaya
Lovamahapaya, also known as Lohaprasadaya or Brazen Palace, is located in Anuradhapura. This structure’s roof is considered to have been built of bronze tiles. For a millennium, it was the highest structure on the island.
Lankaramaya
During the Anuradhapura era, King Valagamba built the magnificent Lankaramaya. The enormous “Ath Pokuna,” or Elephant Pond,” located close to Lankaramaya, greatly enhances the site’s charm.
Matale Alu Viharaya
After adopting Buddhism’s peaceful teachings, King Devanampiyatissa is said to have erected Matale Alu Viharaya, also known as Aluvihare Rock Temple. There are caverns on the property with beautiful artwork.
Mihintale
King Devanampiyatissa paid a visit to the Buddhist monk Mahinda on the sacred mountain summit of Mihintale in Anuradhapura. As a result of this encounter, Buddhism was introduced to the island. It is a sacred place of devotion for the island’s Buddhists.
Kelaniya Temple
Kelaniya Temple is a well-known temple of devotion that goes back to 500 BCE. This hallowed spot is supposed to have been visited by Lord Buddha during his third and last visit to the island, when he talked to the public while perched on a gem-encrusted throne.
Kataragama
Buddhists, Hindus, and the country’s indigenous Vedda people regard Kataragama town as sacred. The town is home to the Kataragama Temple, which is dedicated to the Kataragama Deity, as well as the magnificent Buddhist stupa of Kiri Vehera.
Kalutara Temple
Kalutara Bodhiya is a holy bo tree and one of the 32 seedlings of Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi. Both the Kalutara Chaitya and the Kalutara Viharaya are close to the bo tree. A considerable number of worshippers visit the site throughout the year.
Captains Gardens Kovil
The oldest Hindu temple in Colombo is Captains Gardens Kovil, popularly known as Sri Kailasanathar Swami Devashthanam. Hindu deities Shiva and Ganesh are worshipped here. The ceiling of the kovil is adorned with magnificent artwork.
Ashok Vatika
Ravana abducted Sita and carried her to Ashok Vatika, who kept her captive. Ashok Vatika’s present location is supposed to be Hakgala Botanical Garden. The Sita Amman Temple is a well-known tourist attraction in the neighbourhood.
Koneswaram Kovil
Koneswaram Kovil is a significant Hindu temple in Sri Lanka. This Shiva temple was built in 1580 BC and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple is at Trincomalee, located in the Eastern Province.
Nallur Kovil
This is yet another important Hindu pilgrimage spot in India. The Nallur Kandaswamy Temple honours Lord Murugan, also known as Katharagama Deviyo. It is situated in Nallur, Northern Province of Sri Lanka.
Bahirawakanda Vihara, Kandy
Sri Maha Bodhi Viharaya, a Theravada Buddhist sanctuary, is located on a hill near Kandy. The large and magnificent monument of Lord Buddha guards the royal territory of Kandy. It shows Lord Buddha in the Dhyana Mudra, the stance in which he attained enlightenment.
Wolvendaal Church
Wolvendaal Church is one of the oldest Protestant churches in Sri Lanka and is located in the Colombo suburb of Pettah. It is one of the most visible relics of the Dutch Colonial era. Wolvendaal, erected in 1757 with Roman and Greek architectural elements, is a sight to behold.
Isurumuniya
Beautiful statues may be found in Isurumuniya, a historic Buddhist monastery near Tissa Wewa. The Isurumuniya Lovers sculpture is quite prominent at this temple. It was constructed by King Devanampiyatissa.
Mirisaweti Stupa
King Dutugemunu also constructed the magnificent Mirisaweti Stupa during the Anuradhapura era. Under the patronage of Kashyapa I and Kashyapa V, the stupa is considered to have been significantly restored.
Japanese Peace Pagoda
On the slopes of the Galle Fort, the Peace Pagoda is a beautiful and tranquil place to visit. The Mahayana group built the Peace Pagoda as a peace initiative in the Sri Lankan war zone. The Pagoda is stunning, especially from Unawatuna’s side, where it looks to have sprouted out of the forest.
Dambulla Cave Temple
The Dambulla Cave Temple, also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Matale, Sri Lanka’s central region. It is the country’s best-preserved and biggest cave temple complex, with five main caverns containing innumerable sculptures of Lord Buddha, as well as figures of monarchs and Lord Vishnu.
Gangaramaya
The Gangaramaya Temple is a Buddhist study and worship facility with a distinctive architectural and cultural style. It also makes a substantial contribution to societal wellbeing. It was founded in the nineteenth century by the great scholar-monk Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Nayaka Thera. In a unique fashion, the temple combines architectural styles from Sri Lanka, Thailand, China, and India.
Abhayagiriya
The Abhayagiri Vihara is one of the most impressive and interesting monuments in Anuradhapura’s atmospheric surrounds. It is believed that King Valagamba built it between 89 and 77 BC, during his second rule on the island. The magnificence of the monastery remains is breathtaking, and they may be seen at dawn or twilight. The Abhayagiri Vihara shines beautifully.
Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi
The Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, one of the world’s oldest surviving trees, rises tall in the Mahamewna Gardens in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is said that the tree grew from a cutting transported from Bodh Gaya, India, where Lord Buddha obtained enlightenment. The tree has a genuine and living connection to Lord Buddha, and it is frequently recognised as the world’s oldest tree with a confirmed date of planting.
St. Lucia’s Cathedral, Colombo
St. Lucia’s Cathedral is named after St. Lucia, a saint martyr regarded in Colombo as the protector of those with visual impairments. St. Lucia’s Cathedral is Sri Lanka’s oldest parish church and the official residence of the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Colombo. The Gothic-style St Lucia’s Cathedral, completed in 1760, has beautiful architecture. Because of its rich culture and heritage, the cathedral is a prominent tourist destination in Colombo.
Dutch Reformed Church, Galle
The Dutch Reformed Church, or De Groote Kerk, is a church within the Galle Fort. It was erected in 1755 and is still in use today, making it Sri Lanka’s oldest Protestant church. The interiors of the Dutch Reformed Church are especially notable. As a testimony to its long history, this piece of colonial architecture has interesting antiques such as an organ, pulpit, and stunning stained glasswork. The memorial tablets of former Galle commanders serve as a reminder of the Dutch colonialists’ presence.
Seeta Amman Temple, Nuwara Eliya
The Seetha Amman Temple is a small temple in the Sri Lankan town of Seetha Eliya. It’s around a kilometre from the Hakgala Botanical Gardens and 5 to 6 kilometres from the heart of Nuwara Eliya. It is a shrine devoted to Sita Devi, the Ramayana’s described daughter of Mother Earth and Lord Rama’s bride. The temple is built on the site where it is supposed King Ravana imprisoned Sita Devi. Lord Hanuman’s footsteps may also be observed on the temple grounds, as well as in the river Seetha, which was used to recover numerous deities.
Pathirakali Amman Temple, Trincomalee
Pathirakali Amman Temple is a Hindu temple in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka’s eastern district, devoted to the goddess Kali, who is considered to be an incarnation of goddess Kali Amman. The temple is built in the ancient Dravidian architectural style, akin to temples in South India. The temple has a beautiful design and interior, as well as amazing sculptures that are nothing short of spectacular. Along with the temple design, the sculptures show an appropriate description and a profusion of stories.
Mahamevnama Monastery, Ella
The Mahamevnama Monastery is one of nine monasteries that originated in Sri Lanka and have now extended to Canada, the United States of America, and Australia. The overarching purpose is to make Gautama Buddha’s spiritual teachings as simple to grasp as possible. The most famous and significant Mahamevnama Monastery is located in Polgahawela. You may also visit the sacred Bodhi tree complex and the Dhammachakkha stupa, give offerings to the shrine, browse an informative book shop for lectures, and participate in the evening chant.
Jami Ul Alfar (The Red Mosque)
Colombo Red Mosque, also known as Jami Ul-Alfar Masjid, is a world-class architectural masterpiece with unusual colour patterns and excellent architecture. This oldest mosque, located in the Pettah district, stands above the buildings and streets with its tall minarets and was formerly a reliable landmark for sailors sailing into Colombo harbour. Both men and women are allowed in, but they must dress suitably, cover their heads, and observe local customs. The striking scarlet hue has given this marvel the nickname “red mosque.”
