Manavari Temple

Manavari Temple sits about 6 kilometres north of Chilaw on the Chilaw-Puttalam road, at the village of Bangadeniya, and holds a Shiva lingam known as the Ramalingam. Ramayana tradition holds that Rama installed it here after his war with Ravana, seeking atonement for killing a Brahmin (Ravana held Brahmin lineage), and only one other lingam in the world, at Rameswaram in India, shares this same origin story. The temple is smaller and considerably quieter than Munneswaram, the larger Shiva complex closer to Chilaw town, and draws a steady trickle of Ramayana Trail pilgrims rather than the crowds of a major festival site. Combine it with Munneswaram on the same day, since both sit on or near the same coastal road north of Chilaw and the detour between them adds only about 15 minutes.