Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara
One of the most sacred Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka, 11km north of Colombo, believed to have been visited by the Buddha himself in 500 BCE.
Duration
1-1.5 hours
Entry Fee
Free
Difficulty
easy
Budget
free
About Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara
Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara is regarded as one of the three holiest Buddhist sites in Sri Lanka, alongside Anuradhapura and Kataragama. According to the Mahavamsa chronicle, the Buddha visited this site during his third and final trip to Sri Lanka in approximately 500 BCE and preached to the Naga king Maniakkhita. The current temple buildings date from the 18th and 19th centuries, though a shrine has stood here continuously for over two millennia. The interior walls are covered with detailed murals painted by artist Solias Mendis in the 1930s, depicting scenes from the Buddha's life and Sri Lankan Buddhist history. The compound also holds a 12-metre-high dagoba (stupa) and several smaller shrines. The Duruthu Perahera procession in January, one of the largest in the Western Province, draws thousands of pilgrims. Visit on a weekday morning and avoid full-moon (poya) days if you prefer smaller crowds.
Highlights
- One of Sri Lanka's three holiest Buddhist sites, per the Mahavamsa chronicle
- Believed to have been visited by the Buddha in approximately 500 BCE
- Interior murals by artist Solias Mendis painted in the 1930s
- 12-metre-high dagoba (stupa) in the main compound
- Duruthu Perahera procession held in January each year
Practical Tips
Visit on a weekday morning before 10am to avoid crowds; poya (full moon) days draw very large numbers of pilgrims.
Dress conservatively: full-length clothing required; sarongs available at the gate.
Photography inside shrines is allowed but use discretion and no flash during ceremonies.
Explore by Interest
Best Time to Visit
Best time of day: Year-round; January for the Duruthu Perahera festival
Location
Planning Info
- Crowd level
- Often busy
- Physical difficulty
- easy
- Setting
- mixed
- Child friendly
- Yes
- Senior friendly
- Yes
- Budget level
- free
- Photography
- ★★★★☆
Plan Your Visit
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ALSO IN THE AREA
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Gangaramaya Temple
Colombo's most visited Buddhist temple, built in the 1880s, housing a museum of rare artefacts gifted by donors from across Asia.
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