Religious Sites in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a deeply religious country. There are a number of religious sites that attract visitors from all round the world. Most of these relate to Buddhism.

Anuradhapura (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

The first capital of Sri Lanka established in the 4th century BC but destroyed in the 10th century AD. It is situated in the North-Central part of the Island and served as the royal capital for 133 kings. It is only in the last century that it was re-discovered and reclaimed from the jungle. It is set amid acres of parkland and includes many fine buildings such as  the Dagobas of  Ruwanweli, Thuparama, Jetavanarama  and Abhayagiri which after the Egyptian pyramids were the largest structures erected anywhere in the ancient world. There are also vast reservoirs (tanks), statues and the world-famous Sri Maha Bodhiya. This is the 2,000 year old Bo Tree which is said to have grown from a cutting of the Bo Tree under which Lord Buddha attained enlightenment in India.

Mihintale

This is situated some 12km east of Anuradhapura and is where Buddhism was first introduced to Sri Lanka in 247BC. It is a very sacred mountain with 1840 granite steps leading to the top. It has many temples, lodgings for monks and several splendid statues of the Buddha. Each June on the full moon there is a pilgrimage commemorating the date when Mahinda first preached the Buddhist doctrine in Sri Lanka and many thousands of pilgrims flock from all over Sri Lanka to meditate here.

Polonnaruwa (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

This is the second capital of Sri Lanka established in the 10th century AD. The numerous ruins of this city include royal palaces, stupas and temples. The superbly carved Vatadage (meaning circular relic temple) is considered to be one of the most beautiful buildings in Sri Lanka.  The magnificent statues at the Gal Vihara, including the famous five-meter long reclining Buddha are one of the island’s great artistic treasures.

Temple of the Tooth, Kandy)-Dalada Maligawa (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

It is said to house the tooth of Lord Buddha and is one of the most venerated sites for Buddhists and many thousands visit every year to pay homage. Every year the Tooth Relic is paraded around Kandy in Sri Lanka’s most popular festival, the Esala Perahera. This is an awe inspiring pageant featuring hundreds of Kandyan dancers, drummers and brilliantly costumed elephants adorned with jewels and masks, who parade through the streets in front of an audience of thousands of locals and tourists.  The exact timing of the festival varies from year to year according to the position of the moon, but it is generally held during the first 10 days in August.

Dambulla Cave Temples (UNESCO World Heritage Site) –

This is the largest painted cave temple in the world which was built in the 1st century BC. The temples are one of Sri Lanka’s richest artistic treasures and are filled with over 200 exquisitely carved and painted statues of Lord Buddha including 2 huge reclining statues whilst some of Sri Lanka’s finest murals cover virtually all the walls and ceilings.

Ritigala

This was an ancient monastery where the monks used to mediate. It's in a remote area in the Cultural Triangle and is untouched by tourism. It dates back to the first century BC and is one of only a few sites on the Island that date from that period. Unusually, there are no stupas present, instead there are meditation platforms and walkways. Ritigala Mountain itself is stepped in legend and mystery, the most famous legend being the Ramayana, the Indian epic poem.

Aluvihare Rock Temple

This is situated between Dambulla and Kandy. There are a number of caves containing statues of Lord Buddha and also murals depicting the lurid punishments awaiting wrongdoers. It was also here that the most important Buddhist scriptures were committed to writing.

Adams Peak (Sri Pada)

This mountain is supposed to be the first place that Adam first set foot on earth after being cast out from Heaven. It is also known as Sri Pada, “Sacred Footprint” where Buddha headed towards paradise. The mountain stands at 2,243m and has been a pilgrimage centre for over 1000 years. In recent years the pilgrimage season begins on a Poya Day (Full Moon Day) in December and runs till Vesak festival at the beginning of May. The busiest time is January and February when there will be a steady stream of pilgrims. At dawn the sun casts a perfect shadow of the peak onto the misty clouds towards the coast. As the suns rises, this triangular shadow races back towards the Peak and disappears into the base. To see this phenomenon, you need to have started the ascent at 2am when the steps will be illuminated with a string of lights. It is too hot to climb the Peak during the day and out of season, the path is not lit.