Temples · Colombo
Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara: Colombo’s Great Temple
By Days of Iru and Opa
Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara, on the banks of the Kelani River just outside Colombo, is one of the most sacred Buddhist temples in the country, traditionally held to have been visited by the Buddha himself.
Murals and stupa
The temple is renowned for its 20th-century murals by Solias Mendis, depicting scenes from Sri Lankan Buddhist history, around a large white stupa.
Duruthu Perahera
The Duruthu festival, usually in January, fills the temple with a procession of dancers, drummers and elephants.
Getting there
It is a short drive from central Colombo, an easy half-day trip from the city.
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