The exotic temples of Sri Lanka: Pilgrimage to island nation's Buddhist and Hindu shrines

The exotic temples of Sri Lanka: Pilgrimage to island nation's Buddhist and Hindu shrines
Spirituality
Kirti Pandey
Updated Apr 13, 2021

The numerous shrines and temples to Hindu and Buddhist Gods are a heritage of Sri Lanka that no tourist or pilgrim must miss.

Temples of Sri Lanka
Key Highlights

• Temples in Sri Lanka are shrines for Buddhist and Hindu pilgrims

• The Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo, the temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy, the Sri Dalada Maligawa temple etc... are temples you must visit.

• Sri Lankan tourist circuit includes pilgrimage sites of Naguleswaram Temple, Kankesanturai, Keerimalai Hot Springs, Thirukonamalai Konesar Temple, Trincomalee, Gokanna Viharaya etc.

Sri Lanka is an island nation that has been India's neighbour and spirituality partner for thousands of years. This teardrop-shaped or waterdrop-shaped island nation at India's southern tip shares the legacy of Indic faiths and heritage with India for ages.


Thousands of Sri Lankans travel to India every year to visit Buddhist and Hindu pilgrimage sites. Similarly, there are literally hundreds of Hindu and Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka that you must explore. We bring you 5 key temples here that you must plan a visit to when travel is on your agenda. Spread across all parts of Sri Lanka, these sites are a perfect source of spiritual rejuvenation!

1. Gangaramaya Temple – Colombo: This is an ancient and one of the top temples in Sri Lanka. Situated in the heart of the city, this temple houses a magnificent Bodhi tree. Ancient art pieces used by Buddhist monks in olden times are on display here. Gangaramaya is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Colombo, started by the famous scholar-monk Hikkaduwa Sri Sumangala Nayaka Thera in the late 19th Century. The temple is about 40 minutes away from the Colombo Airport if you are travelling by taxi. The entry ticket costs about Rs 120/- (INR).
2. Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Kandy: The Sri Dalada Maligawa is the best place to visit if you want to see the beauty of this naturally and culturally rich nation. This temple of the sacred tooth holds Sri Lanka’s most sacred relic - the tooth of Gautam Buddha, kept in a golden chamber and is within the premises of the royal palace complex. There are elaborate ceremonies held at this Sri Lankan temple that are a big tourist attraction. To reach this temple, the nearest airport is Bandaranaike Airport. From there, take a bus or train to reach Kandy. The ticket for entry to the temple is available at Rs 400/- (INR).
   

1. Naguleswaram Temple – Kankesanturai: Naguleswaram Temple is a Hindu temple which is situated in Kankesanturai in the Jaffna peninsula. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this temple is considered to be one of the oldest shrines located in the region and is located close to the Keerimalai Hot Springs. Devotees bathe in these waters as it is believed to carry miraculous powers and curative properties. The temple was destroyed many times in history during the Portuguese reign and the civil war of Sri Lanka. The most festive time here is the “Aadi Amaavaasai day” which falls on the Tamil month of “Aadi”.
2. Thirukonamalai Konesar Temple – Trincomalee: Koneswaram temple of Trincomalee or Thirukonamalai Konesar temple – the temple of the thousand pillars and Dakshina-then Kailasam is a modern classic in the style of a medieval Hindu temple complex in Trincomalee, a Hindu religious pilgrimage centre in Eastern province Sri Lanka located on the site of the historic Buddhist temple Gokanna (Gokarna - the cow's ear). In the Tamil language, temples are known as kovils, and, thus, the modern temple complex is known locally as Konecharam Kovil. Developed from 205 BC, the original Kovil combined key features of the formation of its basic Dravidian temple plan, such as the thousand pillared hall – "Aayiram Kaal Mandapam" – and the Jagati expanded King ELARA Manu Needhi Cholan.
3. Gokanna Viharaya Buddhist Temple - Trincomalee: According to chronicles by De Queiroz, a Portuguese historian, the original (now lost) Gokanna Viharaya was built by Mahasen in the 3rd century at the top of the rock where the Koneswaram Kovil (Hindu temple) stands today. Trincomalee (Gokanna) being one of the busiest ports in the past, the temple also grew with the support of the rulers at various times. In 1505, the Portuguese landed in Sri Lanka and under their control, Buddhist Temples were ransacked, valuables looted, burnt and destroyed. The new Gokanna Viharaya now lies inside Fort Fredrick on the North of the point close to the fort entrance of the fort. Few Buddhist artefacts which have been unearthed at various times have found a home in this new temple.
4. :- https://www.timesnownews.com/spirit...and-nations-buddhist-and-hindu-shrines/744792

 

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SRI LANKA - The magnificent GANGARAMAYA BUDDHIST TEMPLE in COLOMBO - Indian & Chinese Architecture

Geethanjali - Travel Saga
Mar 26, 2018
The 120-year-old Gangaramaya is not the typical Sri Lankan temple. Situated in the bustling inner-city Colombo, nearby the scenic Beira Lake, this intriguing temple complex is simultaneously a hugely popular tourist attraction, a place of worship and a learning and vocational training center. Rather than huge, open spaces and tranquility, expect huge collections of fascinating artifacts and crowds at Gangaramaya. The temple is mostly celebrated for its lavish architecture and statues showcasing Sri Lankan, Chinese, Thai, Burmese and many other artistic styles. The exterior of the temple is boldly decorated in elaborate designs and golden adornments. The temple grounds are black slate tiled, with various statues—Buddha, lion, nymph—and china vases placed randomly.