A Tour of the 5 Most Iconic Temples of Sri Lanka

The beautiful island nation of Sri Lanka is surrounded by the vast glimmering Indian Ocean. It is home to sandy golden beaches, historical UNESCO monuments and delicious local cuisines. But its most liked feature is its Buddhist and Hindu temples that depict the rich culture and traditions preserved through the ages. If you are planning a trip, you can choose a Sri Lanka tour package for couples or families to have an unforgettable spiritual travel experience.

Did You Know?

Buddhism is the religion that is majorly practised in Sri Lanka and its official languages are Sinhala, Tamil, and English. So, Sri Lanka is home to many Hindu as well as Buddhist temples that have cultural, historical, and spiritual significance. This is the reason why Sri Lanka Ramayana tour packages are quite commonly booked to take a tour of all the temples built thousands of years ago.

Besides this, it has an abundance of wildlife and a rich archaeological history. If you wish to relish some authentic Sri Lankan dish, you can try rice and curry which is often eaten from a banana leaf and is traditionally eaten with the hands. Want to have a lifetime experience? Go on a food-focused expedition and savour a home-cooked Tamil lunch in Haputale or feast on a freshly caught fish with a fisherman’s family in Mirissa. You can even learn how to make Sri Lankan cuisine in a cooking class in the Sinhalese home in Kandy or Bandarawela. You have this, and much more to explore on your trip, once you book a Sri Lanka tour package. Sri Lanka truly is a stunning tourist destination that will deepen your appreciation of life and understanding of spirituality.

Best Temples to Visit in Sri Lanka

Let’s take a look and find out all the temples that you can visit on your trip to Sri Lanka.

1. Temple of Tooth
2. Gangaramaya Temple
3. Thiru Koneswaram Temple
4.  Sita Amman Temple
5. Muthumariamman Temple

Temple of Tooth

The Temple of Tooth is dedicated to Lord Buddha located in Kandy in Sri Lanka. This Buddhist temple is situated within the royal palace complex and is considered one of the most important Buddhist shrines in the country. The Temple of the Tooth of Lord Buddha is also popularly referred to as the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic or Sri Dalada Maligawa. It is one of the most famous pilgrimage sites for Buddhists which houses several shrines, museums and temples. Devotees can hire local guides or get free audio guides to relish and learn more about the temple they are visiting. So do not miss this unforgettable Buddhist site in Sri Lanka.

The temple of Tooth is one of the best places to visit in Sri Lanka because it holds a prestigious status being a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fascinating part about this temple is that, according to a legend, at the time of the demise of Lord Buddha, the body was cremated in India and someone retrieved the left canine tooth from the ashes. The last Indian king who possessed it had it smuggled to Sri Lanka in the 4th century and sent it to Sri Lankan king Kirti Sri Megavanna. He was the one who built a shrine for it in Anuradhapura.

Gangaramaya Temple

You can feel the serenity in the Gangaramaya Buddhist temple. It is  Colombo’s most famous temple with a confluence of Indian, Thai, Chinese and Sri Lankan Buddhist architectural features. Another unique thing about the Gangaramaya Temple is that it has various statues of the Buddha depicting incidents of his life. It is not only a place of worship but also a place where people come to learn at the vocational training centre. It is located in the inner city of Colombo which is close to the picturesque Beira Lake. It is one the most visited ancient Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka which has some impressive structures and numerous statues of Buddha, lion, nymph, and china vases. Also, its most distinguishing feature is the treasure trove museum which has countless Buddha sculptures.

Thiru Koneswaram Temple

The legend says that the Thiru Koneswaram Temple was built by Sage Agastya as directed by Lord Shiva in Sri Lanka, as he was impressed by Ravana’s devotion. It is also believed by the devotees that Lord Rama erected a second lingam after killing Ravana to atone for his Brahmanical sin. Also called Brahmahasthi Dosham in Sanskrit, which was caused by malediction of killing Ravana who was a Brahmin. As a Hindu devotee, you would be lucky to have visited this temple as it is one of the Pancha Ishwarams which are Ramayana-related sites in Sri Lanka. So, if you are planning to visit here, make a note that the Thiru Koneshwaram Temple is within the Dutch Fort which is Fort Fredrick in Trincomalee town. You can walk inside without any approval but if you need any vehicle assistance for the elderly members of the family you will need to obtain approval from the Army camp in Trincomalee.

Sita Amman Temple

Sita Amman temple is the only Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Sita in Sri Lanka. It is located in Nuwara Eliya which is believed to be the place where goddess Sita used to rest, bath, and spend time. This stream is in the midst of a beautiful forest. Many people believe that the soil here is black as Lord Hanuman burnt this area before he left Lanka. Even today, one can see the footprints of Lord Hanuman on the land of Nuwara Eliya. You must visit the Sita Amman temple as it truly is a peaceful stoppage filled with devotion and spiritualism that penetrates deep into the hearts of the people. It is one of the most famous temples in Sri Lanka, as it is the only temple dedicated to the goddess Sita in the world, so you must not miss a chance to take blessings.

Muthumariamman Temple

Muthumariamman Temple is also called Arulmigu Sri Muthumari Amman Kovil in Matale, Sri Lanka. The meaning of its name can be broken down into three parts, 'muthu' meaning pearl, 'mari' meaning rain and ‘Amman’ meaning mother. This means that it is dedicated to Mariamman, known as the goddess of rain and fertility. It is an amazing temple with tall towers, intricate carvings and statues of gods and goddesses. This temple in Sri Lanka was built in 1874 by almost a hundred designers, painters and architects who belonged to Tamil Nadu. Muthumariamman temple has five decorated chariots representing Hindu deities. These chariots are paraded around in a ceremony called Ther or Vettai Thiruvizha. If you wish to visit this temple, make sure to reach by morning, to witness its traditional customs.

Make a pious trip to Sri Lanka to witness all these religious sites!