Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara

Kelaniya is one of the sixteen sites in Sri Lanka held to have been visited by the Buddha, on his third journey to the island, and a temple has stood here since well before the common era, rebuilt many times. What most visitors come for is twentieth century: the murals painted by Solias Mendis in a deliberately revived Sinhalese style, covering the walls with scenes from the island's history and from the life of the Buddha in dense, brilliant colour.

Background

The temple lies 11 km north-east of Colombo. Buddhists hold that the Buddha came here on his third and last visit to the island, eight years after his enlightenment, together with 500 Arahats, and preached on Wesak Poya Day. Tradition places this in 580 BC, so the site's history would reach back before 500 BCE. The temple was refurbished with help from Helena Wijewardene during the first half of the 20th century. A stone statue of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, 18 feet tall, has been put up within the grounds. The temple was declared an archaeological protected monument on 23 February 2007.

Source: Wikipedia, "Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara"

What you'll find

• The Solias Mendis murals - twentieth-century wall painting in a revived Sinhalese idiom.
• The reclining Buddha - the large figure in the older image house.
• The stupa - the white dagoba the complex is built around.
• The Duruthu Perahera - the January procession, the year's main event.

When to go

Year round; the Duruthu Perahera in January is the largest event. Poya days bring crowds. Mornings are quietest.

Good to know

The temple is active and busy; this is not a quiet monument. Shoes must be removed and dress rules apply. Photography of the murals is restricted in places.

Nearby

Colombo is southwest, and Negombo is north.

Key facts