Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara

About Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara

Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara, on the banks of the Kelani river just outside Colombo, is one of the most sacred sites in Sri Lankan Buddhism: tradition holds that the Buddha himself visited this spot, and a dagoba has stood here for well over two thousand years. The present temple is a masterpiece of 20th-century Buddhist art - its shrine halls are covered in murals by the painter Solias Mendis, who spent nearly two decades depicting the life of the Buddha and the history of the island in a luminous style that has become iconic. Carved elephant friezes, a great reclining Buddha, and the sacred Bo tree complete the complex. Each January, the Duruthu Perahera - a torch-lit procession of drummers, dancers, and elephants - draws hundreds of thousands and rivals Kandy's great festival.

Top Activities

• ✓Viewing the Solias Mendis murals
• ✓Morning puja at the main shrine
• ✓Duruthu Perahera festival (January full moon)
• ✓Riverside walk along the Kelani
• ✓Combine with a Colombo city day

Nearby Attractions

Closest Places in This Guide

Straight-line distances; allow considerably longer by road, especially in the hills.

• Thalangama LakeNature · Wildlife6 km
• Diyatha UyanaFamily · Nature6 km
• Beddagana Wetland ParkNature · Wildlife · Family7 km
• Wolvendaal ChurchHeritage · Cultural7 km
• St. Anthony's Shrine, KochchikadeCultural · Heritage7 km
• Parliament & Diyawanna LakeHeritage · Nature8 km

Travel Tips

Travel Guides That Cover Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara

• Visiting Temples in Sri Lanka: What to Wear and How to BehaveShoulders, shoes, photographs and Buddha images - the customs that matter at Buddhist temples, Hindu kovils, mosques and churches, and the few that can get you into real trouble.
• Best Time to Visit Sri Lanka: A Month-by-Month GuideTwo monsoons take turns on opposite coasts, so somewhere is always in season. Where the weather is good in each month, and the festivals and wildlife worth timing a trip around.