Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu
Northern Province
About Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu
The Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu, deep in the forests of the Mannar district, is the spiritual centre of Catholic Sri Lanka - a sanctuary whose miraculous statue of the Madonna has drawn pilgrims for over four hundred years. Founded by Catholics fleeing Dutch persecution in 1670, who carried the statue inland from Mantai, the church grew into a place where the island's usual lines dissolve: Tamil and Sinhala Catholics - and many Buddhist, Hindu, and Muslim visitors - kneel side by side, and even through the civil war, when the shrine sheltered thousands of displaced families, its sanctity was largely honoured by both sides. The August festival draws hundreds of thousands to the great tamarind-shaded compound; Pope Francis prayed here in 2015. Quiet or thronged, Madhu's mixture of jungle stillness and layered devotion moves visitors of every faith and none.
Top Activities
- ✓The shrine and miraculous statue
- ✓August festival pilgrimage
- ✓The church's wartime sanctuary history
- ✓Forest drives of the Madhu sanctuary
- ✓Combine with Mannar Island or Wilpattu
Nearby Attractions
Travel Tips
The August festival is immense - book Mannar or Vavuniya rooms months out.
Modest dress; this is the country's most revered Catholic site.
The Madhu road turnoff is on the A14 - combine with a Mannar day.
Quick Info
Best Time
Year-round; August 15 festival
Weather
Hot and dry; the church compound is broadly shaded.
Estimated Daily Budget
8.8628°N, 80.2011°E
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