Munneswaram Temple
A Hindu temple complex near Chilaw, one of the ancient Pancha Ishwarams of Shiva on the island. It has stood since at least 1000 CE, and its legends tie it to Rama, hero king of the Ramayana.
- Where
- Chilaw, North Western Province, Sri Lanka
- Grade
- Local gem
- Worth
- 10 points collected on site
- Coordinates
- 7.5808, 79.8167
Get the Munneswaram Temple stamp
Open LOQAH when you are at Munneswaram Temple. It checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp is yours: confirmed on site in gold and struck with the date. It goes into your North Western Province volume with your photos and a note.
Near Munneswaram Temple
Panduwasnuwara 32 km
The ruins of an ancient capital in Kurunegala District, said to have been Parakramapura, the seat of Parakramabahu in the 12th century. Its remains lie at Kotampitiya, about 3 km from Hettipola on the road from Wariyapola to Chilaw.
Negombo Lagoon 48 km
A large estuarine lagoon on the edge of Negombo, a short way north of Colombo. Fishermen work its shallow waters from small boats, and its mangrove fringes and channels are a calm contrast to the beach town beside it.
Yapahuwa Rock Fortress 61 km
A medieval citadel built around a granite rock that rises almost 100 metres from the plains, midway between Kurunegala and Anuradhapura, and for a short time a royal capital. A steep ornamental stairway guarded by carved stone lions climbs towards the top.
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage 70 km
A breeding and care centre for Asian elephants near Kegalle, home to the largest captive herd in the world: 71 animals across three generations in 2023. Each day the herd is walked down to the river to bathe.
St. Anthony's Shrine 71 km
A Catholic church at Kochchikade in Kotahena, dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua and named a national shrine and minor basilica. A tiny relic of the saint's tongue is kept at the entrance in a glass case beside his statue, and people of every faith come here to pray.
Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara 71 km
A Buddhist temple 11 km north east of Colombo, near the Kelani River. Tradition holds that the Buddha himself visited this spot, and the temple's January perahera draws large crowds of pilgrims and dancers each year.
Wolvendaal Church 71 km
A thick walled Dutch church on a rise in Pettah, one of the most important buildings left from Dutch rule in Sri Lanka. It is among the oldest Protestant churches still in use on the island, and its floor is set with the tombstones of Dutch governors and their families.
Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque 72 km
One of the oldest mosques in Colombo, on Second Cross Street in the middle of Pettah's bazaar. Its walls of red and white striped brickwork, topped with domes and minarets, make it look like a candy cane building and earn it the name Red Mosque.
More hidden gems in North Western Province
Questions
Where is Munneswaram Temple?
Munneswaram Temple is in Chilaw, North Western Province, Sri Lanka. The nearest other LOQAH stamps are Panduwasnuwara (32 km), Negombo Lagoon (48 km), Yapahuwa Rock Fortress (61 km).
How do I get the Munneswaram Temple stamp?
Open LOQAH when you are at Munneswaram Temple and get its stamp. The app checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp goes into your North Western Province volume, confirmed on site, with the date.
I have been to Munneswaram Temple before. Can I still have the stamp?
Yes. Add it from Earlier trips in your North Western Province volume, with the date if you know it, or import your Google Timeline and LOQAH matches the places you were.
Collect your first stamp.
LOQAH is free on iPhone and Android, in India and 20 more countries, with more countries on the way. Stand at a place, collect its stamp, and keep every trip in a passport that grows.