Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara
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.
- Where
- Kelaniya, Western Province, Sri Lanka
- Grade
- Local gem
- Worth
- 10 points collected on site
- Coordinates
- 6.9531, 79.9185
Get the Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara stamp
Open LOQAH when you are at Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara. 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 Western Province volume with your photos and a note.
Near Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara
Wolvendaal Church 6.7 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.
St. Anthony's Shrine 6.9 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.
Lotus Tower 7.3 km
A 351.5 metre communications tower shaped like a lotus bud, the tallest self-supported structure in South Asia. Beyond its broadcasting work it holds an observation deck and leisure spaces, with views over Beira Lake, the port and the whole city.
Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque 7.5 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.
Beira Lake 7.6 km
A man made lake in the centre of Colombo, ringed by offices and hotels, which still carries its Portuguese name. Once more than twice its present size, it was linked to canals that carried goods across the city in colonial times.
Viharamahadevi Park 7.7 km
Colombo's oldest and largest park, 45 acres of lawns and shade trees facing the colonial Town Hall. Laid out by the British as Victoria Park, it was renamed in 1958 after Queen Viharamahadevi, mother of King Dutugamunu, whose statue stands inside.
Pettah 7.8 km
The busy trading quarter behind Colombo's port, just east of Fort. Its narrow streets are packed with wholesale shops and the open air stalls of its famous market, each lane given over to its own trade, from spices and cloth to electronics.
Independence Memorial Hall 7.8 km
A national monument in Independence Square, Cinnamon Gardens, built to mark the end of British rule on 4 February 1948. Its open, pillared hall is modelled on the royal audience halls of old Kandy, and beneath it sits the Independence Memorial Museum.
More hidden gems in Western Province
Questions
Where is Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara?
Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara is in Kelaniya, Western Province, Sri Lanka. The nearest other LOQAH stamps are Wolvendaal Church (6.7 km), St. Anthony's Shrine (6.9 km), Lotus Tower (7.3 km).
How do I get the Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara stamp?
Open LOQAH when you are at Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara and get its stamp. The app checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp goes into your Western Province volume, confirmed on site, with the date.
I have been to Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara before. Can I still have the stamp?
Yes. Add it from Earlier trips in your Western Province volume, with the date if you know it, or import your Google Timeline and LOQAH matches the places you were.
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