Hotels near Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara

Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara stands on the bank of the Kelani River, 10 km northeast of the city. Buddhist tradition holds that the Buddha visited this spot on his third journey to Sri Lanka, which makes it one of the island's most venerated temples. The present stupa comes from a 19th-century rebuild after Portuguese destruction, and the image house carries murals painted by Solias Mendis between 1927 and 1946.

Those murals justify the trip on their own. They cover the interior walls in panels drawn from the Sinhalese chronicles, painted in a revivalist style that borrows openly from the Ajanta caves in India. Entry runs on donation, typically LKR 500. The Duruthu Perahera each January fills the grounds with elephants and drummers over three nights. Dress code is enforced at the gate: light clothing, covered shoulders and knees, shoes off.

Pro Tip: Take the Main Line train from Colombo Fort to Kelaniya for about LKR 30 rather than paying roughly LKR 1,200 for a tuk-tuk each way. Avoid Poya full moon days unless you want the crowds.