A temple which was believed to be constructed in the 19th century, the Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple in Sri Lanka holds a cultural value and stands proudly in the commercial capital of the Island. The temple is located near the infamous Beira Lake, and features a temple, pagoda, a Bo tree, assembly hall of monks which is locally known as Seema malaka and a relic chamber which are essential parts of a Buddhist temple. In addition to these Gangaramaya also features a library, residential hall, a pirivena as well as educational halls. Foreigners touring the island and are in search of accommodation have the option of choosing hotels orapartments in Colombo. These lodgings which are located close to various attractions in the city could be the base to start your tour of Colombo. One Galle Face is one such option that could be considered by tourists. Belonging to the world renowned hospitality chain Shangri-La, provides gorgeous sunset views as well as easy access to the likes of Ganagaramaya Temple.
Many who visit Sri Lanka on business or leisure trips take the time to visit Gangaramaya Temple which is not only a place of worship for Buddhists but also a place of learning. It is a centre for welfare and also includes elder’s homes, an orphanage as well as a vocational school. During the month of May when Buddhists celebrate Vesak, the whole area surrounding the temple is decorated and lit up with thousands of colourful lights. However, the main focus falls on Gangaramaya Temple during February. Known as the month that hosts the prestigious Nawam Perehera, the religious procession which initiated in 1979 has been held consecutively each year during the month of February. Travellers visiting Sri Lanka during this time of the year could witness close to 1000 performers of various traditional dances as well as the majestic elephants who play a major role in Sri Lankan Perehera. These elephants belonging to various temples situated all over the Island.
Uditha Dharmawardhane is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Roland Lefevre. He specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe.
