- Gangarama Temple
Location – No: 61, Sri Jinarathana Road
Colombo 02
Western Province
Sri Lanka
Gangarama Temple is a Buddhist temple and it is one of the must visit place in the city of Colombo. Some elements of the temple are located in the middle of the Beira Lake. A famous 19th century merchant Don Bastian Mudali bought this land for the construction of a temple for Sri Dharmarama Thero in Matara. Bastian Mdali laid the foundation stone to the temple and built some elements of the temple such as dageba, Makara Thorana, Sandakadapahana. Further he planted the Bo tree in the temple premises.
This place keeps away the hustle and bustle of the city.
- Elements of the Temple
- Bo Tree
This is a sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhi Tree in Anuradhapura.
- Dageba
- Vihara Mandiraya
- The Seema Malakaya
This was constructed by famous architect Jeffrey Bawa in 1979. It is located in the middle of the Beira Lake. There are small huts for the Deities of Shiva, Vishnu, Katharagama and God Gana. Many Buddha statues can be seen. The very important thing is though this is a Buddhist temple, the entire cost to the Seema Malakaya was given by a Muslim Couple.
- Dhathu Mandir
- A Museum
Temple has a collection of artifacts and other objects which have a religious, cultural and historical value.
- A Library
- A three storied Pirivena
- Alms Hall
- Residential Hall
- An Educational Hall
- Architecture styles
- Mainly Sri Lankan architecture
- Indian
- Thailand
- China architectural features can be seen
- Gangarama Temple in Vesak and Posson Seasons
You must visit this place in these seasons because the area of Gangarama gives you a magical view in the seasons of Vesak and Posson. Gangaramaya Temple organizes the Sri Lanka’s Largest and the most Colorful Vesak festival annually. It has 120 years very old history. Gangarama Vesak Kalapaya is very famous among the people. The whole area is very attractive with millions of lights, Vesak Lanterns and decarations. It cannot be described how the environment of the temple in those seasons by words. Step by step there are many Dansals such as Ice-Cream, Fried-Rice, Beli Mal, Noodles etc. But be careful with the traffic jam. Don’t be panic while crossing the roads.
- Gangarama Navam Perahera
This Perahera Festival was firstly held in 1979. Today it was held annually in the month of February. It shows the rich religious and cultural traditions by including many items such as Whip crackers, Fire dancers, Flag bearers, Hundreds of Elephants, Drummers, Flutists, Traditional Dances (Uda Rata, Phatha Rata, Sabaragamuwa) and other traditional performers etc. The Perahera attracts thousands of people in all over the world.
Remarks
- Wear a suitable dress since this is a religious place
- Bring Flowers and other things to worship Buddha
- Don’t forget to visit Seema Malakaya situated in the surface of the Beira Lake