Buddhist Temple at Kelaniya Negombo

Negombo is a small town which is situated in Ja-Ela divisional secretariat in Gampaha District of the Western Province of Sri Lanka. It is approximately 30 kilometers north of Colombo, capital of in Sri Lanka. This coastal wet land is 6,232 ha in extent and is populated by almost 65,000. It is located at the mouth of the Negombo Lagoon which is just 10 kilometers away from the international airport. With its idyllic beauty, beaches, palm trees and blue sea it draws tourist from all over the world. Kelaniya is a small town very near to Colombo and is situated in the same Gampaha District as Negombo and is sited on the Kelani River, which takes its name from the town. Buddhist Temple at Kelaniya, Negombo is historic and ideally makes it an attractive tourist spot.

Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara is the most famous Buddhist Temple at Kelaniya, Negombo. It is the most visited Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka after the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy. This Buddhist temple dates back from about 1300. It is commonly believed that Gautama Buddha has preached at this famous Buddhist temple about 2000 years ago. This temple is one of the most sacred places for worshipping for Buddhists in SriLanka. The temple includes a famous statue of reclining Buddha as well as other Hindu deities at the temple.

The temple features an unusual dagoba which is hollow and is shaped in the form of a heap of paddy. This temple hold an important festival every year in the month of January called the Duruthu Perahera. You can go there in the month of January to be a part of that festival. The festival is celebrated by the inhabitants with great joy and happiness. The festival is a colorful one which features parading dancers, drummers and beautifully adorned elephants. This festival in Buddhist Temple at Kelaniya, Negombo draws thousands of pilgrims from all over the island as this temple was hallowed by the visit of Lord Buddha.