Tempel und Schreine in Sri Lanka

Sacred Temples & Shrines

This collection spans Sri Lanka’s diverse religious landscape, from the ancient UNESCO-listed cave temples of Dambulla to the colonial-era St. Mary's Cathedral in Jaffna. It includes the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy and the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, the world's oldest human-planted tree. The list features the massive stupas of Anuradhapura, the rock-carved Buddhas of Polonnaruwa’s Gal Vihara, and the vibrant Dravidian architecture of Hindu kovils in Colombo and Jaffna, representing centuries of spiritual heritage.

Sacred Temples & Shrines — Karte

PIERRE ANDRE LECLERCQ / GFDL

A

Dambulla Cave Temple

A UNESCO World Heritage site featuring five rock caves filled with over 150 Buddha statues and intricate ceiling paintings dating back to the 1st century BCE. It is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka.

Wouter Hagens / Public domain

B

Sri Dalada Maligawa

Sri Dalada Maligawa, commonly known in English as the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, is a Buddhist temple in Kandy, Sri Lanka.

Balou46 / CC BY-SA 3.0

C

Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Tree

Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is a historical sacred bo tree in the Mahamewuna Garden in historical city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.

Pasan / CC BY-SA 4.0

D

Buduruwagala

Buduruwagala is an ancient buddhist temple in Sri Lanka. The complex consists of seven statues and belongs to the Mahayana school of thought.

உமாபதி / CC BY-SA 3.0

E

New Kathiresan Temple

This is a newly built Hindu temple, where various festivals are held every year. Statue of the deity is its important feature.

Z thomas / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Angurukaramulla Temple

Located in Negombo, this temple is known for its massive sitting Buddha and a dramatic entrance shaped like a dragon's mouth. The interior houses colorful murals and statues depicting the life of the Buddha and ancient Sri Lankan kings.

Sivakumar1248 / CC BY-SA 4.0

G

Captain's Garden Hindu Temple

The oldest Hindu temple in Colombo, located in Captain's Gardens. It's dedicated to Shiva and Ganesh - Hindu deities.

PIERRE ANDRE LECLERCQ / GFDL

H

Gangaramaya Temple

Gangaramaya Temple is one of the most important temples in Colombo, Sri Lanka, being a mix of modern architecture and cultural essence.

Nirvanatoday / CC BY 4.0

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Bahirawakanda Temple

Home to an 88-foot tall white Buddha statue, one of the largest on the island. Situated on Bahirawakanda hill, the temple offers panoramic views of Kandy city, the lake, and the surrounding mountain ranges.

Arian Zwegers / CC BY 2.0

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Mihintale

Mihintale is a mountain peak near Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka. It is believed by Sri Lankans to be the site of a meeting between the Buddhist…

Bernard Gagnon / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Gal Viharaya

The Gal Vihara, and known originally as the Uttararama, is a rock temple of the Buddha situated in the ancient city Polonnaruwa, the…

Sharada deshan / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Mulkirigala Rock Monastery

Mulkirigala Raja Maha Vihara is an ancient Buddhist temple in Mulkirigala, Sri Lanka.

MOHS Kosgodage / CC-BY-3.0

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Jetavanaramaya

The Jetavanarama stupa or Jetavanaramaya is a stupa, or Buddhist reliquary monument, located in the ruins of Jetavana monastery in the…

N

Nallur Sivan Kovil

A historic Hindu temple in Jaffna dedicated to Lord Shiva. It features traditional Dravidian architecture with a prominent gopuram and serves as a significant site for religious observances and festivals in Northern Sri Lanka.

Ghostface Buddha / CC BY-SA 2.0

O

St. Mary's Cathedral

St. Mary's Cathedral is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jaffna located in Gurunagar, a suburb of Jaffna in northern Sri Lanka.The…