Sri Lanka is known world over for its rich heritage and culture. The main religion being practiced in the country is Buddhism and all other religions are given significant prominence in the island nation. Many tourists who visit the country are often interested in learning and exploring the teachings of Buddhism as well as visiting temples and other places closely knit with the religion. There are various modes of transport available to get around the island but for those who prefer to travel at their convenience car hire Sri Lanka is a great option. A highly recommended choice to hire cars is Online Rent Car due to the superior service, security and convenience.
One of the temples that are located just outside the city is the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya. The temple’s history dates back to around 500 BC and is believed to have been hallowed during the final visit of Lord Buddha to the island. The temple flourished during the Kotte era however most of the land was taken over by the Portuguese rulers. Under the Dutch rule however the temple regained some of its land and new refurbishment efforts took place under the patronage of the then ruling king Kirthi Sri Rajasinghe.
The temple also is famous for its paintings by famous artist Solias Mendis. The famous paintings include that of the reclining Buddha as well as the various paintings about the life of Buddha. There are also incidents from Jatake folk tales depicted in these paintings. The temple is also home to an 18 foot statue of a prominent figure in Buddhism Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara.
There are various other temples spread across the island as well as in and around the vicinity of Colombo. Some of the prominent ones include the Gangaramaya temple, Bellanwila temple and the famous temple of the tooth relic in Kandy.
Umanga Kahandawaarachchi is a passionate travel writer who writes under the pen name, Maggie Tulliver. Her field of writing covers a wide array of content and articles related to travel and hospitality industry.