Kataragama: A Town of Worship and Veneration
Kataragama, Sri Lanka is a sacred pilgrimage town dedicated to Kataragama deviyo, a guardian deity of Sri Lanka. The town houses the Kataragama temple devoted to the deity. At only 35 minutes away is the Mattala Rajapaksa Hambantota Airport.
Best Time to Visit
Because it is a site of continuous pilgrimage, Kataragama, Sri Lanka is often fairly crowded. The best times to visit the town are in either February or June, where the crowds are least sparse. For the best weather conditions, any time months from June to August are ideal. Temperatures are pleasant, and the May summertime heat would have started to abate. This is also the time the annual Sri Lanka Kataragama Festival is held.
What to Do & Area Attractions
One of the holy sites to visit in Kataragama, Sri Lanka is the Sacred Bo Tree, also known as the Kataragama Bodhiya. This tree is believed to be holy and one of the first saplings to be planted within Sri Lanka. It is also closely connected with the temples that worship Kataragama deviyo. The Weheragala Lake, also known as the Weheragala Reservoir, is 40 minutes away from Kataragama. This lake diverts excess water from the Menik Ganga River and Lunugamvehera Reservoir into the smaller Kirindi Oya River. The Kataragama Archaeological Museum houses many of Kataragama’s ancient artifacts and helps to preserve its long history. With modern design, the Mandara Rosen is a Kataragama hotel with an outdoor pool, spacious rooms, and walkways ideal for nighttime strolls. Hotel Senora is a cheap but comfortable Kataragama hotel also with spacious rooms.