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Away from the lavish lifestyles and the bustling capital city is the Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple which comes across as an idyllic escape where we can seek spiritual fulfilment.

Historic appeal
Being one of the largest temple complexes in Colombo, the Gangaramaya Temple is well-known for hosting the most colourful Vesak festival annually. It was established in 1885 and has a rewarding history of 120 years. The surrounding areas of the Beira Lake were once a swamp and now it has turned out to be a significant complex including this temple, the breathtaking lake, and the assembly hall.

Location
Located in the heart of Colombo, the Gangaramaya Temple has always been at the forefront of protecting religious values of the country. For those who are holidaying at a hotel in Wattala the likes of Pegasus Reef, the temple is 38 minutes away.

Appearance
The temple has gained popularity for its lavish architecture and a large number of statues showcasing Sri Lankan, Burmese, Chinese and many other architectural styles. The exterior of the temple is designed with golden adornments and elaborated design. The grounds of the temple are black slate tiled and you’ll come across various statues of Buddha and nymphs. The most distinguishing feature of the temple is treasure-trove museum which showcases numerous Buddha statues from all over the world.

Celebrations
If you are visiting Sri Lanka in February, you should not miss the Navam Perahera which is one of the grandest festivals of the temple. It’s a stunning spectacle to view how elephants decorated in lavish costumes move in a rhythmic pattern.

 Dan arndt, Gangaramaya Temple (Rows of Buddhas), CC BY-SA 4.0

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