Best Things to Do in Kataragama—On Your 2025 Holiday to Sri Lanka

Listly

04-04-2025

An important place of worship in Sri Lanka, this shrine is dedicated to the god Kataragama and the war god Murugan, drawing devotees from across Asia. Although predominantly belonging to the Hindu religion, Kataragama is also an important place of worship for Buddhists. The Kataragama Maha Devalaya takes centre stage, and is crowded with worshippers partaking in various rituals. One such tradition is coconut dashing—whole, husked coconuts are lit up using camphor, before being thrown at a special fenced-off boulder inside the temple premises. The throw is meant to shatter and break the coconut, thereby signifying the granting of any request made by the person dashing it.
Regardless of your familiarity with the culture, exploring the temple and the rituals that take place will be fascinating. Just make sure to dress in modest attire, respecting the place as a religious site. If you choose to stay at a nearby hotel like Mandara Rosen Kataragama, located less than 15 minutes from the shrine, you can easily get there to witness the iconic early morning or late night rituals—a breeze while you enjoy a stay at one of the best hotels in Kataragama.