Highlights
- A long established Buddhist temple in central Colombo
- One of the most visited temples in the city
- A museum packed with gifts from devotees around the world
- Also a centre for learning and Buddhist education
- Seema Malaka on Beira Lake was designed by Geoffrey Bawa
Overview
Gangaramaya is one of Colombo's best known Buddhist temples, near Beira Lake in the Hunupitiya area. Founded in the late 19th century by the monk Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala, it is both a place of worship and a centre for learning and social work. Nearby, on the lake, is the Seema Malaka, a meditation and ordination hall that the temple runs.
Gangaramaya
The temple mixes Sri Lankan, Thai, Indian and Chinese styles. Its buildings include a stupa, a bodhi tree, image houses and a vihara. The museum is filled with a wide range of objects donated over the years: Buddha statues from across Asia, ivory, old cars, clocks, coins, jewellery and more. The temple organises the Navam Perahera, a procession with elephants and dancers held around the Navam full moon in February.
Seema Malaka
The Seema Malaka stands on platforms in Beira Lake, reached by a short walkway. It was rebuilt in the 1970s to a design by Geoffrey Bawa, Sri Lanka's best known architect. Its open pavilions, blue-tiled roofs and rows of seated Buddhas surrounded by water make it a calm escape in the city, and it is especially pretty at dusk.
How long it takes
About one to one and a half hours for both.
When to go
Morning or late afternoon. Poya days are busy with worshippers.
Getting there
Both are a short tuk-tuk ride from Fort, Kollupitiya or Slave Island. They are a few minutes' walk apart.
Practical tips
- A ticket covers foreign visitors at Gangaramaya; check the current price.
- Remove shoes and hats; cover shoulders and knees.
Also nearby: Beira Lake and the Geoffrey Bawa house. Join our Colombo city tour, or see things to do in Colombo and Colombo hotels.
Prices are as of October 2026 and may change.
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