Sri Lanka is one of the world's great sacred landscapes. Buddhism arrived on the island in the 3rd century BCE and has shaped every aspect of life since — the oldest documented Buddhist temple complexes in existence are here, the world's oldest living tree (a fig tree planted from the Bodhi tree in 288 BCE) grows in Anuradhapura, and the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy houses what is believed to be the Buddha's tooth relic, one of the most venerated objects in all of Buddhism. But Sri Lanka is multi-faith: the south Indian Hindu tradition has produced magnificent Shaivite temples (kovils) in Jaffna and Trincomalee, and Portuguese-era churches dot the west coast. Visiting these sacred spaces — respectfully, and with some understanding of their significance — is one of the most rewarding things to do in Sri Lanka.
The Temple of the Tooth, Kandy
Sri Lanka's most important Buddhist shrine — a complex of golden-roofed buildings on the edge of Kandy Lake housing the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha, brought to Sri Lanka in the 4th century CE. Three daily puja ceremonies (6am, 9:30am, 6:30pm) open the inner shrine; during puja the air fills with the sound of drums, conch shells and flutes, and flower offerings are made before the golden casket. The Esala Perahera festival (July–August) sees the relic paraded through Kandy on a magnificently decorated elephant in one of Asia's greatest pageants. Entry fee (USD 15). Dress code strictly enforced: shoulders and knees covered; remove shoes. See our Kandy guide.
Dambulla Cave Temple — The Golden Temple
Five interconnected cave temples carved into a granite outcrop — 2,100 square metres of painted ceiling and walls, 157 Buddha statues, and a history stretching back over 2,000 years. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage monument and possibly the finest Buddhist cave art in Asia. The paintings cover every surface — thousands of images depicting the life of the Buddha, Jataka tales and the history of the Sinhalese kings. See our Dambulla guide.
Anuradhapura — The Ancient Sacred City
Sri Lanka's first capital (5th century BCE to 10th century CE) and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The sacred city contains the Sri Maha Bodhi (the oldest documented tree on Earth — planted from a cutting of the original Bodhi tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment in 288 BCE), the vast Ruwanwelisaya Dagoba (a gleaming white stupa still actively venerated by millions of pilgrims), the 70-metre Jetavanaramaya (once the third tallest structure in the ancient world), and the Thuparamaya (Sri Lanka's oldest surviving stupa, 3rd century BCE). The scale of ancient Anuradhapura — built across what is now jungle — is staggering. See our Anuradhapura guide.
Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil, Jaffna
The most important Hindu temple in Sri Lanka — a magnificent Dravidian-style temple dedicated to Lord Murugan (Skanda), the son of Shiva. The 27-day Nallur Festival (July–August) draws hundreds of thousands of Tamil pilgrims from across Sri Lanka and the diaspora. The temple's golden gopuram (tower) dominates the Jaffna skyline. Visitors are welcome; dress code required (men must remove shirts and wear a sarong; women must cover shoulders and legs). See our Jaffna guide.
Gal Vihara, Polonnaruwa
Sri Lanka's most sublime piece of Buddhist sculpture — four colossal rock-cut figures carved from a single granite face at the height of the Polonnaruwa kingdom (12th century CE): a seated Buddha in meditation, a standing Buddha 7 metres tall, a reclining Buddha entering parinirvana 14 metres long, and a smaller shrine chamber. The serenity and artistry of these figures — carved without power tools — leaves most visitors quietly speechless. See our Polonnaruwa guide.
Koneswaram Temple, Trincomalee
A Shaivite cliff-top temple dramatically perched above Swami Rock — a 130-metre sheer drop into the sea at the tip of the Trincomalee peninsula. One of the Paadal Petra Sthalams (most sacred Shiva temples) and a major Hindu pilgrimage site. The original temple was destroyed by the Portuguese in 1624 and a fort built in its place; a new temple was built after independence. The setting — waves crashing far below, the Bay of Bengal stretching to the horizon — is extraordinary. See our Trincomalee guide.
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Temple Etiquette
At all Buddhist and Hindu temples: remove shoes before entering (shoe racks or minders are always provided). Dress modestly — shoulders and knees covered for both men and women; at Hindu kovils, men are often required to remove shirts and wear a sarong (usually available for loan or purchase at the gate). Don't point feet towards sacred images (feet are considered spiritually impure in both Buddhist and Hindu traditions). Don't turn your back to a Buddha image to take a selfie — this is considered highly disrespectful and is increasingly being enforced with signage. Follow the silence — if a puja is in progress, observe quietly. Photography is usually permitted in temple grounds but may be restricted in inner shrines — check before shooting.