Kataragama

Kataragama is a town in Uva.

Understand

Kataragama is a pilgrimage town sacred to Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and indigenous Vedda people of Sri Lanka. People from South India also come there to worship. In July and August the Kataragama festival brings in many pilgrims and it's very hard to find a place to sleep. The rest of the year it's a rather peaceful and quiet place.

Get in

• 1 Bus stand, Depot Rd. Kataragama can be visited from Tissamahara (1 hour by bus) or Ella (3 hours). It's also very close to the popular Yala National Park. (updated May 2015)

See

Entrance of the temple complex

• 1 Kataragama Temple Complex. There are temples for Buddhists and Hindus as well as a mosque here. There are many puja stalls outside of the temple complex which makes it looks like a market place, but locals are selling the traditional marigolds, fruit, incense and other religious items to take into the temples. (updated May 2015)

Sleep

• 1 Mandara Rosen, 57 Detagamuwa (on the road to Tissamaharama), ☏ +94 47 2 236030. (updated May 2015)
• 2 Hotel Clauria, 118, Thissamaharama Road, ☏ +94 47 2 236336. (updated May 2015)
• 3 Hotel Sunils, Tissa-Katharagama Road, ☏ +94 77 222 1902. So clean with nice dining. (updated Jan 2021)
• 4 Mahoora Tented Safari Camp, Yala national Park, ☏ +94 77 373 9708. (updated May 2015)
• 5 Hotel Okrin, 110 Detagamuwa, ☏ +94 47 2 235032. (updated May 2015)