One of Sri Lanka's holy places where Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims visit on religious pilgrimage. It is a large Complex with the Mahadewala - Main Hindu shrine being the most important place. This Shrine of God Skanda, the Hindu war God who is worshipped as the Kataragama Deviyo is venerated by pilgrims of all three religions. It is believed that King Dutugemunu the warrior king and Sinhala folk hero built a shrine here for the worship of the Kataragama God in the 2nd century BC. There is also a first century BC Buddhist Dagoba - Kirivehera at this site. The annual Hindu Kataragama festival is held in July and August.
One of Sri Lanka's holy places where Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims visit on religious pilgrimage. It is a large Complex with the Mahadewala - Main Hindu shrine being the most important place. This Shrine of God Skanda, the Hindu war God who is worshipped as the Kataragama Deviyo is venerated by pilgrims of all three religions. It is believed that King Dutugemunu the warrior king and Sinhala folk hero built a shrine here for the worship of the Kataragama God in the 2nd century BC. There is also a first century BC Buddhist Dagoba - Kirivehera at this site. The annual Hindu Kataragama festival is held in July and August.
