Isipathanaramaya Temple
A quiet temple in Havelock Town, built in 1916 in memory of Henry Pedris, with vivid murals of the life of the Buddha painted by Maligawe Sarlis.
In the quiet streets of Havelock Town, Isipathanaramaya is a small Buddhist temple with a moving story and some of the most beautiful murals in Colombo. It sits just far enough south of the centre to be off the usual tourist route, and it is still very much a local place of worship, where neighbours come to pray and meditate.
The temple was built in 1916 by Duenuge Disan Pedris, a wealthy merchant, in memory of his only son, Henry Pedris. Henry was executed by the British during the unrest of 1915, on charges that were later shown to be unjust, and he is remembered today as a national hero. The temple became his father's tribute to him.
Its greatest treasure is inside. The walls of the image house are covered in murals painted in 1920 and 1921 by the artist Maligawe Sarlis, showing the life of the Buddha and stories from the Jataka tales. They are painted in a vivid, theatrical and realistic style that was unusual for temple art at the time, full of colour, movement and detail. In 2016 a large standing Buddha statue, around 12 metres tall, was added to the grounds.
This is an active temple, so dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered, remove your shoes and hat, and visit quietly. Photography rules inside the image house may vary, so ask before taking pictures. The temple combines well with a visit to Bellanwila further south, or with the shops and cafes of the Havelock Town area.
At a glance
- Entry fee: A small entry fee is usually charged for foreign visitors.
- Opening hours: Roughly 9:00am to 4:30pm
- Time needed: 45 minutes to 1 hour
- Best time: Morning, when the temple is quiet
How to get there
In Havelock Town (Colombo 5), south of the city centre. Easy to reach by tuk tuk or ride hailing app.