Kataragama
Multi-faith pilgrimage town in Sri Lanka's southeastern jungle, Kataragama draws Buddhists, Hindus, and indigenous Vedda people to the Kataragama temple — a shrine dedicated to the deity Skanda Kumara — and to the ancient Kiri Vehera stupa, believed to date to the 6th century BC. The town sits beside the Menik River and adjoins Yala National Park, and served as a seat of government during the Rohana kingdom.
Description drafted with AI from public sources such as Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap. How this works
- Population20,935
- Nearest water from center 0.2 km0.1 mi
- Nearest mountain from center 2.8 km1.8 mi
Kataragama: quick answers
Where is Kataragama?
Kataragama is in Sri Lanka, about 125 km77 miles in a straight line from Kandy.
How do you get to Kataragama?
The nearest airport is Weerawila (WRZ), about 1 hr 1 min away by road.
What's the weather like in Kataragama?
The warmest month is July, averaging 28°C83°F across day and night; the coolest is December, at 25°C77°F. The wettest month is November, with about 287 mm11.3 in of precipitation. (Monthly averages, 1991–2020.)
What's in Kataragama?
OpenStreetMap lists 1 museum, 5 restaurants, 1 café and 20 places of worship within 2 km of the centre.
What's near Kataragama?
Other Wandering Well picks within 60 km include Diyaluma, Monaragala and Embilipitiya.