Day Visit to Malambe Amawatura Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery

Day Visit to Malambe Amawatura Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery2020-02-18T04:31:07+00:00

This monastery is built around a modern, four story shrine built as an offering to four groups of important figure in Buddhism:

  • First Floor: Fully Enlightened Disciples of the Buddha
  • Second Floor: Pacceka Buddhas who attain enlightenment without teaching
  • Third Floor: The last seven Buddha’s that came to the world

The open air fourth floor has a stupa built for the Buddha’s relics on behalf of the Brahma Gatikara.

Things to See and Do at the Monastery

  • Go on a tour of the four-story shrine

  • Meditate

  • Talk with monks about Buddhism (learn how)
  • Get personal meditation instructions from the monks

  • Make offerings at the shrines (learn how)

  • Help offer food to the monks at 10:45 (learn how)

  • Browse the Buddhist bookshop (view catalog)
  • Get a blessing thread from the monks (learn how)
  • Join with the evening chanting at 6:00 pm (learn more)

Open Hours

Open Daily: 6 am to 9 pm
Monk’s meal offering: 10:45
Evening Chanting: 6 pm

Things to see near the monastery

  • Gangaramaya Temple: 15 km
  • Kelaniya Rajamaha Viharaya, Colombo: 11 km
  • Marsh Birds Observation Centre: 4.5 mk
  • Water World Lanka (aquarium) : 8 km

What to Bring

  • Water bottle. Free drinking water available on site.

  • Shoes that can be easily removed

  • If you like, flowers and/or oil to offer at shrines.

Directions to Malambe Monastery

As you travel people will be happy to help you on your way if you mention to them that you are going to Mahamevnawa (Maha MAY oo naa wa)

The monastery is on Kaduwela Road (B263), about 2km south of the Kothalawala exit of the Outer Circular Expressway. It is about 1 km north of Chandrika Kumarathunga Mawatha.

From Colombo: There are two ways to come to Malabe(amawathura) Mahamevnawa Meditation Monastery. You may get on to a bus heading to Hanwella via kaduwela and get off at Kaduwela Town and get a threewheelar ( tuk tuk) to the Pittugala Amawathura  Mahamevnawa Bavana Asapuwa.
Please tell the three wheelr driver clearly that your going to Pittugala Amawathura  Mahamevnawa Bavana Asapuwa. Or else you could go to the Kollupitiya bus stand and get on to a bus heading to kaduwela, Bus no 177 and get off at Pittugala Amawathura  Mahamevnawa Bavana Asapuwa.
From Kandy: Get on to a bus heading to Panadura (No 17) and tell the conductor to drop you at Pittugala Amawathura  Mahamevnawa Bavana Asapuwa .The monastery will be on your left.
From the airport: you may get on to a air conditioned bus heading to Colombo bus stand, and again get onto a bus heading to Hanwella, and get off at Kaduwela town.  And get a three-wheeler (tuk tuk) to the Pittugala Amawathura  Mahamevnawa Bavana Asapuwa. Please tell the threewheel drivers clearly that your going to Pittugala Amawathura  Mahamevnawa Bavana Asapuwa.
From Matara or Galle: You could use the highway buses to Kaduwela and from the Kaduwela bus stand you could get a three-wheeler to the Pittugala Amawathura  Mahamevnawa Bavana Asapuwa.

Please tell the three-wheel drivers clearly that your going to Pittugala Amawathura  Mahamevnawa Bavana Asapuwa.

Sinhal to show to driver:
පිට්ටුගල, අමාවතුර මහමෙව්නාව භාවනා අසපුව
බුදු පසේබුදු අරහන්තක මහා විහාරය, මාලබේ

Contact Information

Phone (or text): +94 11 4378720  Calling Guide 

Email: info@mahamevnawa.lk

You are welcome to visit any time during our open hours and there will probably be someone available to show you around.

If you want to guarantee someone is available, please use this form. We will get back to you within 24 hours. If you are planning to visit before 24 hours, please call us at the number above or simply stop in for a visit.

    F.A.Q.

    Is there a dress code for day visits?2018-03-13T05:12:03+00:00

    Try to wear modest clothing that covers knees and shoulders.

    Can I take photos?2018-03-13T05:13:27+00:00

    Unless posted, you are very welcome to take photos anywhere in the monastery. Try to avoid selfies with Buddha statues behind you. If you post them on Instagram or Facebook please make sure they are dignified, and be sure to tag them with #mahamevnawa.

    Can I have my photo taken with the monks?2018-03-13T05:15:09+00:00

    Feel free to ask them. If they say yes, please avoid physical contact. Please don’t hug the monks!!

    Is there an entrance fee?2018-03-13T05:21:27+00:00

    Absolutely not. There is no fee for anything, although some our locations have a small bookshop with moderately priced English language Buddhist books.

    Are children welcome?2018-03-13T05:23:11+00:00

    Absolutely. Children come with their families to the monastery all the time. We even carry some English children’s books on Buddhism in our bookshops.

    Can I really get meditation instructions when I visit.2018-03-13T05:23:56+00:00

    Yes, as long as a monk is available. To be sure one is available, send us an e-mail or call.

    Can the monks do blessing chants for me?2018-03-13T05:25:18+00:00

    Absolutely. Just ask. They can also give you blessing threads. There is no charge for this or any other services of the monastery.

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