Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Mothers often bring pubescent daughters here to pray for protection from evil spirits
that might take advantage of the girls' nascent sexuality. The current church is built on the
sight of an 18th-century chapel that was a mud hut. Photography is frowned upon.
St Lucia's Cathedral CHURCH
( GOOGLE MAP ;St Lucia's St, Col 13; 5.30am-noon & 2-7pm)
This enormous 1887 cathedral lies in the Catholic heart of the Kotahena district. The
biggest church in Sri Lanka has an exterior inspired by St Peter's in Rome. It can hold up
to 5000 worshippers in its rather plain interior.
North & Northwest of Colombo
The busy old commercial road linking Colombo with Negombo and the north is often
traffic-choked and is lined with an untidy mishmash of strip malls aimed at Sri Lanka's
burgeoning middle class. It's much the same for the first few kilometres of the road to
Kandy, although lush green landscapes soon provide relief.
Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara BUDDHIST TEMPLE
( www.kelaniyatemple.org ; Biyagama Rd)
It's believed Buddha visited the site of this temple on his third visit to Sri Lanka. Suitably
grand and labyrinthine, it has a dramatic past. The original temple was destroyed by Indian
invaders, restored and destroyed again by the Portuguese in the 16th century. The Dutch
restored it again in the 18th century in order to curry favour locally.
The dagoba, which (unusually) is hollow, is the focus of the Duruthu Perahera in Janu-
ary each year. The complex is some 7km northeast of Fort, just off the Kandy Rd.
Activities
Spa Ceylon SPA
( www.spaceylon.com ; massage per hr from Rs 2800)
With branches at Old Dutch Hospital and Park St Mews ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; 230
7676; www.spaceylon.com ; Park St, Col 2; 10am-11pm) , this chain of luxury spas offers both
 
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