Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WORTH A TRIP
OUR LADY OF MADHU CHURCH
Our Lady of Madhu Church
CHURCH
( 6am-8pm)
This church is Sri Lanka's most hallowed Christian monument (though it's thought to be
have been constructed over an ancient Hindu shrine). Its walls shelter Our Lady of
Madhu, a diminutive but revered Madonna-and-child statue brought here in 1670 by
Catholics fleeing Protestant Dutch persecution in Mannar.
The statue rapidly developed a reputation for miracles - it was particularly revered as
offering protection from snake bites - and Madhu has been a place of pilgrimage ever
since. The vast Madhu compound also served as a refuge for those fleeing the civil war
when refugee camps ringed the complex.
The present church dates from 1872 and is quite plain but has soaring central columns.
Outside, the most striking feature is the elongated portico painted cream and duck-egg
blue. The church attracts huge crowds of pilgrims to its 10 annual festivals, especially the
one on 15 August.
Our Lady is 12km along Madhu Rd, which branches off the Vavuniya-Mannar road at
Madhu Junction on the 47km marker. Vavuniya-Mannar buses (and trains from
Medawachchiya, a station on the Jaffna-Colombo main line) both stop at Madhu Junc-
tion. From here three-wheelers cost Rs 800 return including waiting time.
Getting There & Around
The railway connection from Colombo to Mannar, via Medawachchiya, was almost re-
stored at research time. It's possible that ferries to Rameswaram (India) will resume when
the railway reopens. Buses from Mannar include the following:
Colombo
Rs 378, eight hours, seven daily
Jaffna
Rs 196, 3½ hours, 10 daily
Tallaimannar
Rs 52, one hour, hourly
Thirukketeeswaram Kovil
Rs 21, 20 minutes, nine daily
Vavuniya
Rs 114, 2½ hours, hourly
