Mahamevnawa Buddhist Medidation Monastery Polgahawela
The Mahamevnawa Meditation Monastery at Polgahawela Waduwawe is functioning as the founding meditation center as well as the present headquarters of the Mahamevnawa Monastery Pool.
Mahamevnawa Polgahawela is a very active Theravada Buddhist monastery located about 2.5 hours from Colombo. More than 100 monks live here. Visitors have a lot to see and do. The monks are available to answer questions about speaking or meditating in English for travellers
It is located between an easy journey from Colombo to Pinnawala, Kandy or Anuradhapura.
Situated on a small hillock, this monastery is like a beautiful lake full of purple to quench the thirst of thousands of Dhamma-thirsty people.
The Siri Gautama Damsak Maha Seya, the Siri Gautama Bodhi Mandapa and the Siri Gautama Sambuddharaja Maligawa, which are located in the Mahamevnawa Meditation Monastery and were inaugurated by Ven. Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero on August 14, 1999 provide light to the place.
Although the area with the Siri Gautama Sambuddha Royal Palace is densely populated, the rooms where the monks reside are located in a quiet forest environment. Also, many devotees earn immense merits daily by offering alms to the Sangha and worshiping the Siri Gautama Sambuddha Raja Maligawa.
For the past decade and a half, this sacred place has been one of the foremost institutions for the spread of the pure teachings of Gautama Buddha throughout the world.
Open hours
Tuesday to Friday: 8am to 9pm
(Closed on Monday for cleaning inside the Buddha Mandir)
Saturday and Sunday: 6am to 9pm
Evening Pooja: 5:30 to 7 p.m.
From Colombo
If you tell them that you are going to Mahamevnawa, Polgahawela when you visit, people will be happy to help you on your journey.
By Train: Take the train from Petta (Colombo) to Polgahawela Railway Station. The easiest way out of the Polgahawela railway station is to rent a three wheeler ,around Rs. 400
By Bus: Take a bus from Gunasinhapura (Colombo) to Kurunegala and get off at Yalgammodara Junction (Railway Crossing) in front of Polgahawela town. At this stop you will see a large gate across the road. From there you can hire a three-wheeler (about Rs. 150) to take you to the monastery or catch a bus off the road to Narammala.
By car: Take the A1 Colombo-Kandy road to Ambepusa. Then take the A6 Kurunagala road in front of Polgahawela town to Yalgammodara junction (at the railway crossing). Turn left through the large gate across Narammala Road. After passing about 4 km you will come to the monastery on the left.
