Holy Colombo!

**Sri Lanka is the oldest continually Buddhist country, Theravada Buddhism being the major religion in the island.**

Colombo, Sri Lanka Sunday, March 15, 2015

It was not a Sunday, but we were walking barefooted towards a temple. At the end, a Buddhist monk offered us blessing for safe travel and good health giving us white threads to be tied around our wrist and some to take along for our family members and friends back home.

Buddhism is a part of life in Sri Lanka and what shaped their culture.

The Isipathanaramaya temple is believed to be one of the oldest and sacred Buddhist temples in Colombo.

This century-old temple stands out as something special. It was built in 1916 by a wealthy merchant to grieve the loss of his only son, who was executed by the British based on false accusations.

The colonial temple’s wonderful architecture and artwork would assure that the young man’s name was remembered throughout the century to come. The bright white domed structure hides a burst of colorful statues and painted murals inside. Created by a renowned artist in the 1920s, the beautiful and well-preserved frescos depict the life of Buddha in a stylized fashion that was quite unique for the time.

The temple also houses a lovely Bo Tree, and the recent addition of a 40-foot-tall Buddha statue. Isipathanaramaya is the local temple in Havelock Town (Colombo 5), located just far enough south to be off the tourist track. It’s a serene and peaceful place, a welcome respite from the bustle of Colombo.

It is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with a $1 entry fee. Note that this is an active temple frequented by locals who come here to meditate and pray.