Okanda Sri Murugan Kovil
உகந்தை முருகன் கோவில்
A Hindu temple on rocks beside the Kumana entrance, and the starting point of the annual pilgrimage on foot through the jungle to Kataragama.
Okanda temple sits beneath a large rock by the sea and is dedicated to the war god Murugan. Legend says the deity once landed here. Every June and July, tens of thousands of pilgrims set out from this spot and walk through the jungles of Kumana and Yala to the sacred city of Kataragama. Beside the temple you can climb the rocks for distant views of the coast, and the setting is quiet. It is often arranged together with a Kumana National Park safari. To enter the temple, you must remove your shoes, and clothing must cover the shoulders and knees.
Opening hours
Open daytime
Nearby sights
- Kudumbigala Monastery
- Kumana National Park
- Crocodile Rock
- Peanut Farm
- Elephant Rock
- Arugam Bay Main Point
- Magul Maha Viharaya
- Muhudu Maha Viharaya