The Manavari Kovil (Temple) is said to be one of the most important religious sites when it comes to the Hindu population in both Sri Lanka and India. It is associated with the legendary tale of Rama and Sita, reflected in the epic of Ramayana.
The interior of the temple is decorated with intriguing yet fascinating intricate carvings of Hindu religious practices. According to the Ramayana, this is where Lord Rama had installed the first Lingam as a remedy to Lord Shiva after killing King Ravana during the end of his battle with the king which eventually set Sitadevi free. This event in history made this lingam named as Ramalingam which is considered an important item of worship for the Hindus.
It is said that there are only two lingams in the world named after Rama – one is Ramalingam at Manavari Kovil and the other is in Rameswaram in India which is the most sacred site in Tamil Nadu.
This temple is located about 6km north of Chilaw. It is approximately 2 hours away from the Bandaranaike International Airport.
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