Overview
Kothduwa is the best-known island on the lake. It holds Kothduwa Rajamaha Viharaya, a Buddhist temple that can be reached only by boat, and many guests name it as the calmest stop of the morning.
Ashore on the island
The boat lands and you walk up into a shaded temple complex among tall trees. The temple was built around an old Bodhi tree, and you can look into the shrine room and sit for a while. Monks live on the island, and young novice monks often come over to greet visitors.
Nobody hurries you here. Most people spend a few quiet minutes under the trees before heading back to the boat.
A temple with a long story
Local accounts link Kothduwa with the Buddha's tooth relic, which legend says was hidden on the island for a time, and with a sapling of the sacred Bodhi tree at Anuradhapura. The island itself is said to have been overgrown and forgotten for centuries before it was cleared and the present temple was built. How you reach it is part of the story too: the boat crosses open water, the mangroves close in on both sides and the temple appears out of the green.
Ashore on the island
The boat lands and you walk up into a shaded temple complex among tall trees. The temple was built around an old Bodhi tree, and you can look into the shrine room and sit for a while. Monks live on the island, and young novice monks often come over to greet visitors.
Nobody hurries you here. Most people spend a few quiet minutes under the trees before heading back to the boat.
A temple with a long story
Local accounts link Kothduwa with the Buddha's tooth relic, which legend says was hidden on the island for a time, and with a sapling of the sacred Bodhi tree at Anuradhapura. The island itself is said to have been overgrown and forgotten for centuries before it was cleared and the present temple was built. How you reach it is part of the story too: the boat crosses open water, the mangroves close in on both sides and the temple appears out of the green.
Dress and manners: Kothduwa is a working place of worship. Cover your shoulders and knees, remove shoes where asked, and ask before photographing monks. A light scarf in your bag solves most clothing problems.
Highlights
- A Buddhist temple set on one of the Madu River's best-known islands.
- Accessible only by boat, through the lake and mangrove waterways.
- Look for the old Bodhi tree and young novice monks.
- A peaceful cultural stop for visitors interested in Buddhist heritage and local traditions.
