Mahamevnama Monastery, Ella Overview

Mahamevnama Monastery is part of the series of monasteries which originated from Sri Lanka but grew to nine other countries including Canada, United States of America and Australia. The primary purpose is to present the spiritual teachings of Gautama Buddha easily so that people can easily understand it.

The most famous and the primary Mahamevnama Monastery is located at Polgahawela. Here, you can also visit the sacred Bodhi tree complex and the Dhammachakkha stupa, make some offerings to the shrine, browse through the collection of teaching in an informative book shop or become a part of the evening chant. The monks at this monastery also speak in English so you can have a chat with them about Buddhism or meditation. Further, there is also the option of going for a guided tour or a self-guided tour of the monastery, which is also available in English.

The Mahamevnama Monastery was founded in Sri Lanka in 1999 by Ven. Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero. The monastery is a warm and welcoming place for anyone who wishes to learn the teachings of Buddha in the form of Dhamma and gain peace through meditation. The monastery today is home to over 800 monks and 75 nuns who practise and preach the principles of Buddhism.

Tips While Visiting Mahamevnama Monastery

If you wish you can carry some food for yourself. However, there are also some food stalls at the nearby road from where you may purchase some snacks. Free drinking water is available on the premises, so all you need to bring is a water bottle.

It can be sunny, so be prepared for the same. You may carry an umbrella to protect yourself from the scorching heat. Wear comfortable shoes that you can easily remove, and we recommend you to wear or carry a pair of socks to save your feet from the heat. Lastly, if you wish to offer some flowers or oil to the shrine, you can also buy it from the shops nearby.

How To Reach Mahamevnama Monastery

The Mahanevma monastery is at almost 40 different locations in Sri Lanka. Mentioned below are various routes to visit one of the most famous monasteries, which is located at Polgahawela.

If you are travelling from Colombo to the monastery, you have many options to try. You can either go by train and get down at Polgahawela train station and hire a tuk-tuk from there to reach your destination. The other option is toH go by bus and get down at the Yalgammodara Junction and hire a private vehicle or tuk-tuk from there. Lastly, you can also hire your private car, which will take you directly to the Mahamevnama Monastery.