Negombo · Buddhist temple

Angurukaramulla Temple

A working Buddhist temple about 2 km from central Negombo, with a dragon-mouth entrance, a reclining Buddha of around 6 m, and murals throughout.

Facts checked · 10 October 2026Dates, dimensions and history on this page were reviewed against the public sources named in the text; where sources disagree, the page says so. Drive times and prices come from our own routes and rates, and are approximate.

The place

What Angurukaramulla actually is

Angurukaramulla, also called Bodhirajaramaya, is a Buddhist temple on Temple Road in Negombo, about 2 km from the town centre. You enter through a painted dragon’s mouth, which is said to ward off evil spirits. Inside are a Buddha statue of about 6 m, murals, ceiling paintings and a small museum.

Visitors describe murals of the Buddha’s path to enlightenment and of Sri Lankan rulers in the chronicles. There is also a stupa, a pond with turtles, and a moss-covered ruined library, reported as about 300 years old, that you can look into through the windows. No reliable founding date or history turned up in the sources checked.

Negombo is known for its churches, and this is the town’s counterweight. It is also a place of worship: dress modestly and take your shoes off.

What to look for

Worth your attention

The dragon-mouth entrance

A painted dragon’s mouth you walk through. It is the temple’s signature image and gets crowded for photos.

The Buddha

A statue of about 6 m, usually described as reclining, though one listing gives 6 m as its height. Several sources agree on the number.

The murals

Paintings of Jataka tales and Buddhist cosmology cover walls and ceilings, in a bold Sri Lankan style.

The old library

A moss-covered ruin said to be around 300 years old. The doors are locked, but you can see a spiral staircase through the windows.

Straight advice

Before you go

Do this

Remove shoes before the shrine rooms and dress modestly
Walk through the dragon’s mouth entrance rather than around it
Look into the library windows for the spiral staircase
Visit the stupa in daylight; its interior is usually dim
Visit on a weekday if you prefer it quiet

Know this first

Visitors may be asked for donations, and guided tours are offered
You can decline the paid information booklet
Stairs at the stupa can have cats on them
Entry fee reports conflict, so confirm before you pay

Where it fits

Getting to Angurukaramulla Temple

Most people see Angurukaramulla Temple as part of a stay around Negombo. Our Negombo guide covers where to stay, how long to give it and what else is nearby.

Coming straight from the airport, the relevant run is Colombo Airport to Negombo — fixed price per vehicle, driver waiting inside arrivals with a name board.

Read the full Negombo guide

From Colombo Airport

Airport → NegomboUS$ 15

Journey time15 – 20 min

Distance15 km

Car up to 3 passengers; vans quoted on the route page. No night surcharge.

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