Lanka Excursions Holidays - Mihintale
Sri Lanka travels with Nuwan
  • Tours
    • tailor-made tours
    • ready-made tours
    • your-price-choice
    • Outdoor Anuradhapura
    • Sri Lanka Transport Service
    • 1 day excursions
    • 7 days tour
    • 8 days tour
    • Terms
    • по-русски
  • About
  • Services
  • Info
    • Tea
    • Ayurveda
  • Mihintale
    • Mihintale attractions
    • Guesthouse Rooms
    • Rent my Villa
    • Hiking in Mihintale
    • Mihintale-sightseeing
    • Picnic at Kaludiya Pokuna
    • car
    • Day trips by car
  • Destinations
    • World Heritage Sites >
      • Anuradhapura
      • Polonnaruwa
      • Sigiriya
      • Dambulla
      • Kandy Sacred City
      • Galle Fort
    • Cities >
      • Colombo
      • Nuwara Eliya
      • Trincomalee
      • Ratnapura
      • Batticaloa
      • Kurunegala
      • Matale
      • Kalutara
      • Tangalle
      • Hambantota
      • Puttalam
      • Chilaw
      • Matara
      • Avissawella
      • Badulla
      • Tissamaharama
      • Kalmunai
      • Embilipitiya
      • Habarana
      • Kilinochchi
      • Pottuvil
      • Giritale
    • Sacred Places >
      • Kataragama
      • Mahiyangana
      • Seruwila
      • Somawathiya
      • Sita Eliya
      • Maha Saman Devale
      • Kelaniya
      • Munneshvaram
      • Kanniyai
      • Manavari
      • Adisham Hall
      • Karagahagedara
      • Madampe
      • Seenigama
      • Divurumpola
    • Ancient Temples >
      • Haththikuchchi
      • Ritigala
      • Yapahuwa
      • Wilandagoda
      • Thiriyai
      • Velgam Vehera
      • Medirigiriya
      • Sithulpahuwa
      • Pidurangala
      • Nalanda
      • Mulkirigala
      • Panduwasnuwara
      • Padeniya
      • Padavigampola
      • Namal Uyana
      • Arankale
      • Menikdena
      • Manakanda
      • Nillakgama
      • Panavitiya
      • Gadaladeniya
      • Lankatilaka
      • Embekke
      • Lahugala
      • Kudumbigala
      • Dambadeniya
      • Kiralagala
      • Kalupokuna
      • Degaldoruwa
      • Ramba Vihara
      • Danthure
      • Dadagamuwa
      • Buddhangala
      • Dematamal Viharaya
      • Pilikuttuwa
      • Dodanwela
      • Dimbulagala
      • Beligala
      • Bogoda
      • Barandiya Kovil
      • Kokabe
      • Divulwewa
      • Madagama
      • Pettagangala
      • Isenbessagala
      • Kuruwita
      • Koskandawala
      • Attanagalla
      • Alawwa
      • Awariyawala
      • Hanguranketa
    • Historical Caves >
      • Ridigama
      • Salgala
      • Veheragala
      • Wavulpone
      • Sankapala
      • Varana
      • Aluvihara
      • Anamaduwa
      • Aluthepola
      • Maligatenna
      • Divaguhawa
      • Batadomba Lena
      • Beli Lena
      • Pahiyangala
      • Maradankadawala
    • Giant Stupas >
      • Yudaganawa
      • Dedigama
      • Dighavapi
    • Rock Buddha statues >
      • Gal Vihara
      • Aukana Buddha
      • Sasseruwa Buddha
      • Buduruwagala
      • Dowa
      • Maligawila
      • Kushtaraja Statue
      • Thanthirimale
      • Bakamuna
      • Maboda Temple
    • Mountains >
      • Adam's Peak
      • Horton Plains
      • Pidurutalagala
      • Knuckles Range
      • Sinharaja
      • Haputale
      • Ella
      • Namunukula
      • Deanston
      • Ramboda
      • Ambuluwawa
      • Bible Rock
      • Medamahanuwara
      • Hunnasgiriya
      • Hakgala
      • Kadugannawa
      • Uda Pussellawa
      • Passara
      • Victoria Lake
      • Retiyagama
    • Waterfalls >
      • Bambarakanda Falls
      • Diyaluma Falls
      • Dunhinda Falls
      • St. Clair's Falls
      • Devon Falls
      • Bopath Falls
      • Dodam Falls
      • Mannakethi Falls
      • Aberdeen Falls
      • Lakshapana
      • Kirindi Falls
      • Bambarakiri Falls
      • Ravana Falls
      • Hunas Falls
    • National Parks >
      • Yala NP
      • Wilpattu NP
      • Maduru Oya NP
      • Gal Oya NP
      • Udawalawe NP
      • Minneriya NP
      • Kaudulla NP
      • Kumana NP
      • Bundala NP
      • Ussangoda
      • leopards
    • Activity Attractions >
      • Kandy Perahera 2018
      • Kithulgala
      • Pinnawela
      • Madu Ganga
      • Muthurajawela
      • Meetiyagoda
      • Rekawa
      • Induruwa
      • Brief Garden
      • Lunuganga
      • Gampaha
      • Kanneliya
      • Bodhinagala
      • Mahapalessa Hot Springs
      • Thoppigala
      • Rufus Kulam
      • Wewurukannala
      • Kalawewa
      • Kandalama
    • Beaches >
      • Beruwela
      • Bentota Beach
      • Ambalangoda
      • Hikkaduwa
      • Unawatuna
      • Weligama
      • Mirissa
      • Dondra
      • Hoomaniya Blowhole
      • Kirinda
      • Okanda
      • Arugam Bay
      • Thirukkovil
      • Pasikuda
      • Thennadi Bay
      • Nilaveli Beach
      • Pulmoddai
      • Mannar Island
      • Kaplitiya Peninsula
      • Marawila
      • Negombo
    • Jaffna Peninsula >
      • Jaffna
      • Nallur
      • Kandarodai
      • Nilavarai
      • Point Pedro
      • Manalkadu
      • Naguleshvaram
      • Jambukola
      • Nainativu
      • Delft Island
      • Elephant Pass
  • Blog
  • Reviews
  • Contact
  • Home

Thirukkovil - beaches and a Kataragama shrine

Thirukkovil is a small fishing port in Ampara District at Sri Lanka’s East Coast. It’s situated 30 km north of Pottuvil, half-way to Kalmunai at the coastal road A4. This is the region that was worst affected by the Boxing day tsunami 2004. In Thirukkovil, the tsunami destroyed homes in 500 meters distance from the seashore. Stubs of palm trees the crowns of which were snapped off by the 10 m high tsunami wave can still be seen along the coast. The surviving inhabitants of Thirukkovil were dependent on aid to redevelop the completely devastated town.
coast to the north of Thirukkovil
sandy beaches near Thirukkovil
Thirukkovil, also spelt Tirukkovil or Tirukovil or Tirukoil, is a typical Tamil name, it translates to “God’s temple”, the namegiving shrine is dedicated to Murugan, known as Kataragama in Sri Lanka. In general, the Thirukkovil simply refers to Tamil temples, not to a specific one or to a town. “Thiru” however is a prefix of numerous Tamil toponyms in South India and Sri Lanka. It is a glorifying term, similar to the term “Sri”, which is of Sanskrit origin. “Thiru” means “holy”, having many connotations such as “divine”, “wish-fulfilling”, “wealthy”, “highly respected”. I can even be used as title in salutations, like the English “Sir”. The suffix “kovil” is equally common in Tamil areas. It’s simply the Tamil term for temple. Thus, Thirukkuvil also translates to “Holy shrine”.

The most important Hindu temple in the small town of this name is the Sitra Velayuta Swami temple, also transcribed Citra Velayudha Swami Kovil. Murugan is a highly venerated god among all Tamils, he is identified with Skanda, the pan-Indian warrior deity, son of Shiva. In Sri Lanka, he is venerated as Kataragama by Sinhalese and Weddah people, too. The Hindu shrine in Thirukkovil seems to be of Weddah origin. Weddahs, the indiginous people of Sri Lanka, don’t worship idols but uniconic symbols of divine power. In the case of Murugan, the emblem is the spear, which is also associated with this god in Hindu mythology. It’s this spear, Vel, that gave the name to the shrine in Thirukkovil.

Old temples of spear-worship are called Tiruppatai, “patai” meaning “weapon”. In Weddah mythology, Thirukkovil, besides Okanda near Panama and Mandur near Batticaloa, is one of the three or eight places in Batticaloa District where sparks from the spear of stroke the island, when he fought against the Asura demons above the Bay of Bengal and split Mount Vahura. Being one of this spark-born places, Thirukkovil is one of the most sacred sites of the Weddah people.

Earliert remnants within the temple structure are from the 13th century, when the Southindian Pandya dynasty was powerful enough to influence the events in Sri Lanka, too.  

Though Thirukkovil is a Hindu and Weddah place of worship, the largest group in the city are Moors, Sri Lankan Muslims.

To the south and north of Thirukkovil, there are long stretches of sandy beaches devoid of tourists. They are situated on spits of land, as there are lagoons to the south and north alike. There is almost no touristic infrastructure in Thirukkovil.  

Guesthouses are available at Sangamankanda Point and its nearby lighthouse, Sri Lanka’s easternmost point. The lagoon in the hinterland of the beaches to the south of Thirukkovil is mostly dried out and becomes a big salt pan or small salt flat during the dry season.   

The Periya Kalapuwa Lagune to the north of Thirukkovil is always filled with water. On its spit of land, there is the small village of Sinnamuhattuvaram. It’s this village’s coastline where the stereotype palm-beach images above were taken.

Our ambition is to provide high-quality information in preparation of your Sri Lanka holidays ... and even more superb travel experiences
What guests write about our services...

Home

About

Tours

Places

Contact

Sri Lanka destinations A-Z
famous attractions are marked bold, highly recommendable hidden treasures in bold italic letters
Aberdeen Falls
Activity Attractions
Adam's Peak
Adisham Hall
Alawwa
Aluthepola
Aluvihara
Ambalangoda
Ambuluwawa
Anamaduwa
Ancient Temples
Anuradhapura
Arankale
Arugam Bay
Attanagalla
Aukana
Avissawella
Awariyawala

Badulla
Bakamuna
Bambarakanda Falls
Bambarakiri Falls
Barandiya Kovil
Batadomba Lena
Batticaloa
Beaches
Beli Lena
Beligala
Bentota
Beruwela
Bible Rock
Blowhole
Bodhinagala
Bogoda Bridge
Bopath Ella
Brief Garden
Buddhangala
Buduruwagala 
Bundala NP

Cave Temples
Chilaw
Cities
Colombo
Dadagamuwa
Dambadeniya
Dambulla
Danthure
Deanston
Dedigama
Degaldoruwa
Delft Island
Dematamal Viharaya
Devon Falls
Dighavapi
Dimbulagala
Divaguhawa
Divulwewa
Divurumpola
Diyaluma Falls
Dodan Falls
Dodanwela
Dondra Head
Dowa
Dunhinda Falls

Elephant Pass
Ella
Embekke
Embilipitiya

Gadaladeniya
Gampaha
Gal Oya NP
Gal Vihara
Galle Fort
Giritale

Habarana
Hakgala
Hambantota
Hanguranketa
Haputale
Hatthikucchi
Highlands
Hikkaduwa
Horton Plains
Hunas Falls
Hunnasgiriya

Induruwa
Isenbessagala

Jaffna Peninsula
Jaffna town
Jambukola
Kadugannawa Pass
Kalawewa
Kalmunai
Kalpitiya Peninsula
Kalupokuna
Kalutara
Kandalama
Kandarodai stupas
Kandy Festival
Kandy Sacred City
Kanneliya Forest
Kanniyai Hot Wells
Karagahagedara
Kataragama
Kaudulla NP
Keerimalai
Kelaniya
Kilinochchi
Kiralagala
Kirinda
Kirindi Falls
Kitulgala
Knuckles Range
Kokabe
Koskandawala
Kudumbigala
Kumana NP
Kurunegala
Kuruwita
Kushtaraja statue

Lahugala
Lakshapana Falls
Lankatilaka
Leopards
Lunuganga Gardens

Maboda
Madagama
Madampe
Madu Ganga
Maduru Oya NP
Mahapalessa Hot Wells
Mahiyangana
Maligatenna
Maligawila
Manakanda
Manalkadu
Manavari
Mannakethi Falls
Mannar Island
Maradankadawala
Marawila
Matale
Matara
Medamahanuwara
Medirigiriya
Menikdena
Mihintale
Minneriya NP
Mirissa
Moonstone Mine
Mulkirigala
Munneshvaram
Muthurajawela
Nainativu Island
Nalanda Gedige
Nallur
Namal Uyana
Namunukula
National Parks
Negombo
Nilavarai Well
Nilaveli Beach
Nillakgama
Nuwara Eliya

Okanda Beach

Padavigampola
Padeniya
Pahiyangala
Panavitiya
Panduwasnuwara
Pasikuda
Passara
Pettagangala
Pidurangala
Pidurutalagala
Pilgrimage Places
Pilikuttuwa
Pinnawela
Point Pedro
Polonnaruwa
Pulmoddai
Pottuvil
Puttalam

Ramba Vihara
Ramboda
Rasvehera
Ratnapura
Ravana Falls
Rekawa
Retiyagama
Ridigama
Ritigala
Rock-cut Buddhas
Rufus Kulam
Salgala
Saman Devale
Sankapala
Seenigama
Seruwila
Sigiriya
Sinharaja Forest
Sita Eliya
Sithulpahuwa
Somawathiya
St. Clair's Falls
Stupas

Tangalle
Tantirimale
Thennadi Bay
Thiriyai
Thirukkovil
Thoppigala
Tissamaharama
Trincomalee

Uda Pussellawa
Udawalawe NP
Unawatuna
Ussangoda

Varana
Veheragala
Velgam Vehera
Victoria Lake

Waterfalls
Weligama
Wewurukannala
Wilandagoda
Wilpattu NP
World Heritage

Yala NP
Yapahuwa
Yudaganawa

Why travel with Lanka Excursions Holidays?

+ We are a local agency owned and run by Sri Lankans, not part of international holdings
+ We are well known for our direct and personal relationships with travellers 
+ We facilitate authentic meetings with locals who are not from the tourism sector 
  + We follow a strict policy not to push guests to visit shops and shops and shops
+ We have an unrivalled expertise to show you places off the beaten path
+ We provide genuine information instead of clichés and tourism industry slogans

How to plan your travels with Lanka Excursions Holidays?

We offer various ways to work out or find a suitable tour programme. Select one of the following methods:
# tailor-made: let’s work out your personal itinerary according to your own specifications
# ready-made: enjoy travel experts’ elaborate tours, we offer a wide range
# your-price: Tell us how much you want to spend. We tell you what you can get.


Lanka Excursions Holidays office hours 8.00 to 9.30 p.m. daily (except from June Fullmoon Day)
at
First House Mihintale
First House Mihintale
87, Missaka Mawatha, Mihintale 50300, Sri Lanka.
0094 71 6097795
AIRBNB SUPERHOST
lankaexcursionsholidays@gmail.com
or privately:
nuwan.gajanayaka@gmail.com

all right reserved
Copyright © 2016
Picture
✕