LANKA EXCURSIONS HOLIDAYS
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    • Giant Stupas >
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      • Kadugannawa
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      • Uda Pussellawa
      • Frotoft Estate
      • Passara
      • Narangamuwa
      • Retiyagama
      • Kotmale reservoir
      • Victoria Lake
      • Rothschild Tea Estate
      • Gomara
    • Waterfalls >
      • Bambarakanda Falls
      • Diyaluma Falls
      • Dunhinda Falls
      • St. Clair's Falls
      • Devon Falls
      • Bomburu Falls
      • Dunsinane Falls
      • Huluganga Falls
      • Bopath Falls
      • Dodam Falls
      • Mannakethi Falls
      • Aberdeen Falls
      • Lakshapana
      • Kirindi Falls
      • Bambarakiri Falls
      • Ramboda
      • Ravana Falls
      • Rawan Ella
      • Lovers Leap
      • Hunas Falls
      • Diyakerella Falls
      • Jodu Ella
      • Saree Ella
      • Seven Falls Knuckles
      • Yatawatta Biso Ella
      • Wattegama
      • Rangala Natural Pool
    • National Parks >
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Velgam Vehera - Buddhist temple restored by Cholas

Velgam Vehera image house
Velgam Vehera, situated near Trincomalee, is known as Natanar Kovil to Tamil Hindus. It belongs to the village of Kanniyai, which is otherwise famous for its hot wells. The rarely visited ruins of Velgam Vehera are remarkable as rare example of remnants from the Chola occupation of Sri Lanka. The history of this specific Buddhist temple contradicts a widespread opinion among Sri Lankans, shared by many others who believe in deep-rooted religious antagonisms, that the Cholas, who were Tamil Hindus from mainland India, systematically destroyed Buddhist heritage when conquering Sri Lanka. On the contrary, in Velgam Vehera they restored a Buddhist temple. Presumably, the reason was the existence of a highly influential Buddhist minority among Tamil seafarers and merchants. Velgam Vehera’s large-scale image house, indicating that the hall with a Buddha statue has become the major place of worship instead of a stupa, inspired classical Sinhalese architecture of the Polonnaruwa period.
By road, Velgam Vehera is situated 12 km northwest of Trincomalee and 10 km southwest of Nilaveli Beach. Distance to First House Mihintale is 88 km. Velgam Vehera can be visited easily when travelling from Mihintale or Anuradhapura to the East Coast beaches near Trincomalee.
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

Our ambition is to provide high-quality information in preparation of your Sri Lanka holidays
... and even more superb travel experiences

we also run our own guesthouse near Anuradhapura:
First House Mihintale
First House Mihintale
87, Missaka Mawatha, Mihintale 50300, Sri Lanka.
0094 71 6097795
Rooms in Mihintale

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Lanka Excursions Holidays
Registration Number SLTDA/SQA/TA/02179
255/24, "Green Park" Dawatagahawatta, Thimbirigaskatuwa, Mahahunupitiya East, Negombo, Sri Lanka
Office: +94 31 223 991
Hotline: +94 71 6097795
lankaexcursionsholidays@gmail.com

Lanka Excursions Holidays office hours 8.00 to 6.00 p.m. daily (except from June Fullmoon Day)
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if not stated otherwise, texts and photos provided  by Ernst A. Sundermann, sales manager of Lanka Excursions Holidays
all rights reserved, © 2016 Lanka Excursion Holidays
  • Home
    • Welcome
    • Terms
    • payments
    • по-русски
  • About
  • Info
    • Where is Sri Lanka
    • Names of Sri Lanka
    • Travel Regions >
      • Cultural Triangle images
      • Central Highlands images
      • Western Plains images
      • Southwest Wet Zone images
      • Deep South images
      • Eastern Shores images
      • Northern Province images
    • off the beaten path >
      • highly recommended
      • around Colombo
      • around Yapahuwa
      • around Anuradhapura
      • around Jaffna
      • around Trincomalee
      • around Polonnaruwa
      • around Sigiriya
      • around Kandy
      • around Nuwara Eliya
      • around Arugam Bay
      • around Hambantota
      • around Bentota
      • all over Sri Lanka
    • Things to do
    • Slide Show >
      • Famous Places Slide Show
      • Less-known Sites Slide Show
    • Directory
  • Tours
    • 4-days classic
    • 8 days tour
    • 4 weeks honeymoon tour
    • your-price-choice
    • pinnawela+kitulgala
    • 3 days 2 nights
    • 4 days 3 nights
    • Sri Lanka Transport Service
    • 7 days with 4 hikes
    • 10 days with 7 hikes
    • 2-days trek Knuckles-5-Peaks
    • 15 days with 7 means of travel
    • Bentota beach holidays
    • Nilaveli beach holidays
    • Services >
      • Outdoor Anuradhapura
    • Tripadvisor
    • Cambodia
    • Nepal
    • deutsch >
      • 15 days with 3 surf beaches
  • Mihintale
    • Mihintale attractions
    • Guesthouse Rooms
    • Rent my Villa
    • Activities around Mihintale
    • Picnic at Kaludiya Pokuna
    • car
    • Day trips by car
    • Mihintale-sightseeing
    • Hiking in Mihintale
  • Culture
    • Food >
      • Rice
      • Breakfast
      • Kottu Roti
      • Pasta Sri Lanka style
      • Rice Noodles Sri Lanka style
      • Egg-fried rice Sri Lanka style
    • Tea
    • Ayurveda
  • Destinations
    • World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka >
      • Anuradhapura World Heritage Site
      • Polonnaruwa World Heritage Site
      • Sigiriya World Heritage Site
      • Dambulla World Heritage Site
      • Kandy Sacred City
      • Galle Fort
    • Cities of Sri Lanka >
      • Colombo
      • Nuwara Eliya
      • Trincomalee
      • Ratnapura
      • Batticaloa
      • Kurunegala
      • Matale
      • Kalutara
      • Tangalle
      • Hambantota
      • Puttalam
      • Chilaw
      • Matara
      • Avissawella
      • Badulla
      • Pussellawa
      • Tissamaharama
      • Kalmunai
      • Embilipitiya
      • Habarana
      • Kilinochchi
      • Bibile
      • Pottuvil
      • Giritale
      • Rattota
    • Sacred Places >
      • Kataragama
      • Mahiyangana
      • Seruwila
      • Somawathiya
      • Sita Eliya
      • Maha Saman Devale
      • Kelaniya
      • Nelligala
      • Munneshvaram
      • Ketheesvaram
      • Kanniyai
      • Manavari
      • Adisham Hall
      • Madampe
      • Seenigama
      • Divurumpola
      • Bhadravathi
    • Ancient Temples >
      • Ritigala
      • Thiriyai
      • Yapahuwa
      • Haththikuchchi
      • Velgam Vehera
      • Medirigiriya
      • Sithulpahuwa
      • Pidurangala
      • Nalanda
      • Mulkirigala
      • Panduwasnuwara
      • Padeniya
      • Padavigampola
      • Namal Uyana
      • Arankale
      • Menikdena
      • Manakanda
      • Nillakgama Bodhigara
      • Panavitiya
      • Gadaladeniya Temple near Kandy
      • Lankatilaka
      • Embekke
      • Dimbulagala
      • Lahugala
      • Kudumbigala
      • Hanguranketa
      • Dambadeniya
      • Kiralagala
      • Kalupokuna
      • Degaldoruwa
      • Ramba Vihara
      • Medawala
      • Dadagamuwa
      • Buddhangala
      • Dematamal Viharaya
      • Pilikuttuwa
      • Handagala Kanda
      • Dodanwela
      • Andankulam
      • Beligala
      • Bogoda
      • Barandiya Kovil
      • Kokabe
      • Divulwewa
      • Madagama
      • Pettagangala
      • Isenbessagala
      • Kuruwita
      • Koskandawala
      • Attanagalla
      • Kadadora
      • Gurulupotha
      • Thammennakanda
      • Kalpe
      • Alawwa
      • Awariyawala
      • Karagahagedara
    • Historical Caves >
      • Ridigama
      • Salgala
      • Veheragala
      • Wavulpone
      • Sankapala
      • Varana
      • Aluvihara
      • Hindagala Temple
      • Anamaduwa
      • Aluthepola
      • Maligatenna
      • Divaguhawa
      • Batadomba Lena
      • Beli Lena
      • Pahiyangala
      • Maradankadawala
      • Wilandagoda
      • Gonagiri
      • Thambalagollewa
      • Shtripura Caves
    • Giant Stupas >
      • Yudaganawa
      • Dedigama
      • Dighavapi
      • Kotmale Maha Seya
      • Sandagiri Maha Seya
    • Rock Buddha statues >
      • Gal Vihara
      • Aukana Buddha
      • Sasseruwa Buddha
      • Buduruwagala
      • Dowa
      • Maligawila
      • Kushtaraja Statue
      • Thanthirimale
      • Bakamuna
      • Maboda Temple
      • Rambodagalla statue
    • Mountains >
      • Adam's Peak
      • Horton Plains
      • Hunnasgiriya
      • Pidurutalagala
      • Dolukanda
      • Hanthana Range
      • Knuckles Range
      • Sinharaja
      • Haputale
      • Ella
      • Riverston
      • Meemure
      • Chariot Path
      • Lakegala
      • Mathalagala
      • Uda Pathana
      • Namunukula
      • Peacock Hill
      • Kondagala
      • Madulsima
      • Deanston
      • Pitawala Patana
      • Hulangala
      • Ambuluwawa
      • Bible Rock
      • Medamahanuwara
      • Hakgala
      • Mani Katthitheri
      • Katupotha Kanda
      • Corbett's Gap
      • Kadugannawa
      • Moon Plains
      • Uda Pussellawa
      • Frotoft Estate
      • Passara
      • Narangamuwa
      • Retiyagama
      • Kotmale reservoir
      • Victoria Lake
      • Rothschild Tea Estate
      • Gomara
    • Waterfalls >
      • Bambarakanda Falls
      • Diyaluma Falls
      • Dunhinda Falls
      • St. Clair's Falls
      • Devon Falls
      • Bomburu Falls
      • Dunsinane Falls
      • Huluganga Falls
      • Bopath Falls
      • Dodam Falls
      • Mannakethi Falls
      • Aberdeen Falls
      • Lakshapana
      • Kirindi Falls
      • Bambarakiri Falls
      • Ramboda
      • Ravana Falls
      • Rawan Ella
      • Lovers Leap
      • Hunas Falls
      • Diyakerella Falls
      • Jodu Ella
      • Saree Ella
      • Seven Falls Knuckles
      • Yatawatta Biso Ella
      • Wattegama
      • Rangala Natural Pool
    • 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 2024
      • 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
      • Balapitiya
      • Ambalangoda
      • Hikkaduwa
      • Unawatuna
      • Weligama
      • Mirissa
      • Dondra
      • Hiriketiya
      • Hoomaniya Blowhole
      • Kirinda
      • Okanda
      • Arugam Bay
      • Thirukkovil
      • Pasikuda
      • Thennadi Bay
      • Nilaveli Beach
      • Kuchchaveli
      • Pulmoddai
      • Mannar Island
      • Kalpitiya Peninsula
      • Marawila
      • Negombo
    • Jaffna Peninsula >
      • Jaffna
      • Nallur
      • Kandarodai
      • Nilavarai
      • Point Pedro
      • Manalkadu
      • Naguleshvaram
      • Jambukola
      • Nainativu
      • Delft Island
      • Elephant Pass
    • top 20 attractions >
      • top 20 in Colombo
      • top 20 in Kandy
    • Sri Lanka off the beaten track
  • Blog
  • Reviews
    • Reviews since 2020
    • Tripadvisor Reviews
    • Reviews 2015-2020
    • instagram
  • Contact