Seenigama Vihara temple in Hikkaduwa

Description and is it worth a visit

Seenigama Vihara Temple (Seenigama Muhudu Viharaya) is one of the most interesting temples in Hikkaduwa and is definitely worth a visit. It is remarkable for two reasons. Firstly, the temple is located on a small island 100 meters from the shore, and can only be reached by boat. And secondly-it is one of two temples in Sri Lanka, where victims of robberies can ask the higher forces for retribution. To do this, you need to buy a special oil in the temple, cooked with pepper, pour it into the lamp at home, light it and read the spell. After that, as the locals believe, heaven will punish the robber with an accident or illness. And judging by how many locals are in the temple, you might even think that robberies in Sri Lanka occur at every turn.

You don't have to wait to be robbed to visit this temple. It is located right on the main Galle Road on the coast a couple of kilometers north of Hikkaduwa, and therefore it is visited by almost all passing tourists, including those moving towards Moonstone Mines. The temple is quite large and includes not only the island part. On the mainland there is also a large temple building, a sacred tree grows. To get to the island, you will have to pay for a boat. However, be sure to strive to get there is not worth it. For a short boat trip, you will be asked an exorbitant 400-600 rupees (from 1.21 USD, see Sri Lankan currency, exchange rate, but need to haggle. But objectively speaking, there is nothing to look at directly on the island, the temple is not very beautiful near. The island and the temple on it look much more beautiful from the outside, especially during sunset.

And yet, next to the temple is a wonderful beach.