Tucked behind the commerce of Bambalapitiya, one of Colombo's busiest neighbourhoods, the Old Kathiresan Temple is a quietly significant Hindu shrine with roots stretching back more than a century. Located off Vajira Road in Colombo 4, it sits a short distance from the twin temples opposite the Bambalapitiya Apartment Complex — easy to miss if you don't know where to look, and all the more rewarding when you find it.
Who is Kathiresan, and why is this temple named after him?
Kathiresan — meaning "Light Rayed Lord" — is one of the many names of Lord Murugan, the Hindu deity associated with light, love, and warfare. When the temple was first established, Lord Murugan was enshrined as the presiding deity in the central sanctuary, and the name Kathiresan Temple followed naturally. Over time, a second Murugan temple was built nearby — now known as the New Kathiresan Temple — and this original structure came to be called the Old Kathiresan Temple to distinguish the two.
Alongside its Murugan shrine, the temple houses a highly venerated Ganesha shrine that grew in popularity independently of the main deity. This earned the temple a second colloquial identity among Tamil devotees: Vajira Road Pillaiyar Kovil, or simply Vijira Pilaiyar Kovil. Both names remain in use today, depending on which shrine a devotee comes to honour.
What is the history of the Old Kathiresan Temple?
The temple's origins place it firmly in the colonial era, when Colombo's Tamil community established places of worship that could anchor their religious and cultural life in the city. For much of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, the structure underwent an extended period of renovation — so lengthy that an entire generation of Colombo's younger residents grew up barely aware of its existence.
That hiatus is now over. The temple reopened after renovations and what visitors find inside is the product of meticulous, unhurried craftsmanship. A well-kept green lawn precedes the entrance, and the temple tower — gopuram — rises in the layered, polychrome style characteristic of South Indian Dravidian architecture. Interior shrine images that were previously modest in scale or worn have been replaced in several sanctuaries with black granite statues commissioned from master stone carvers in India, a tradition that connects this Colombo temple directly to the craft heritage of Tamil Nadu.
What can you see and do at the Old Kathiresan Temple?
The central shrine remains devoted to Lord Murugan, flanked by shrines to other deities in the Hindu pantheon. The Ganesha shrine, widely regarded as the devotional heart of the complex for many regular visitors, draws worshippers seeking blessings for new endeavours. Moving clockwise through the temple — the traditional direction in Hindu ritual circumambulation — reveals smaller shrines, each attended by its own priest.
Visitors who arrive at pooja times can participate by purchasing a ticket at the temple. The priest will ask for your name and, if known, your astrological birth star (nakshatra). If you are unfamiliar with this, simply providing your name is sufficient. After the ritual, blessed items — typically holy ash, flowers from the pooja, and a banana placed on a betel leaf — are given to you to take home as prasad.
How do I get to the Old Kathiresan Temple from central Colombo?
The temple is located in Colombo 4 (Bambalapitiya), adjoining Vajira Road. From Fort or Pettah, the Galle Road runs directly south through Kollupitiya and into Bambalapitiya — the journey by tuk-tuk or taxi typically takes around fifteen to twenty-five minutes depending on traffic. The temple is within easy walking distance of Bambalapitiya railway station on the coastal line. If you are exploring Colombo on a wider city circuit, it pairs well with a Colombo city tour that covers the district's other cultural landmarks.
What should visitors know before entering a Hindu temple in Sri Lanka?
A few conventions apply at virtually all Hindu kovils in Sri Lanka, and the Old Kathiresan Temple is no exception:
- Dress modestly. Wear clean, washed clothing that covers the shoulders and knees. Bright colours are welcome; temple visits are not occasions for beachwear.
- Remove footwear at the entrance and hand it to the attendant designated for this purpose. Wash your feet at the tap provided before entering the inner precincts.
- Offerings are optional but appreciated. Flowers, garlands, incense sticks, and lengths of silk or satin cloth are typical. Garland sellers usually operate near the entrance. Rinse washable offerings (flowers, garlands) before entering, or sprinkle fresh water over others.
- Photography. Always ask permission before photographing shrines or worshippers. During active pooja, put the camera away and observe quietly.
- Circumambulate clockwise. Move around the inner sanctum and subsidiary shrines in a clockwise direction, in keeping with Hindu ritual practice.
When is the best time to visit the Old Kathiresan Temple?
The temple is generally open during morning and evening pooja sessions, with a midday break. Mornings — typically before 11 a.m. — tend to be quieter, offering a more meditative experience. Visiting during festivals dedicated to Lord Murugan, such as Thai Pusam (usually in January or February) or Skanda Shashti (October or November), brings the temple to life with processions, elaborate rituals, and larger congregations of devotees. These occasions provide a vivid window into Sri Lanka's living Tamil Hindu tradition, though they are significantly busier.
Because the temple is still relatively unknown among casual tourists, most visits feel unhurried — a genuine contrast to the more commercialised religious sites across the city.
Is the Old Kathiresan Temple suitable for non-Hindu visitors?
Yes. Non-Hindu visitors are welcome at most Hindu temples in Sri Lanka, including this one, provided they observe the customary rules of dress, remove their footwear, and conduct themselves respectfully. There is no requirement to participate in rituals — watching a pooja from an appropriate distance is entirely acceptable. The temple's relatively low profile means that visits here feel authentic rather than staged for tourism, which many travellers find preferable to the more well-known sites.
