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Tour Guide Resources for Visits to Our Buddhist Monasteries in Sri Lanka

Tour Guide Resources for Visits to Our Buddhist Monasteries in Sri Lanka2020-03-07T05:11:13+00:00

Many tourists and travelers are seeking to make an authentic connection with monks and monasteries in Sri Lanka. Our monasteries have many monks, are always run in a traditional manner, and provide a picturesque setting for your clients. We have monasteries near all of the major attractions on the island and many monks who have lived abroad and understand how to explain the Buddha’s teachings to people from other cultures.

Each of the branches listed below have direct phone and email contacts. If you have general inquiries, please call +94 779 700 001 or e-mail info@mahamevnawa.lk.

Every Guest is Different

And so is every visit...

We know that your clients have a wide variety of interests and expectations in visiting a Buddhist monastery. Some might like to just walk around and take some pictures. Others want to participate in as many traditional activities as possible and speak with a monk about Buddhism and meditation. We can help you give them all that. Just let us know their interests and we can tailor each visit to the wishes of your clients.

Benefits to you as a tour guide:

  • You can depend on our monasteries to welcome your clients with warmth and relaxed friendliness.
  • Your clients are guaranteed to have memorable experience.
  • Your clients will appreciate the “hidden gem” you have brought them to.
  • Your clients will remember the connection you gave them to authentic Buddhism in Sri Lanka
  • You can count on our monks to speak to your clients in a way that they will understand.
  • We have monasteries near the major tourist sites so you can easily fit in a visit in any itinerary.
  • Your clients will thank you for this memorable experience and give your services a good review.
  • You clients will have access to clean washroom facilities and filtered drinking water.

Branches

This is our most active monastery with the most to see. It is a short side trip when traveling from Colombo to Kandy.

For the SambuddhaRajaMaigawa

Kandy is a must see destination for tourists even casually interested in Buddhism. Bring them to our quite monastery on a hill in Kundasale so they can speak with monks about the importance of relics in Buddhism.

Located in a former coconut platation, this is a perfect relaxing spot minutes from the busy tourists around the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage.

Ella is the newest tourist hotspot in Sri Lanka, and for good reason. In the middle of all the natural beauty is our monastery on the top of a prominant hill visible from Little Adams peak.

Anuradhapura is a must see destination for tourists interested in Buddhism. Bring them to our quite monastery close to the sacred sites so they can learn about the religious significance of Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka’s Buddhist history.

This is our second largest monastery in terms of the monk sangha. There are lots of monks to speak with in English and many places for quiet meditation.

Activities

Monks are available to give guided tours of the public areas of the monastery. For our main monastery in Polgahawela, a tour could take from 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on the group’s interest. Other monasteries can be toured in less than an hour. Most of our branches have Bodhi Tree shrines and Stupas as well as meditation halls.

A conversation with a Buddhist monk could easily be the highlight of your client’s visit to our country. Our monks are experienced speaking with people from a variety of backgrounds and are able to provide answers to questions they may have. You can encourage your clients to feel comfortable speaking with monks and to know that they are unlikely to offend. You can share this guide with them on speaking with monks.

Monks are happy to give pirit null to anyone that would like one. Here is some information on blessing threads you could share with your clients.

We have a nice selection of English books in all of our bookshops. You can see a book catalog here.

As is usually the case, families have signed up in advance to offer a meal to the sangha. If you have a group of less than 5 people, you can bring them around 10:45 am to assist the family in offering the meal. If you have a larger group it will be essential you call and talk with the head monk in advance to avoid any difficulties. You can show your clients this information on meal offering if they are interested.

All of our monasteries have an evening chanting around 6 pm. Your clients are welcome to participate to whatever degree they like. Chanting books with English translations are available at the main monasteries listed on this site. You can share with them this page on evening chanting that includes a recording and text of the first part of the service.

F.A.Q.

Is there a dress code for day visits?2018-03-13T05:12:03+00:00

Try to wear modest clothing that covers knees and shoulders.

Can I take photos?2018-03-13T05:13:27+00:00

Unless posted, you are very welcome to take photos anywhere in the monastery. Try to avoid selfies with Buddha statues behind you. If you post them on Instagram or Facebook please make sure they are dignified, and be sure to tag them with #mahamevnawa.

Can I have my photo taken with the monks?2018-03-13T05:15:09+00:00

Feel free to ask them. If they say yes, please avoid physical contact. Please don’t hug the monks!!

Is there an entrance fee?2018-03-13T05:21:27+00:00

Absolutely not. There is no fee for anything, although some our locations have a small bookshop with moderately priced English language Buddhist books.

Are children welcome?2018-03-13T05:23:11+00:00

Absolutely. Children come with their families to the monastery all the time. We even carry some English children’s books on Buddhism in our bookshops.

Can I really get meditation instructions when I visit.2018-03-13T05:23:56+00:00

Yes, as long as a monk is available. To be sure one is available, send us an e-mail or call.

Can the monks do blessing chants for me?2018-03-13T05:25:18+00:00

Absolutely. Just ask. They can also give you blessing threads. There is no charge for this or any other services of the monastery.

We ask all professional guides to contact us before bringing a tour group, especially if you would like clients to speak with a monk in English. We also ask that you make it clear to clients that there is no admission charged to any our our monasteries or fees for any of our services.

It is also possible for people who are serious about learnning and practice the teachings of the Buddha to spend time for several days at our monastery. Please learn more at our overnight visit page.

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