Kataragama (Sinhala: කතරගම, romanized: Kataragama , Tamil: கதிர்காமம், romanized: Katirkāmam) is a pilgrimage town sacred to Hindu, Buddhist and indigenous Vedda people of Sri Lanka. People from South India also go there to worship. The town has the Kataragama temple, a shrine dedicated to Skanda Kumara also known as Kataragama deviyo. Kataragama is located in the Monaragala District of Uva province, Sri Lanka. It is 228 km (142 mi) southeast of Colombo. Although Kataragama was a small village in medieval times, today it is a fast-developing township surrounded by jungle in the southeastern region of Sri Lanka.
The pre historic temple of skanda situated in heart of the town and the built was unknown. The ancient Kiri Vehera Buddhist stupa, which is believed to be built by the regional king Mahasena in the 3rd century BCE is also a major attraction in Kataragama area.
The town has a venerable history dating back to the last centuries BCE. It was the seat of government of many Sinhalese kings during the days of Rohana kingdom.
Since the 1950s the town has undergone many improvements with successive governments investing in public transportation, medical facilities, and business development and hotel services. It adjoins the popular Yala National Park.
Kataragama is a pilgrimage town sacred to Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and indigenous Vedda people of Sri Lanka. People from South India also come there to worship. In July and August the Kataragama festival brings in many pilgrims and it's very hard to find a place to sleep. The rest of the year it's a rather peaceful and quiet place.
