Wewurukannala Vihara
Wewurukannala Vihara
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
207 reviews
Excellent
91
Very good
66
Average
22
Poor
8
Terrible
20
Oliver123
Brighton, UK126 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
We were taken to visit the temple with our hotel driver who showed us around. It was interesting and the big buddha is very impressive. We had a blessing & offered a small donation. We were told about the 'elephant temple' which I assumed was a building, not an actual live elephant living in horrendous conditions. They were burning palm leaves about a foot from him and the smoke must've been in his eyes, causing even more distress. It was horrendous to see this beautiful creature chained on all legs, swaying back & forth. I was told he doesn't walk around, ever, unless there's a festival and he is 20 YEARS OLD. I will try to report this abuse but please be aware of what you are participating in, I wish I had done more research. There was also a dog with the worst mange I have ever seen, the monks do not care for these animals at all.
Written March 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steven S
Pattaya, Thailand782 contributions
Mar 2024 • Solo
Located close to town. Entry for foreigners was 500rp but then you enter the temple and a caretaker insists on a donation from you. Then you go to hell tunnel and a caretaker insists on a donation there. I saw another guy inside a glassed office also showing a donation sign but I ignored him. Talk about double dipping.
Inside the temple and the big buddha was the worthwhile attractions. Only took me about 20-25 minutes to look around.
Inside the temple and the big buddha was the worthwhile attractions. Only took me about 20-25 minutes to look around.
Written March 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Danny
9 contributions
Jan 2023 • Couples
They keep a poor bull ELEPHANT CHAINED UP in the hot sun, the man keeping it was whipping the elephants back legs with a chain to make it move and the elephant was very obviously unhappy. Even when the elephant tried to get some water to cool himself off the keeper hit the elephant with a Stick to stop him taking the water, awful to see. I asked the men why they did this but they didn’t seem to speak English. The temple was nice, but I would urge you not to go and support this ill treatment of animals
Written January 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rowan Pradeep
Hanwella, Sri Lanka10 contributions
Apr 2022 • Family
This temple very famous as it is unique design with others. Climb to the top of the huge Buddha statue. The out side view is very beautiful after going to top. Can see Ancient temple with beautiful carvings
Written May 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DexHerrmann
Siem Reap, Cambodia99 contributions
Jan 2023
A nice walk to the temple, not to be missed. Very impressive buddhist temple. I love a huge room with a siiting and a laing Buddha. There is also a very impressive corridor with images about lessons in life. There is also a smaller Hindu room. I loved visiting Wewurukannala Vihara
Written January 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tommymacaus
Melbourne, Australia150 contributions
Jan 2018 • Couples
We visited the temple on Poya day and were excited to explore the site among worshippers on a holy day.
However, our visit was ruined when we saw an elephant chained up (both front and back), rocking back and forth in obvious distress, standing in its own excrement on a concrete slab not much larger than the size of a large car.
It is absolutely unconscionable to keep a large animal in such deplorable conditions. Unfortunately we were not aware of the situation and had already paid an entry fee (200 LKR per person).
Please reconsider visiting this temple and contributing to this horrible, archaic practice. TripAdvisor should remove this listing.
However, our visit was ruined when we saw an elephant chained up (both front and back), rocking back and forth in obvious distress, standing in its own excrement on a concrete slab not much larger than the size of a large car.
It is absolutely unconscionable to keep a large animal in such deplorable conditions. Unfortunately we were not aware of the situation and had already paid an entry fee (200 LKR per person).
Please reconsider visiting this temple and contributing to this horrible, archaic practice. TripAdvisor should remove this listing.
Written January 4, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
goozey
Goa, India1,356 contributions
Mar 2019 • Couples
Do not visit or support this temple. Yes, the Buddha is nice - but what isn't ... is the temple elephant chained up in the back of the temple. Chained front to back .. this poor creature cannot move 1 foot in any direction. It is chained into a permanent stance for the rest of its life ... just stuck there on a concrete pad in obvious distress. Please do not visit this temple and support this cruelty.
Written March 11, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Connector751285
2 contributions
Jan 2018
Do not go, unless you want to fund animal cruelty. There is an elephant chained and it can’t move and it is seemingly stressed and in agony. The visit made me sad.
Written April 19, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dingo_6152
Fremantle, Australia3,340 contributions
Jan 2016 • Couples
When you drive up you can't help but notice the 50m tall statute of a sitting Buddha. There is a entrance fee of Rs200 per person - need to remove shoes, hats and women need to cover legs. First stop is the main shrine room, which contains numerous statues of Buddha, Kings, demons and monks - spend your time here fully exploring the rooms and taking in the murals/frescos on the walls & ceilings.
Next near the white stupa is a cave/tunnel (tunnel of hell) a series of wall paintings depicting the punishments for wrongdoers- which is fun but not particularly enlightening.
Then you need to take in the giant Buddha statue, which is covered in shiny mosaic tiles.
If you are lucky, like we were, you might get to see the temple elephant having a bath and a scrub. She enjoys being hand fed bananas or biscuits but expect her handlers to ask for a small gratuity.
Next near the white stupa is a cave/tunnel (tunnel of hell) a series of wall paintings depicting the punishments for wrongdoers- which is fun but not particularly enlightening.
Then you need to take in the giant Buddha statue, which is covered in shiny mosaic tiles.
If you are lucky, like we were, you might get to see the temple elephant having a bath and a scrub. She enjoys being hand fed bananas or biscuits but expect her handlers to ask for a small gratuity.
Written January 6, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Johanne L
2 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
The elephant is still chained under horrific conditions. Don’t go, it is not right to support this form of cruelty and I wish I could undo my visit. The elephant handlers seems wicked and harsh, very obvious that they do not care for the animal. We didn’t want to give them any money, which they reacted very unpleasant about.
Written February 13, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi!
Have you released the elephant in freedom and ended with the animal cruelty?
Written February 23, 2020
Hi do we have to pay if we going explore the temple?
Written July 21, 2019
Hello - Sri Lankans and their spouses do not have to pay. Foreigners pay 200 rupees each. However, a "guide" will take you through the temple and explain the details - not overbearing at all and worth a tip which seems to go into the main donation box. A great place and well worth a few hundred rupees.
Written July 22, 2019
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