Akurana: Discover Culture and History

Akurana brings together a cultural connection in the town and a religious site in the surrounding area. Mosque tours offer a historical reference; Alawathugoda Saman Devalaya is located in the village of Alawatugoda. For your trip planning, these are two topics associated with different places: a look back at Akurana and a separate shrine in the surrounding area.

Religious and historical connections

In 2017, mosque tours were held in Akurana, among other places. The year places this reference in a historical context, not as a current event date. This keeps the timing clear when you consider religious culture as part of your trip planning.

Alawathugoda Saman Devalaya is located in the village of Alawatugoda in Kandy District. The village lies within the Akurana Divisional Secretary’s Division; the shrine is in the surrounding area of Akurana. It is a Hindu Devalaya shrine dedicated to the Buddhist god Sumana Saman. Sumana Saman is regarded as the guardian deity of Sri Pada Mountain. These details refer to different aspects: the first describes the type of shrine, the dedication identifies the deity worshipped, and the latter describes the stated guardian role. This helps place the religious connections of the sanctuary in context.

The grounds of Alawathugoda Saman Devale include old buildings and other archaeological remains. A government notice published on 8 April 2009 designated the site as an archaeological protected monument. The present Saman sanctuary was built later by a Kandyan king. The building reference concerns the sanctuary, while the designation applies to the grounds. Together with the dedication, these details offer different historical and religious perspectives on the site. The two dates highlight distinct historical reference points: the designation notice was published on 8 April 2009, while the mosque tours took place in 2017. Thus, a protected status and an earlier religious activity stand alongside each other as historical references in the area around Akurana; the two dates concern different events.

Plan your journey and where to stay

Bus route 593/5 connects Kandy and Akurana. If you plan to use this service for your onward journey or arrival, check the current timetable in advance. This will help you take the connection into account in your planning and schedule your time for the intended day of travel.

If the cultural connections influence your choice of location, you can keep Akurana and Alawatugoda in mind as separate planning points: Akurana is the destination you are looking for, while Alawatugoda is the village where the shrine is located in the surrounding area. When looking for a holiday rental in Akurana, this distinction helps you avoid treating your place of stay and a further cultural destination as one and the same. Consider whether Akurana itself is your main focus and whether you would like to include Alawatugoda as an additional stop in your trip planning.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Gelioya, Galewela, Pattiyamulla, Hakgala, Nanuoya, Maskeliya, Katugastota, Harangala.

For the main travel overview: Central Province.