Maggona: Stations of the Cross and Lourdes Grotto

A large historic statue of the Holy Cross stands on the hill of the National Calvary Shrine. It defines the religious character of the site and leads to other points of interest: architecture connected to Jerusalem, stone Stations of the Cross and a Lourdes Grotto set in natural rock. During Lent, a seasonal program of religious services complements these architectural and historical features. For travelers interested in exploring religious history and architecture, the Calvary is a specific reason to include Maggona in their travel plans.

Stations of the Cross, rock and connections to Jerusalem

Locally, Maggona Calvary is known as “Kurusa Kanda”; the name means “Hill of the Cross.” It connects the place name with the shrine’s location and the large cross statue on the hill. The architecture also references Jerusalem. This connection is especially tangible in the Stations of the Cross: each is housed in a granite structure with a stone roof, carved from the naturally occurring rock at the site. In this way, architectural references to Jerusalem meet locally worked rock. Each station has its own stone setting. Visitors interested in religious architecture can look beyond the large cross to the materials and design of these structures.

A grotto with its own history

The Lourdes Grotto has a different story. In 1911, it was carved into a natural rock face in honor of Our Lady of Lourdes. It was preceded by a vow made during an outbreak of a contagious disease that affected the orphanage and the village. The date, dedication and circumstances come together to give the grotto a specific history of how it came to be. Its theme differs from that of the Stations of the Cross, though both are connected to the rock found at the site. The organization St. Vincent’s Home describes the National Calvary Shrine in Maggona as the oldest Calvary of its kind in Sri Lanka.

Discovering religious culture together

For families looking to explore a cultural site together, its different features offer topics for discussion: the large cross statue, the stone Stations of the Cross and the grotto’s history. Parents can focus on what interests their fellow travelers—such as the architecture, the religious connections or the historical circumstances behind the grotto. This makes it possible to include the site as a cultural experience during a stay without giving equal weight to every aspect.

Lent and accommodation planning

The timing of your trip is particularly important if you are interested in the religious program. During Lent, Maggona Calvary offers confessions, the Stations of the Cross, sermons and Holy Masses; Masses are held in Sinhala, Tamil and English. This program is available during Lent. If you would like to attend a service, check the current times in advance. This lets you plan service times separately from visits to the architectural and historical sites and check whether the relevant dates fall during your trip.

If you are mainly interested in architecture and history, you can plan your stay independently of the seasonal religious program. If you would also like to attend Mass, take Lent and the current service times into account.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Ruhunupura, Godagama, Mahagama, Bandaragama, Polgasowita, Dombagoda, Nugegoda, Gavaragiriya

Go to the main travel overview: Western Province.