THE PLACE
Ella Monastery.
A serene setting in Sri Lanka’s hill country—open skies, forest air, and architecture that invites peace and tranquility.
ATMOSPHERE
Built for relaxation.
The monastery welcomes visitors who arrive with respectful and sincere intentions. Its environment is purposefully minimal: clear architectural lines, gentle natural lighting, open courtyards, and quiet spaces designed to help the mind slow down, rest, and reflect.
What you’ll notice
- Quiet walking paths and viewpoints (a gentle way to settle before sitting).
- Open, airy halls for guided meditation with visitors.
- A rhythm of daily chanting that visitors may observe at dusk.
- The Seven Buddhas Great Pagoda—open to step inside and look up.
- Murals, woodwork, and gold-leaf details that feel quietly handcrafted when you stand beneath them.
VIEWPOINT
Hills, air, silence.
Ella is known for its views. Here, the viewpoint walk is more than scenery—it’s a slow transition into stillness, letting the mind soften before meditation.
ARCHITECTURE
Light, openness.
Step inside and you find high ceilings, timber accents, and soft daylight spilling across the floors. The design invites you to look up, breathe, and feel welcome without instruction.
Inside the pagoda.
The Seven Buddhas Great Pagoda is open to visitors. Inside you’ll see seven gold-leaf Buddha statues, murals, and jackwood accents. The dome feels spacious and bright—you can stand quietly under the pinnacle and look up into the calm curve of the ceiling.
Explore respectfully.
If you’re visiting for the first time, the etiquette is simple: modest clothing, remove shoes at the pagoda entrance, and keep voices soft.
MAHAMEVNAWA
Part of a wider lineage.
“Meditate with a Monk” in Ella belongs to the Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery in Ella—one of many monasteries within the Mahamevnawa community founded by Ven. Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero.
Founder: Ven. Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero
Ordained in 1979, Ven. Gnananda Thero emphasized meditation and clear, accessible Dhamma teaching. In 1999 he established Mahamevnawa in Waduwawa, Polgahawela. Today the Mahamevnawa community spans many monasteries—including Ella—sharing the Buddha’s teachings with gentle guidance and authenticity.
Ella’s monastery and this visitor program follow that spirit: offering space to meditate, learn, and ask questions in a calm, respectful setting.
A living community.
Mahamevnawa has grown steadily—from its roots in Polgahawela to a global community. The lineage is living and active; each branch holds the same intention of clear, kind Dhamma.
BRANCHES WORLDWIDE
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BRANCHES IN SRI LANKA
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BRANCHES ACROSS OTHER COUNTRIES
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STAY LONGER
Consider a 3, 5, or 10-day retreat.
Go deeper with extended time for meditation, teaching, and quiet reflection.