Colombo Buddhist Image Houses - Hybrid Art Galleries
Overview
4 hours
Mobile ticket
Colombo is home to very diverse range of Buddhist temples and image houses.
Visiting a Buddhist temple is one of the highlights in a routine “Colombo City Tour”. But in this particular tour we mainly focus on visiting a couple of very diverse temples which consist of amazing image houses and explore how diverse they are from one to another.
Further we discuss about the interpretations of these art in image houses and it is something beyond just visiting a religious place.
Whoever loves art, culture, history and get to know about Sri Lankan way of life changed during Colombo period, this tour is an ideal experience irrespective of any social status, age, nationality, gender , religion etc.
During the tour we will be covering minimum 4 different Buddhist temples with different styles of Sri Lankan Buddhist image houses.
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
What To Expect
Asokaramaya Buddhist Temple
The guests will be able to see the structure of a Buddhist Temple and hybrid art in the image house.
Admire the image house art belongs to South Kandyan school
Options
18-20th century way of life through Colombo Hybrid Art
Pickup included
What‘s Included
Bottled water
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
5 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Amazing temple tour
bulamel,Jun 13, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Thilanka is truly fantastic. I have been to Sri Lanka many times before and thought I knew quite a bit about the country however Thilanka showed me a completely new light. We went to temples off the beaten track and he showed me insights that you just wouldn’t get see otherwise. 100% recommend.
One of the most informative & educational tours I’ve ever done. I highly recommend Talanka
tanitad2019,May 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Right from the inquiry process Talanka was prompt, professional & clear Communication. He picked me up from my hotel & took me to visit 4 very different temples. From an untrained eye -these would all seem like just another temple. but when explain through Talanka knowledge … he takes you on a journey of Sri Lanka colonisation history expressed through the artist interpretation & representations of that particular period colony influence & back again. He also educated me on the structure setup of Colombo it self. which in any other normal tour with out this in-site knowledge the average tourist will never know. We also had a tea stop at a very local cafe to have tea & snax which I thought was so amazing to be immersed in to a real non tourist culture. I have already recommended this tour to all my family & friends. Thank you once again
Thilanka is your person in Sri Lanka!
laxmir974,Mar 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Exploring Colombo’s Buddhist art galleries with Thilanka was such a memorable experience. He’s deeply knowledgeable, but what makes the tour special is how naturally he shares that knowledge. He explains every piece of art from different perspectives, historical, cultural, and philosophical, which makes the whole thing incredibly engaging. Beyond being a great guide, he’s also a very kind and thoughtful person, which makes the experience feel warm and personal rather than like a typical tour. If you’re visiting Sri Lanka and want to explore Buddhist art in a deeper, more meaningful way, I’d absolutely recommend going with Thilanka.
Fascinating personal tour of Colombo’s temples and their art
SandieLondonUK,Mar 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I can’t praise this tour too highly. Thilanka is extremely knowledgeable, kind and thoughtful. I learned a lot about the Buddhist revival, the temples and who commissioned them, the frescoes and paintings and the various influences on the artists such as European landscape art. Thilanka pointed out details I would never have noticed myself. As I was solo on the tour I had Thilanka’s full attention and could ask questions and discuss. At most of the temples we were the only visitors. Very special.
Recommend Tour off the beaten path
Chris J,Mar 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Visiting the Buddhist Image Houses of Colombo was such a unique experience. I was able to go off the beaten path and explore local Sri Lankan culture. It felt authentic rather than crowded or commercial. Thilanka did a great job explaining the paintings and their interpretations. the stories made everything come alive
Related Experiences
Operated by Sri Lanka Personalized Tours