St. Anthony's Shrine
A Catholic church at Kochchikade in Kotahena, dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua and named a national shrine and minor basilica. A tiny relic of the saint's tongue is kept at the entrance in a glass case beside his statue, and people of every faith come here to pray.
- Where
- Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka
- Grade
- Local gem
- Worth
- 10 points collected on site
- Coordinates
- 6.9469, 79.8561
Get the St. Anthony's Shrine stamp
Open LOQAH when you are at St. Anthony's Shrine. It checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp is yours: confirmed on site in gold and struck with the date. It goes into your Western Province volume with your photos and a note.
Near St. Anthony's Shrine
Wolvendaal Church 0.6 km
A thick walled Dutch church on a rise in Pettah, one of the most important buildings left from Dutch rule in Sri Lanka. It is among the oldest Protestant churches still in use on the island, and its floor is set with the tombstones of Dutch governors and their families.
Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque 1.0 km
One of the oldest mosques in Colombo, on Second Cross Street in the middle of Pettah's bazaar. Its walls of red and white striped brickwork, topped with domes and minarets, make it look like a candy cane building and earn it the name Red Mosque.
Pettah 1.3 km
The busy trading quarter behind Colombo's port, just east of Fort. Its narrow streets are packed with wholesale shops and the open air stalls of its famous market, each lane given over to its own trade, from spices and cloth to electronics.
Beira Lake 2.0 km
A man made lake in the centre of Colombo, ringed by offices and hotels, which still carries its Portuguese name. Once more than twice its present size, it was linked to canals that carried goods across the city in colonial times.
Lotus Tower 2.2 km
A 351.5 metre communications tower shaped like a lotus bud, the tallest self-supported structure in South Asia. Beyond its broadcasting work it holds an observation deck and leisure spaces, with views over Beira Lake, the port and the whole city.
Old Parliament Building 2.3 km
A colonnaded colonial building in Colombo Fort, facing the sea across Galle Face. It housed the island's legislature for 53 years until the new parliament opened at Sri Jayawardenepura in 1983, and is now the Presidential Secretariat.
Galle Face Green 2.7 km
A five hectare strip of lawn running 500 metres along the sea in the heart of Colombo. Governor Sir Henry Ward laid out the promenade in 1859, and it once hosted horse races, golf and cricket; today families come at sunset for kites, sea air and street food.
Seema Malaka 3.3 km
A small temple standing on platforms in Beira Lake, a few hundred metres from Gangaramaya, to which it belongs. It is used for meditation and rest rather than worship, and its present form, with rows of seated Buddhas around open pavilions, was designed by the architect Geoffrey Bawa.
More hidden gems in Western Province
Questions
Where is St. Anthony's Shrine?
St. Anthony's Shrine is in Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka. The nearest other LOQAH stamps are Wolvendaal Church (0.6 km), Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque (1.0 km), Pettah (1.3 km).
How do I get the St. Anthony's Shrine stamp?
Open LOQAH when you are at St. Anthony's Shrine and get its stamp. The app checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp goes into your Western Province volume, confirmed on site, with the date.
I have been to St. Anthony's Shrine before. Can I still have the stamp?
Yes. Add it from Earlier trips in your Western Province volume, with the date if you know it, or import your Google Timeline and LOQAH matches the places you were.
Collect your first stamp.
LOQAH is free on iPhone and Android, in India and 20 more countries, with more countries on the way. Stand at a place, collect its stamp, and keep every trip in a passport that grows.