Sri Lanka>Colombo>Faiths of the Shoreline: Kotahena

Faiths of the Shoreline: Kotahena

520 Reviews23 people have played this quest
The Kotahena quest is for those interested in understanding more about how community faiths can play a significant role in the history of a city. During the walk, you will go back in time to places that played a significant role in the late 19th century Colombo. 

It rewards those who savour stories about community contribution. While the walk is intended to be around 2 hours, it might take longer if you step in to explore the places. The walk has a special vibe to it, when tried on a Poya day. 
Made by Ahila Thillainathan
⏱ 2–3 hrs📍 10 stops
🌐 Play in 🇬🇧 English

Places you will visit

10

It will take you

120-150 mins

You will walk

4470 steps

Total distance

3.4 km

What you'll actually do

  1. Download the Questo app and unlock the quest. Walk to Christian Reformed Church of Sri Lanka whenever you like · no guide, no group, no time slot.

  2. Solve 10 puzzles hidden in the streets around you. Each one you crack unlocks the next location.

  3. Finish at Dipaduththarama Thai Raja Maha Vihara - Kotahena and see where you land on the Colombo leaderboard.

Highlights

    Trace Kotahena's hidden layers: a 1749 Dutch church foundation stone, a swami's turban, carved Hindu temples, a Catholic shrine locals swear by, cathedral plaques, Colombo's oldest Buddhist temple.As this walk takes you to multiple religious sites, should you wish to pause the game and go in, please be attired accordingly.

Ratings and Reviews

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Crystal

26 Aug 2026
This was such a beautiful and meaningful walk through Kotahena with the Quest App — exploring the revival of an area while discovering parts of Colombo I had never visited or even knew existed. We explored beautiful Hindu temples, historic Dutch sites, old Catholic and Christian churches, and learnt so much about the history, culture and communities that shaped this part of the city. The final stop was the oldest Buddhist temple in Colombo — another place I had never heard of before. So much of what I discovered was completely new to me. More than just a walk, it was an opportunity to learn, reflect and experience Colombo differently. I’m truly grateful for this experience — and for the sense of peace I felt throughout the walk. ❤️

Zee

26 Aug 2026
Loved seeing hidden pieces of Colombo! My highlights was the roadside Hindu shrine and the last stop - the oldesr Buddhist temple and its history. I didnt know about those at all. A suggestion would be to add a bit more history to some places -i would have liked to know more about the significance of the granite kovil apart from who built it, or more about the dark skinned Madonna at St Lucia's and why that was important to local people. Overall, I loved the walk, a much needed addition to Colombo, so thank you. Looking forward to the next!

Jay

26 Aug 2026
Excellent walk to understand the multicultural and multi religious history of Kotahena. Never knew there were so many hidden histories in the heart of Colombo! Thank you and looking forward to more!

Eshani

26 Aug 2026
The history and what was unraveled was amazing! Super in every way

Nirosha Francis

26 Aug 2026
Loved all the old churches.

A note from Ahila Thillainathan

“I began discovering Colombo's stories during walks with my mother in her last years. I discovered hidden gems in plain sight, in our own neighbourhood. I've been exploring and uncovering them across different neighbourhoods of this fascinating city ever since. Welcome to Colombo Untold.”

Meet the maker

The mission: Your story in Colombo

This quest that you are embarking on helps you understand the strong faith of the Kotahena community and their contribution towards Colombo's faith revival history in late 19th century. The ten stops in this walk take you to eight places of worship highlighting the influence of the community and faith leaders. 

Please make sure that you are appropriately attired if you wish to visit the temples or churches and do leave your footwear outside the temples. A tip is customary for footwear guardians. 

Beat the best: Top Colombo explorers

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Good to know before you play

  • Step Into the Story
  • Hidden History
  • Difficulty level: Medium 🟡🤔
  • Audio Stories
  • Dress to impress: Remember to dress respectfully when visiting temples for a seamless experience
  • Ensure your phone is fully charged or bring along your trusty power bank

Similar quests in other cities

ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCE

What to expect from Faiths of the Shoreline: Kotahena

The Kotahena quest is for those interested in understanding more about how community faiths can play a significant role in the history of a city. During the walk, you will go back in time to places that played a significant role in the late 19th century Colombo. It rewards those who savour stories about community contribution. While the walk is intended to be around 2 hours, it might take longer if you step in to explore the places. The walk has a special vibe to it, when tried on a Poya day.

Trace Kotahena's hidden layers: a 1749 Dutch church foundation stone, a swami's turban, carved Hindu temples, a Catholic shrine locals swear by, cathedral plaques, Colombo's oldest Buddhist temple.As this walk takes you to multiple religious sites, should you wish to pause the game and go in, please be attired accordingly.

Start: Christian Reformed Church of Sri Lanka. Finish: Dipaduththarama Thai Raja Maha Vihara - Kotahena. 10 challenges included.

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