New Grotto & Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes

The New Grotto and Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes sits in a wooded corner of the National Basilica of Our Lady of Lanka grounds. Its grotto copies the rock shrine at Lourdes in France, with a small stone chapel sitting directly above. The chapel is built in a medieval European style, which makes it quite photogenic. Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith blessed both in February 2018. Shooting from the garden below gives you a unique view where the chapel stacks over top of the grotto through the trees. Closer in, the rough rock of the grotto contrasts beautifully with the cut stone above. There is a small stone path leading to the chapel itself which creates an amazing leading line to pull the eye directly to the building's intricate details. It stays quiet here most days, even on the weekends, so you'll most likely have the chapel and grotto all to yourself. Mass is held here rounghly once a month. The grounds of the basilica are open to explore, although this is an active shrine so give people at prayer some room. (Ragama, Western Province, Sri Lanka)