Okanda is a small hamlet on the eastern coast of Sri Lanka at the official entrance to the Kumana National Park. Just before the ticketing office of Kumana a small lane toward the sea will take you the Okanda Devalaya on a rocky outcrop on the beach.
For the devotees traveling on the annual Kataragama Pada Yathra, Okanda is the last gathering point before entering the unforgiving jungle of Kumana and then Yala where they would continue their weeks long walk towards the Katragagama Devalaya. The devotees would worship the Murugan ( form of Kataragama Deity for Hindus) Kovil at Okanda and obtain blessings of the Murugan for a safe journey through the jungles.
At the top of the rock is a small devalaya dedicated to Valli Amma, the concubine of Murugan ( Skanda). At the bottom of the rock lies a large devalaya dedicated to Murugan (deity Kataragama). A flight of rock cut steps from this devalaya leads to the top of the rock.
