Just 1 hour and 20 minutes away from Colombo, this coastal town of Sri Lanka offers amazing experiences. With rivers, sacred temples, colonial relics, and limestone caves, the town rewards curious visitors with a day full of discovery. If you’re staying at Avani Kalutara Resort, you’re ideally placed to start your journey with ease and comfort—right on the edge of everything this inviting town has to offer.
Fa Hien Cave
Begin your day at Fa Hien Cave, locally known as Pahiyangala. This is an ancient limestone cave that holds traces of prehistoric human life, including stone tools and pottery shards. Walking inside, it’s easy to imagine early inhabitants seeking refuge here.
Kalu Ganga
Next, follow the gentle flow of the Kalu Ganga (Kalu River). This is the perfect place in Kalutara to observe wildlife and appreciate nature. Some hotels in Kalutara also offer excursions across the river.
Richmond Castle
In the afternoon, step back into colonial elegance at Richmond Castle—a striking mansion built in early 20th-century neo-baroque style. Despite years of neglect, the castle’s ornate façade, curving verandas, and polished teak interiors still retain an air of faded grandeur. Wandering through its empty rooms and manicured gardens, you’ll sense echoes of a bygone era when the elite built grand country homes in Sri Lanka’s tropical heart.
Kalutara Bodhiya
Finally, round out your day with a peaceful visit to Kalutara Bodhiya, a revered Buddhist shrine. Locals come to pay respects to the sacred Bodhi tree, tied to the lineage of the famed Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura.
