Kalutara is a coastal town not too far from the capital of Sri Lanka. A highly urban area, the town has quite a few historically as well as culturally important sites. A trip to Kalutara would not take much time from Colombo; thanks to the expressway accessing most parts along the Southern coast has become a quick affair.
Many tourists visit Kalutara to enjoy the beautiful beaches as well as to visit some of its heritage sites. Kalutara hotels are a popular choice among travellers to the area and an option worth considering is AVANI Kalutara Resort since it offers an ideal beachside base.
One of the most dominant landmarks of Kalutara is the Gangatilaka Stupa or Kalutara Temple, which sits majestically on the banks of the Kalu Ganga (river) and can be seen as one enters through the Kalutara Bridge. Constructed in 1960, the Dagoba is believed to be one of a kind, as it is one of the few hollow stupas in the world. Many passersby pay homage to the temple and pray for protection during their travels as well as for their journey’s purposes to be successful. There are a line of vendors selling flowers, incense, fruits, etc. to be used as offerings. It is considered to be a great place to learn about the daily rituals of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
Another attraction with significant importance around here would be Richmond Castle. Built in 1896 at Palataota, Richmond Castle is fruit garden estate, originally constructed for a wealthy regional governor at the time. Acclaimed for its architecture, the building is a great place to visit to appreciate its colonial style.
Kalutara is a great transit point before exploring more of the South Coast and a visit to the town would be a great experience.
Uditha Dharmawardhane is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Roland Lefevre. He specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe.
