Travelling south of Colombo, a mere forty kilometres along Galle Road, you will find Kalutara. It is a busy, up and coming resort town. Kalutara beach hotels can be found up and down the long stretch of coast as it is one of the town’s main attractions. However there is much old world charm to be discovered away from the beach. This part of the country is famous for manufacturing coir rugs, baskets and reed mats. The Kalu Ganga, which translates to Black River, empties into the ocean in Kalutara. Overlooking this meeting point you will find the AVANI Kalutara Resort.
The Gangatilake Stupa rises high into the sky at the entrance to Kalutara. The site of this gleaming white temple was fist occupied by a fort that was built by Portugese colonists to safeguard their spice trade. It was later taken over by the Dutch and subsequently the British. A British agent set up his residence here for the duration of the colonial era. The stupa that is seen today was constructed in the 1960s.
The Gangatilake Stupa is unique, meaning that unlike the usual designs, this one is completely hollow. The inner walls are lined with murals, which draw from the five hundred and fifty lives that the Buddha led prior to attaining Nirvana. The remainder of the temple complex, a Bodhi tree and Buddha statues, can be found on the opposite side of the main road. The temple is always well attended by the town’s large Buddhist community, who bring offerings of food, flowers and cloth flags to decorate the Bodhi tree. It is also a popular stop for those passing through Kalutara. It is also a well-known practice for motorists to make an offering at one of the donation boxes lining the outer wall accompanied by prayers for a safe journey.
Filled with wanderlust that seeks to explore distant shores and captivated by the colors and vibrancy of exotic cultures, Kanya Mae writes on the beautiful, exciting, and enchanting wonders of the world. She is a writer who not only has a passion for travel, but also has a background in fashion, art and media.
