Caleb Falcon
Kalutara, derived from the ancient Sinhala word 'Kalutota' or Black River port, is a distinctively large town in Kalutara District, Western Province of Sri Lanka with plenty of sightseeing options.
This is one of the most venerated sacred and devotional Buddhist sites located on Colombo-Galle Road considered as an iconic landmark where every traveller passing by stops to donate money as a devotional ritual. It is very famous because the Bo tree is one of the 32 saplings of the Anuradhapura Sri Maha Bodiya.
This temple is a dominant landmark of the city and one of the key places to visit in Kalutara. It can be easily reached when staying at a place like the Anantara Kalutara Resort. The temple was built in the 1960's and situated to the south of the Kalutara Bridge, which is another significant landmark. It is also widely known as the Kalutara Viharaya. The pure white 3 tiered tall dagoba found here is known to be the only Buddhist Stupa in the world that is totally hollow inside and contains a smaller dagoba. The interior of the Stupa is quite fascinating to view with brilliant paintings of Jathaka stories on the life of Lord Buddha.
Built in 1896, Richmond Castle is a two storey colonial mansion constructed on a massive 42 acre fruit garden estate that is located at Palatota. It was initially constructed for a wealthy regional governor with beautifully regal architecture which is a blend of British and Indian designs copied from an Indian Maharaja's palace. The most distinct feature of the mansion is its intricate carvings.
Originally built in 1873 for a Buddhist monk by the name of Aluthgama Sangharatne as his permanent residence when he visited the village of Etanamadala in northern Kalutara District, the charming temple has a spacious Dharma Salava, a shrine to make offerings by the devotees, a complex built as residence for the monks and a relic chamber built in the center of the building that is surrounded by small halls and a drawing room.
This is a must visit beach known for its scenic views and natural beauty frequented by locals and tourists alike as a popular beach vacation spot. The thin beach strip is well preserved running between the Kalu River and the Indian Ocean. What is unique about this beautiful beach cove is its shallow waters that you can get into anytime of the day without any fear of opening out to the sea. The beach is equipped with tourist and recreational facilities to benefit all kind of visitors.
With a long history that dates back to 1754 this remarkable temple with an iconic seated Buddha statue seen from a distance, maintains an important link in the Buddhist cultural and religious activities of Sri Lanka. It is located in Aluthgama which is 23 kms from Kalutara.
