Joanna James
Kalutara is a historical city residing on the southern coast of Sri Lanka. Steeped in vintage magnetism and charms of both the River Kalu and the Indian Ocean here are some of the city's best attractions.
Evidence of Mesolithic habitations in Sri Lanka, the Fa Hien Caves are named after an explorer Buddhist monk who visited the caves in 399 AD. Tipped to be the largest cave network in the country the caves were the monk's residence during his journey to Adams Peak. Head over to the charming village of Yatagampitiya which is near the Bulathsinhala district of Kalutara and you will come upon the sheer cliff amongst which the caves are located. One of the most popular things to do in Kalutara is the trek to the historic caves which is also an ideal chance to explore the rustic village and its surroundings.
Kande Viharaya is located in the nearby town of Aluthgama and is a fabulous historical sight for the culture buff. Located on top of a lush hill which denotes the temples name; kande meaning 'on the hill' the place offers birds eye views of the surrounding area. Constructed in 1734 the temple is today one of the country's most revered pilgrimage sites. The main focus there is the giant seated Buddha statue which is the largest in the country. Located just 30 minutes from AVANI Kalutara Resort this is a must visit site.
Built on top of a rock boulder the temple was previously known as Galkanda Viharaya. It was later re-named Rankoth Viharaya and is a fabulous destination to dose up on ancient culture. Within the temple are fine illustrations and figurines that chronicle the life of Lord Buddha. The preaching room which dates way back to colonial times bears a strong Dutch influence in its architecture; the monk's residence alone is believed to have been constructed in 1830 AD.
Richmond Castle is an iconic landmark in Kalutara. Built between 1900 and 1910 this is an Edwardian style castle built by a local philanthropist Don Arthur de Silva Wijesinghe Siriwardena. Sitting on a hill just 2kms from the Kalutara town the house is now open for public viewing. The wealthy mudliyar barred no cost in building his mansion and made sure the architectural styling was a fine amalgamation of both Sri Lankan and western influences. On his death, the mansion was willed to the Public Trustee of Ceylon.
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