5 Places to Visit Near Marawila- An underrated town

The North-western coastal line has beautiful beaches and lagoons that could instantly make anyone make this a must-visit place in their list. Take a stroll on the beach and witness the local fishermen get ready to go into the sea to work or after work, with bright smiles and energy celebrating their catch of the day.

While it is not located in Marawila, it is only a mere 25 kilometres away from Amagi Beach, which is well noted Marawila holiday resort. Spanning almost 1300 square kilometres, this park gets its name from the many "willus" or natural lakes that are presently scattered across the park. It is noteworthy to mention that the WIlpattu park is not only the largest but also the oldest national parks in Sri Lanka. It is known for its leopard population. Apart from these, the park is home to many species of eagles, owls, gulls and mugger crocodile. The threatened species are the elephants, the sloth bears, leopards and sambur deer.

This is a haven for the nature enthusiast and bird watchers as there are more than 150 species of birds, both resident and migratory, that visit the sanctuary throughout the year. The best time to visit would be between October and April when one might be lucky to spot some rare migratory birds. The most striking feature of the sanctuary is the fact that it is located in an area where three distinct ecosystems collide; forest wetlands, the saltwater ecosystem of the coast and freshwater lakes. Apart from these, there are six manmade tanks that are large enough and are part of a complex irrigation system that was in fact, created in the 12th century. This irrigation system played the main role in sustaining the traditional paddy fields and vegetation in the area.

This is one of the most ancient all Christian shrines in Sri Lanka where many people, despite their religions, flock during the Christmas season. The church is located in an area that offers a stunning view of the beach and also has an environment that offers a sense of peace and solitude. There are two different stories as to the origin of the church, both that are equally interesting. The locals are well aware of the stories and are always keen to explain it to you.

Only a 40-minute drive away from Marawila is this another fishing town that is very popular as it is the closest town to the Colombo International Airport. A day trip to this town would suffice to explore the Dutch for ruins from 1672, the Negombo beach; best visited during sunset to witness the fishermen get busy to go to work, the Hamilton canal; constructed in 1802 and is currently widely used by the fishermen and the Angurukaramulla Temple which is more than 300 years old and noted for its 6-meter-high Buddha Statue.