Joanna James
Bentota, Sri Lanka is the ultimate vacation hot spot for beach lovers. The clear blue sea, sunny beaches, plenty of water sports and many more can be enjoyed in this petite city.
Located quite close to most of the Kalutara hotels, Bentota beach is renowned for its golden sandy beaches hidden among a paradise of coconut groves. Its clean and far-reaching white sands, the emerald sea and clear blue skies provide an ideal setting for lovers of peace and quiet in a tropical paradise. For those of you seeking the thrill and the adrenalin rush of adventure sports, windsurfing, snorkelling, diving and all sorts of other fun activities can be found in and around the beach in Kalutara.
Lunuganga estate, located just 28 kilometres away from Mermaid Hotel and Club, the uniquely designed country estate of the well-known Sri Lankan architect Geoffery Bawa, is a picturesque amalgamation of an Italian Renaissance garden and a sprawling lakeside cottage. Its unique architecture which blends in almost symphonic harmony with nature offers visitors an unforgettably blissful experience. The water garden with its beautiful artificial water ponds that blend in well with natural water sources, the red terrace with its reddish laterite floor, the ever-famous sculpture of the Hindu God Pan, the Watergate which is the starting point for boats going to nearby islands and the Cinnamon Hill with its forgotten cinnamon plantation days are some of the places of interest and uniqueness within the estate.
Take a boat ride along the mangrove forests and resplendent river life on 'Maduaganga' or rather the Madu River. Visit Kothduwa temple which is serenely tucked away in a tiny island in the middle of the river, try your hand at lagoon fishing or get a glimpse of the more than 500 species of flora and fauna in this wetland of marvel and wonderment.
Kosgala Turtle hatchery cum conservation centre offers its visitors a chance to give a hand at conserving these tiny creatures of the sea. Enjoy a well-informed guided tour among all kinds and sizes of turtles and learn the fascinating life cycle of these majestic creatures of the sea. If you are lucky you may even be asked to give a hand at guiding recovered turtles back to the sea.
No trip to Kalutara is complete without a trip (preferably an early morning trip) to the local fish market in Beruwala. Its vibrant display of colourful boats bringing in a night's catch of fish, the chaotic atmosphere of vendors hawking their wears and the homely smell of fresh fish will take your sensory organs on a trip along an overload of stimuli. This bustling local scene is the ideal place for travellers to get a sense of the simple lifestyle of this charming fishing community.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
