Things to do on Sri Lanka's West Coast - Best West Coast Attractions

This town, one of the country's largest is located to the north of Colombo and within close proximity to the Bandaranaike International Airport. Swing by this town for a day trip to see the 140-year old St. Mary's Church, remains of the Dutch Fort, Angurukaramulla Temple, Duwa Island, Muthurajawela Marsh and the Negombo Fish Market, one of the biggest in the country.

Also located to the north of Colombo, the Kalpitiya region is renowned for dolphin watching, kite surfing and diving. Boat-safaris will take you very close to schools of dolphin so don't forget your cameras. The Alankuda beach and Kalpitiya beach are both very picturesque.

Although located on the western coast of Sri Lanka, Colombo is not much of a beach town. The best beach attractions here are Galle Face Green and Mt Lavinia beach. The latter boasts a number of eateries and pubs along with laid-back party culture. Colombo itself has a number of attractions for shopping, fine dining and partying. Hotels such as Blue Water Club Suites, place you within close proximity to Negombo and also within hours from other west coast attractions.

The sight of the majestic Gangatilaka Temple with its large 'stupa' signifies you have entered Kalutara town, from Colombo. The paintings on the interior of the temple depict stories from Lord Buddha's life. The Kalutara Maha Bodiya, Richmond Castle and Kalido Beach are some of the interesting attractions in the region.

In this stretch of the western coast, luxury hotels in Sri Lanka are plenty and scattered about vastly. This region attracts a large number of tourists annually due to its scenic beaches and water-sports. Many travellers indulge in activities such as windsurfing, scuba diving, surfing, jet skiing, banana boating and speed boating on the beaches of this region, especially Bentota. The Galpota temple from the 12th century is an interesting attraction here.

Although overshadowed by Hikkaduwa as a tourist hot-spot, tourists frequent this town to immerse themselves in the local souvenir scene. The town is famous for its 'devil' masks, each with a unique story behind it.

Possibly Sri Lanka's party hotspots, Hikkaduwa showcases gorgeous beaches and the shore is dotted with a number of restaurants and bars. If you are into rave parties, this is the region to head to. Surfing is very popular in these regions.

The town of Galle is rich with attractions, the main one being the Dutch Fort. Built in the 15th century by Portuguese invaders, this fort is the last one of its kind in most of Asia. There are a number of boutiques, eateries and fine dining spots build on the fort premises too.