Joanna James
If it's going to be just a short vacation in Sri Lanka, you will have no time to travel to distant destinations. Worry not- as long as you have the wonderful city of Kalutara. Located close to Colombo, this city has wonders of nature, history, and culture.
The first thing you see as you enter the city of Kalutara is the Kalutara Stupa. The large white-coloured stupa is on one side of the main road and the ancient Bo Tree (Kalutara Bodhiya) is on the other side. If you have heard of the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura, you'll be able to imagine how holy this tree in Kalutara is to the Buddhists as it's one of the saplings from the Anuradhapura Bo Tree. The Stupa is also very special to explore because it takes a hollow structure unlike most of the other stupas in Sri Lanka.
Located on the Colombo- Galle main road, the Holy Cross Church is one of the most sacred places of worship for the Catholic devotees in the country. With great-looking arches, high roofs, and old windows, the church represents some of the ancient Dutch architectural styles. Once you enter the church, what you first see is a beautiful statue of Mother Mary and this, itself is a pleasing sight to witness.
One of the most unique architectural wonders in Kalutara, the Richmond Castle has been built by a high-ranker in the region at that time. He has been inspired by the architectural styles he has seen during his visits to mansions in India, and he has built this mansion to impress the family of his wife-to-be at that time. There is a long, yet sad story to be explored during any tour to this mansion which you shouldn't miss knowing.
This one is for the nature lovers out there! You first come across the Thudugala rubber estate before finding this beautiful natural waterfall- Thudugala Ella. It's a beautiful treasure in Kalutara that's hidden but worth exploring by all the travellers. The rubber estate that you will have to pass to reach the waterfall has been once owned by a British businessman and his residential building can still be seen in ruins. When mini hydro-power plants were introduced to Sri Lanka, they have fixed one around the Thudugala Falls as well, but for many reasons, it has been shut down by the end of the 1970s.
The city of Kalutara is gaining popularity as a good tourist destination at a rapid pace, so many world-class hotel chains have established their hotels in Kalutara to serve the travellers who visit this interesting city for their short and long holidays. Turyaa Kalutara Hotel is one such great place for all your dining and accommodation needs and it provides easy access to all other Kalutara attractions too.
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