Joanna James
The city of Negombo has much more to offer than you might think than the airport nearby! Explore old Dutch ruins, pristine wetlands, and various religious sites in this charming seaside town.
When Sri Lanka was under European occupation, many water channels were constructed to carry goods more efficiently to the harbour. Presently, these channels have gone into disuse, but you can still take a charming boat ride along this route. Thereafter, a city tour is an awesome way to spend the rest of your day in Negombo. You will be guided to the best locations in town, like St. Mary's Church, Angurukaramulla Temple, and Fisherman's Bay.
Head to the beach early in the morning to see the fishing boats set sail from its shores. The beach is beautiful and serene, with a golden sandy stretch to relax in peace and comfort. It is hardly ever crowded on weekdays, making it the perfect place to spend a lazy afternoon with a book and catch a mid-day siesta. Close to the Negombo Beach hotels, there are restaurants are found in abundance, and the likes of the Club Hotel Dolphin are a great choice if you want to stay closer to the beach.
Negombo is predominantly a Christian/Catholic community, however, you may still be able to explore some very old temples like Angurukaramulla Temple. This temple has an image house with famous paintings highlighting the Buddha's previous lifetimes. You will further get to view some amazing artwork depicting Sri Lankan ancient history as told in the Mahavamsa. Lovers of art and history won't be disappointed here!
At least 99% of the population in Negombo is of the Christian faith. It will be noticeable with dozens of small churches scattered throughout the city. Among them, perhaps the most prominent is St. Mary's Church in Negombo. This church has tasteful and grand architecture, while the church interiors are adorned with beautiful paintings. The church is also known as Mahaweediya Palliya in Sinhalese.
What remains of the Dutch Fort dates back to 1678, and lies close to the Negombo estuary. The surviving remains of fortification buildings are on the Eastern facade, with a few more inside the Negombo prison complex. The Green Esplanade overlooking this area is also a fun place to catch some local cricket in action!
The Muthurajawela Marshland developed over 7,000 years ago and covers an extent of 7,580 acres. In 1996, the northern section of the marsh came under the protection of the Flora and Fauna Protection Act. It is also the largest wetlands in Sri Lanka, located south of the Negombo Lagoon. This habitat is a valued ecosystem, preventing soil erosion and harbouring many types of wildlife.
The wetlands hold 192 varieties of plants and rare endemic wildlife like the Red Slender Loris. Visitors to the marshland can go on guided excursions supervised by the staff at the Muthurajawela Marsh Centre.
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.
