Joanna James
As one of Sri Lanka's most conveniently located seaside retreats, Kalutara is a popular day trip option for those based in Colombo. From exploring the area's cultural heritage to engaging in meaningful recreation, here are some of the best things that travellers can do in Kalutara.
If there's one landmark that's associated with Kalutara's historic legacy, it's surely the resplendent Richmond Castle. Considered an architectural marvel for the ages, the grand mansion is also one of the most opulent residences to have ever been built on the island. The brainchild of local aristocrat Mudaliyar Don Arthur De Silva Wijesinghe Siriwardhane, the sprawling palace served as his family's principal home for decades before it was turned into an orphanage as well as a hospital later on. Open to visitors, the castle's ornate rooms and spacious grounds covered in fruit trees hark back to an era when nobles from Europe and Asia congregated at this venue in the Deep South.
While Kalutara Beach is the main reason that most travellers drive down to this coastal town on the southern shores of Sri Lanka, Kalutara is also home to a fair number of waterfalls. The Thudugala Ella is perhaps the most breathtaking cascade among these and its location inside a rubber estate makes it easily accessible to tourists. Officially called Ella Uda Ella, this two-tiered waterfall once provided electricity to the estate's rubber plantation in the 1970s although it is no longer used for hydropower.
Kalutara Bodhiya and the Kalutara Temple are ranked among the most sacred religious highlights in Sri Lanka. So much so that those driving past the temple with its iconic Bodhi tree often stop to offer a donation to the shrine before going on their way. This is why touring the historic confines of the temple is a must for first-time visitors. Spiritually inclined tourists vacationing in Kalutara can also stop by the equally captivating Asokaramaya Temple. Dating back to the 1870s, it is another ancient religious structure that was once a monastery and is now an active place of worship for Buddhist devotees.
History buffs enjoying a beach getaway in Kalutara can also visit the Fa Hien Caves, a prominent heritage site on the southern coast. Named after the famous Chinese monk Fa Hien, the caves are believed to have sheltered him during his stay on the island. Archaeologists have discovered crude weapons, tools, and human skeletal remains dating back 37,000 years in the cave's tunnels, indicating that it was a prehistoric dwelling long before Fa Hien's arrival.
Those based at Avani Kalutara Resort and other similar hotels on the coast will find that practising yoga by the seaside is one of the best things to do in Kalutara. With the soothing sound of the waves and the fresh sea breeze, beachfront yoga sessions offer a serene and revitalising experience for the mind and body.
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.
