Kalutara

Kalutara Hotels & Kalutara District Travel Guide

Let’s see what we can do in Kalutara. Kalutara is in Western Province. Kalutara postal code is 12000.

Kalutara has a variety of Kalutara hotels, Kalutara Villas, and accommodation options, from affordable guest houses to luxury resorts. You can book Kalutara Beach hotels from hotelexpress.lk, and also check out Kalutara tours. So let’s continue, best tour guide.

Weather in Kalutara.

Kalutara District in Sri Lanka experiences high temperatures of 29°C (84°F) to 31°C (88°F) throughout the year. Humidity ranges from 75% to 83% throughout the year. There is significant rainfall, with an annual rainfall of about 2885 mm. There is a moderate breeze. Kalutara District experiences a tropical climate.

The way from COLOMBO to KALUTARA.

The train journey takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Driving to or from Colombo by car or taxi takes about 45 minutes or 1 hour.
The bus is the most affordable way to travel to Kalutara, and the journey takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to 1 hour

Things to do in Kalutara.

There are many historical, natural, and scenic attractions for tourists to see in Kalutara. Let’s see what there is to see in Kalutara.

Kalutara Bodhiya.

The Kalutara Bodhi Tree is located near the Kalu River in the Kalutara District of the Western Province. It is a sacred Bodhi tree in Sri Lanka. It is believed to be one of the 32 saplings of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura, which was planted in the 2nd century BC. There are also many ancient stories about this Bodhi tree. This tree, which survived the Dutch and Portuguese colonial rule without damage, has been protected by the Kalutara Bodhi Trust since 1951. The Bodhi tree is revered by Buddhists worldwide and symbolizes enlightenment and spiritual wisdom.

Richmond Castle.

The Kalutara Richmond Castle, built on a 42-acre plot of land, belonged to N. D. Arthur de Silva Wijesinghe Siriwardena, a Sri Lankan financier. It was designed based on a Maharaja's palace in India. It is said that the bricks and tiles required for the palace were imported from India, teak and oak wood from Burma, window glass, etc., from Italy, and the clay slabs for the bathrooms and floors from England. These raw materials were brought from the Colombo Port to Kalutara by ship and from there by boat via the Kalu River to the site where the palace is being built. Also, the most special thing is that the wedding ceremony of N. D. Arthur de Silva Wijesinghe Siriwardena and his wife was held in Richmond Castle Palace. This castle is truly a place to visit. There are many beautiful sculptures here. There is also a beautiful garden. Since the couple had no children, on July 4, 1941, they signed a will in front of a notary public and bequeathed that this castle would be used as a place of refuge for orphans after their death and that the income from other estates should be allocated for the maintenance of those children.

Kalutara Beach.

Kalutara Beach is a popular destination for locals and tourists. This beach offers recreational activities such as swimming in the calm water. It is a golden sandy beach and is the perfect place to relax and watch the stunning sunrise and sunset. You can also enjoy delicious seafood at the various restaurants and cafes located near this beach.

Fa Hien Caves.

Fa Hien is located in the Kalutara District of the Western Province of Sri Lanka. This is a large cave, and there is also a temple nearby. The cave is named after the Chinese monk Fa Hien. To get into this cave, one has to climb about four hundred and eighty stone steps. This place is a place of historical value. This is because the remains of post-Pleistocene human skeletons were found in this cave during the 1960s-1980s. This Fa Hien mountain, located at an altitude of about 400 feet above sea level, has been converted into a protected forest with an area of about 80 acres.

Bodhinagala Forest Hermitage.

Bodhinagala Forest Hermitage is a peaceful place located in the Dombagaskanda Reserve Forest in the Kalutara District. This forest Hermitage was established in 1955 under the leadership of Tripitakawageeswara Panditacharya Vanasika Sri Revatha Dharmakirthi Thero. One of the eight-fruited Bodhi saplings that emerged from the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi has also been planted here. This forest Hermitage, which is a very peaceful and strictly protected area located near the Kalu Ganga, is also visited by many local and foreign visitors.

Thudugala Ella.

Thudugala Falls is located in Thudugala village, Kalutara District, Western Province, Sri Lanka. The waterfall drops in two steps; the upper part is about 8 meters, and the lower part is 6 meters. The total height is 8 meters. This is the 268th highest waterfall in Sri Lanka. The reserve where this waterfall is located is home to many species of birds, including migratory birds such as Yellow Magpie and Dicium erythronnichous. There are also catalpa plants and ferns. This waterfall is a popular bathing spot for the locals. An interesting feature here is that the waterfall takes the shape of a bride as it falls.

Ashokaramaya Viharaya.

The Ashokarama Viharaya, located in Kalutara, is said to have been built in the late 1800s. A Buddhist monk, Aluthgama Sangharatna Thero, had built a small monastery at the site, and it was later converted into a temple with the help of the villagers and many devotees. Many features of the temple date back to its original construction in the late 19th century. Although it is not as historically significant as the Kalutara Viharaya, many people come to see the ruins.

Kalu Ganga.

The Kalu Ganga originates near the IndiKatupana in the Sri Pada mountain range and flows through Ratnapura city and Kalutara city before flowing into the sea in Kalutara city itself. It is known as a very beautiful river. The length of this river is about 129 kilometers and 80 meters. It is the second longest river in Sri Lanka. The Kalu Ganga feeds the rivers Kuru Ganga, Ve Ganga, Denawaka Ganga, Maguru Ganga, Kukule Ganga, Kuda Ganga, Delwala Ganga, Hangamu Ganga, Thibawatu Ganga, and Bambarabotuwa Ganga. People believe that there are treasures on both sides of the Kalu Ganga.

Kalutara Viharaya.

The Kalutara Maha Seya is located where the Kalu Ganga flows into the sea. The foundation stone for this pagoda was laid in 1964 by Sir Cyril de Zoysa. Ten years later, in 1974, a tower was installed on the top of the pagoda. The Kalutara Maha Seya has an area of 7151 square feet, a circumference of 300 feet, a diameter of 974 feet, and a height of 185 feet. Pilgrims going to Kataragama from Colombo via Galle and Matara, as well as passers-by on their daily journeys, do not forget to visit the Kalutara Viharaya and leave a coin.

Places to Visit in Kalutara.

Rivers & Waterfalls:

Kalu Ganga,Thoughts Ella, Deyyagala Dola, Bandara Ella, Kabaradola Ella, puwakdola Ella, Pahanthuda Ella, Athweltota Pilithuda Ella, Lelwala Nikgaha Ella, Rannagala Ella, Polgampola Waterfall, Ataba Ella, Ginigedara Ella, Anda Dola, Makeli Ella, Thudugala Ella

Beach and Island:

Barbarian Island, Katukurunda Beach, Kaluthara Beach, Wadduwa Beach, Calido Beach

Hiking Places:

Kodigala Mountain

Forest:

Bodhinagala Forest Hermitage, Yagirala Rain Forest

Lighthouse:

Beruwala Lighthouse

Historical Sites:

Warakagoda Gallena Raja Maha Viharaya, Ketchchimalai Mosque, Pahiyangala Ancient Temple, Lenwara Raja Maha Viharaya, Kanda Viharaya Buddha Statue, Kaluthara Bodiya, Fa Hien Caves, Ashokaramaya Buddhist Temple, Kalutara Viharaya

Gardens:

Brief Garden by Bevis Bawa

Other:

Richmond Castle, Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery, Ranjith's Carving and Bathik Museum

Cities in Kalutara.

Aluthgama
Ballapitiya
Batagoda
Dharga Town
Kajugaswatta
Kalutara
Kithulgoda
Matugama
Remuna

Are you ready to visit Kalutara District ?

Although there are several things to do in the Kalutara District. Your involvement in such a thing during your visit to Kalutara District will surely become an unforgettable experience for a lifetime.