Kalutara
Kalutara, situated 40Km’s south from Colombo is a city that is religiously important to all Buddhists and full of great holiday resorts and spas. Long ago this city was a famous spice trading venue for Portuguese, Dutch and the English. You can easily reach this city by car or by bus or train and it will take about 1 and ½ hours to get there from Colombo.
It is considered religiously important to Buddhists because Kalutara has the only hollow Buddhist Shine that contains large number of murals portraying different stages of Lord Buddha’s life and the Kalutara has a sacred Bo tree that many locals and foreign tourists visit throughout the year. Another speciality is the Shrine in Kalutara is open to public, which is very rare site in this island.
If you love colonial architecture Kalutara has plenty of old structures for you to be entertained. The old Richmond Castle which was British Plantation Mansion is surely not a sight you would want to miss.
The strip of beach with a long line of palm trees had made it obvious for a great holiday destination and you can find many star class resorts and boutique hotels along the coast that will help you to relax and catch up on your reading or have a great swim in the deep blue sea. So don’t forget to bring along your swim suits and sun lotion.
Kani Lanka Resort and Spa with their fabulous spa carried out by ‘Spa Ceylon’ is at Kalutara as well where you will be able to enjoy rejuvenating spa treatments in the Lankan way.
You should consider going deeper in to the woods of Sinharaja Rain Forest from Kalutara that will leave you fascinated by the fauna and flora and the wide varieties of birds that flew over and indigenous to the rain forest.
If it is around July or August look for the delicious fruit, Mangustin which is grown mainly in Kalutara and sold usually near the Kalutara Bridge. You would want to have more for sure if you try it once.
You are sure to enjoy your holiday in Kalutara among the Buddhist temples and luxurious hotels and great sea food restaurants.
