How to enjoy the kaleidoscope of activities in store for you in Kalutara

Beautiful beaches, ancient and religious sites and spiritual encounters await all those who stop by Kalutara, Sri Lanka. This coastal town is mainly known for its landmark, the Kalutara Bodhiya. However, a search will reveal that there are plenty more things to engage in this location. Here is a look at how you can have an enthralling time in this region. 

Ideal time for your Kalutara trip

November to March is generally the peak tourist season in Kalutara. This is the period when you get pleasant climate with little rain, so you can engage in plenty of outdoor activities and sightseeing. Since the temperature ranges from 27°C to 30°C, you will not feel the humidity much. For a more budget-friendly stay, you can head there between March and May or September and November. This is the shoulder season there, and though intermittent showers are expected, there are also days which has sunshine for you to engage in your outdoor excursions. 

Heading for your destination 

Kalutara is around 42 km away from Colombo. Therefore, it is easily reachable via bus or train. These are affordable means of travelling. The easiest means for you to reach this site is by taking the train from the Colombo Fort Railway Station. The rain ride is a great option to go for, as you will be treated to scenic views of the ocean and fishing communities. It is also cheap and more comfortable than buses, which tend to get crowded. Though plenty of buses head this way, the streets tend to be congested, especially during office hours.  You can even hire a vehicle or taxi and go there if you have comfortable travelling in mind or have a lot of luggage with you. 

Top things to engage in and sites worth visiting 

Kalutara has plenty of tourist attractions, and the main highlight is definitely the Kalutara Bodhiya. You need to drop by this destination for its spiritual significance, cultural encounters and unique architecture, which is in the form of its hollowed stupa. Inside this, you will be able to witness murals and statues which portray the life of the Buddha. The sacred bodhi tree is a sapling from the Sri Maha Bodhi tree in Anuradhapura. A few other religious places which you might like to head to include Warakagoda Gallena Rajamaha Viharaya, and Ketchchimalai Mosque.

Wellness is at the heart of modern tourist trends today, and it is no surprise that, since this is in demand, many boutique hotels in Kalutara also provide personalised amenities which are aimed at wellbeing. For example, Glenross Living offers facilities like customised meal plans created by in-house nutritionists with products sourced locally from the surroundings, yoga and fitness sessions under experienced trainers, outdoor excursions like trekking and hiking, mindfulness programmes, spa treatments, and training classes on the island’s ancient martial art form, Angampora.    

Those who love architecture should visit Richmond Castle. This is a magnificent monument which boasts Edwardian-era architecture features that fuse Asian and European styles. The castle comprises 34 windows, 99 doors and breathtaking Venetian stained-glass panes signifying grape vines. A visit to such a site gives you a glimpse into the island’s colonial past. 

You might not have imagined it, but Kalutara has an abundance of nature-friendly places to visit. Some of these include waterfalls like Thotas Ella, Bandara Ella, and Kabaradola Ella, which offer relaxing places to enjoy amid nature’s beauty. You will be able to take a dip in the clear waters and take some stunning photos there to upload on your Instagram. 

You should not leave Kalutara without sampling some of the specialities the area has to offer. Seafood is in abundance there, as it is a coastal town, and fresh ingredients can be sourced from the ocean. Some of the local favourites that you can sink your teeth into at many restaurants and street stalls include rice and curry which may have delicacies like ambul thiyal (sour fish curry), kottu roti (chopped flatbread mixed with vegetables, meat, egg or fish – most likely seafood in this case), hoppers (Sri Lankan-style bowl-shaped pancakes) and watalappan (coconut milk, spice and jaggery based dessert sprinkled with cashew).