Kalutara, Sri Lanka

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Picture choosen by : Mr.James Bowen

Kalutara, Sri Lanka

Kalutara,/b> is a resort town located approximately 40km south of Colombo-Colombo is the largest city and commercial capital of Sri Lanka. Just over 40km from Colombo, bustling Kalutara is the first beach resort we reach traveling south of Colombo. Kalutara has a huge stretch of fine sand with Wadduwa to the north which is home to the area's top resorts. The appearance of roadside stalls selling coir rugs, basketware & reed mats signals the entry into Kalutara. As if the tell-tale signs wouldn't do, Kalutara heralds its presence with nothing less than the immense white gleaming dagoba of the Gangatilaka Vihara, immediately south of the long double-span bridge across the Kalu Ganga (River Black). Kalutara itself divides into Mahawaskaduwa (Kalutata North) where the beach is more scenic, right down to Katukurunda (Kalutata South) It's one of the west coast's largest settlements, but the long stretch of beach north of town remains reasonably unspoilt, dotted with a string of top-end hotels which make a decent first or last stop on a tour of the island, in view of the town's proximity to the international airport. Kalutara was once an important spice-trading centre controlled at various times by the Portuguese, the Dutch & the British. When the Dutch deserted the bustling spice port at Kalutara, they left behind canals linking the spice plantations. British replaced the inland estates with Rubber plantations. Though estates now produce rubber, traces of the old spice route are seen. By paddling through the tranquil waters of the old canals en route the little known & intriguing Richmond Castle, a few kilometers inland. Today, the bustling town is better known for its coconut palm gardens & for coconut-fibre mats, ropes & baskets.

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Galle Highlight Tours Anuradhapura Highlight Tours Bentota Highlight Tours Ahangama Highlight Tours Ancient Cities Highlight Tours Kalutara Highlight Tours Koggala Highlight Tours Sigiriya Highlight Tours Airport Area Highlight Tours Negombo Highlight Tours Tangalle Highlight Tours Ahungalle Highlight Tours Polonnaruwa Highlight Tours
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