Kalutara
Western Province
About Kalutara
Kalutara, where the broad Kalu Ganga meets the sea an hour south of Colombo, is best known for the gleaming white Kalutara Chaitya beside the bridge - one of the very few hollow stupas in the world. Step inside and you find a second, smaller dagoba enclosed within the dome, ringed by murals of the Buddha's life; the acoustics and filtered light make it quietly extraordinary. The adjacent Kalutara Bodhiya, grown from a sapling of the sacred Anuradhapura Bo tree, draws a constant stream of white-clad devotees, and passing drivers drop coins into roadside tills for blessings on their journey. Beyond the temple, Kalutara offers a long resort beach south of the river mouth, basket-weaving workshops (the town is famous for them), the eccentric Edwardian mansion of Richmond Castle, and mangrove boat trips up the Kalu Ganga.
Top Activities
- ✓Walking inside the hollow Kalutara Chaitya
- ✓Kalutara Bodhiya visit
- ✓Richmond Castle mansion tour
- ✓Kalu Ganga boat trips
- ✓Beach time on the southern spit
Nearby Attractions
Travel Tips
Remove shoes and hats for the chaitya; the interior murals reward slow viewing.
It's an easy first stop heading south from the airport or Colombo.
Buy a woven basket - Kalutara's craft is the island's best.
Quick Info
Best Time
November to April
Weather
Warm year-round; driest November–April.
Estimated Daily Budget
6.5854°N, 79.9607°E
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