In the final part of our guide to the beautiful country of Sri Lanka, we’re going to take a quick look at the South West of the country. This part of the country contains what most visitors regard as the best beaches and therefore it is the site of the most hotels and is consequently the busiest area. Before we dive into this area, feel free to click the links below for our guides to the other areas of Sri Lanka.
North – The Cultural Triangle
Central – Kandy
Central – Hills & Tea Country
South – Galle & Surrounding Area
South West – Tourists & Beaches
Colombo – The Capital City
We’ll kick off with the obvious starting point of Colombo. The actual administrative capital is Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte which is not much more than one of Colombo’s suburbs so most regard Colombo as the capital proper.
Colombo is an extremely old city which can date itself back at last 2000 years when it was part of the region’s sea trading routes. It’s now a fascinating combination of ancient structures, colonial architecture and glass and steel skyscrapers. It’s on the coast so there’s a beach here, although real beach lovers will want to travel to better locations away from the city.
Jami Ul Alfar Mosque
The Galle Face Green promenade is where many locals and tourists spend their evenings and weekends; it’s a mile long open space which frequently hosts live music and other performers. For history buffs, the Cargills and Millers shopping area is located within a fort complex which dates from European colonial times. It’s revered enough to be a protected area. Lastly in this brief look at Colombo, you should check out the Jami Ul Alfar mosque. Built in 1909, it’s just over 100 years old and was said to have been a guide to sailors as they approached the port.
Negombo Beach Area
If you’re just after a beach holiday, this is probably one of the best places for you. It’s historic popularity and close proximity to Colombo means there’s a huge range of accommodation for all budgets. There’s no need to book ahead if you don’t want to, just turn up and see what’s on offer.
Negombo Beach
The beach is stunning and very wide, meaning there’s plenty of room for everyone. If you do happen to get tired of sunbathing, a walk to the edges of this area will introduce you to the surrounding marshlands which are inhabited by a wide variety of bird and animal life – watch out for the salt-water crocodiles.
Wadduwa and Kalutura
Our next beach stop is a 2 or 3 hour bus ride from Colombo so a little quieter than Nagombo. It’s beaches are equally fantastic however and a bit quieter due to the distance from the capital.
Accommodation here is slightly more upmarket but it’s all relative; anyone travelling this far for a holiday can afford most of the prices here.
Bentota, Alutgama and Beruwala
Possibly the country’s most popular resort is this one and consequently it features the most expensive hotels. There’s a beautiful tropical lagoon near the aptly named Golden Mile Beach which attracts a stream of returning visitors.
Beruwala Beach