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Kalutara is a beautiful coastal city nestled along Sri Lanka’s southwestern shoreline, and boasts a fantastic mix of sandy beaches, temples and ocean waters perfect for water sports.
This gorgeous destination is known for many traits; it’s picturesque palm-studded golden sands, the photogenic stilt fisherman that still practice their trade, and mangosteens…really! They’re the best on the whole island. Stay in Kaultara and you can spend your time however you wish, whether you dream of seeking some sunshine along the beachfront, visiting Kande Vihara temple or taking to the Indian Ocean for an afternoon of kayaking or windsurfing; the choice is always yours. Kalutara was also once a very important spice trading destination, and therefore boasts a very rich, multicultural heritage.
Kalutara is also home to an excellent selection of boutique luxury hotels and resorts, and some of the finest restaurants in the country; don’t forget ‘If you can see the sea, order the seafood’.
We recommend pairing Sri Lanka with a luxury beach holiday to the Maldives. Experience the very best of culture & safaris with white beaches & overwater villas. Sri Lanka is home to so many incredible destinations and there's so many different ways to explore the island, depending on what you would like to see and do!
Kalutara is a year-round destination which is great to visit at any point in the year. The only time the city experiences the monsoon season is between June and September, but Sri Lanka benefits greatly from the rain and keeps the landscape lush and green.
Excellent
January
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Newlyweds planning an unforgettable Sri Lanka honeymoon will absolutely adore staying in Kalutara. This idyllic coastal city is all about golden coastlines and swaying palm trees, making it perfect for honeymooners! We really recommend adding Kalutara to an itinerary alongside destinations like Ella and the incredible Cultural Triangle for the perfect Sri Lanka honeymoon. The Maldives is also easily accessible from Sri Lanka, with only a 1-hour flight between the two nations, we also really recommend twinning these two destinations for a truly blissful escape.
Couples looking for a fantastic Sri Lanka luxury holiday will love spending a few days in Kalutara. This destination is excellent when paired with the Hill Country’s tea terraces and the Cultural Triangle’s UNESCO sites, as Kalutara offers golden sandy beaches, swaying palms and a chance to enjoy water sports and witness Sri Lankan stilt fisherman. With plenty of boutique luxury hotels to choose from both in and around the area, you’re guaranteed to find the perfect place to stay when you visit Kalutara.
Those looking to plan the perfect Sri Lanka family holiday should definitely consider adding Kalutara to the itinerary, as the golden coastlines and rolling waves will perfectly compliment all of Sri Lanka’s other top destinations. We recommend visiting the awe-inspiring Cultural Triangle and Hill Country first, and finishing the trip with a visit to Kalutara for some well deserved rest and relaxation.
Want to witness a rare and impressive feat? Why not take a trip to the beautiful coastal towns of Kalutara, Koggala, Kathaluwa or Ahangama in Sri Lanka, venture down to the beach and observe the fisherman as they catch fish from atop stilts?
With tours available in a number of locations, visitors will be able to learn the fascinating history of this pastime, as well as having the opportunity to snap unique pictures of incredible sunsets with silhouettes of the stilt fishermen. Braver visitors may even want to try their hand at this challenging exploit – the fishermen would be only too happy to show you how it’s done.
Thrill-seekers need not worry about boredom, as a number of exhilarating expeditions are available in Sri Lanka. See everything the island has to offer and satisfy your need for adventure all at once.
Adrenaline will course through your veins and ignite your heart as you whitewater raft, waterfall trek and rock climb your way through rainforests. As if this isn’t enough, you could witness first-hand the remarkable ingenuity of ancient Sri Lankan civilisations by exploring the virtually untouched, millennia old underground castles, complete with ponds and ventilation systems.
Sri Lanka’s unique location has greatly benefitted the cuisine is much, with influences coming from both South East Asia and India.
Kalutara is a great place to try a wealth of mouth-watering Sri Lankan dishes, we’ll let you in on some of our favourites! Kottu roti is an absolutely delicious dish that you’ll find both in the finest restaurants and the street food stands, it’s similar to fried rice but it uses a type of flat, crispy bread instead with spicy curry sauce. Another great dish is kukul mas curry, which is a delicious coconut-based chicken curry, and you cannot beat hoppers for breakfast; Sri Lanka’s answer to the pancake!
The Kande Viharaya temple is just a 20 minute drive from Kalutara, and is home to a 160ft tall Buddha statue, one of the tallest sitting Buddha statues in the world.
This incredible temple was built in 1734, and has been renovated and developed over time in order to preserve it’s beauty and stunning architecture. It’s now celebrated for being one of the most important Buddhist shrines in the country, especially since the towering statue of Buddha was constructed in 2002.
Located just a 40 minute drive away from Kalutara sits a fantastic Turtle Conservancy that’s definitely worth adding to the must-visit list.
This Turtle Conservation is the only place in Sri Lanka where turtles are not held in captivity, and showcases five different species of turtle that are found in Sri Lanka. The conservation put a lot of emphasis on helping visitors understand the work they do on helping to sustain the turtle population in Sri Lanka, and also goes into detail about the survival threats they face. You may also get a chance to see turtles laying their eggs in the evening!
Language:
Sinhala, Tamil, English
Currency:
Rupee
Timezone:
GMT +5.30
Best Time To Travel:
December - April
Flight Time:
10h 45m
Direct Flights:
1
Country Combinations::
The Maldives Thailand