Kalpitiya - Wonder in the West Coast

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Kalpitiya


Kalpitiya is a fishing town located km from Colombo in North Western Province of Sri Lanka. Kalpitiya is in a peninsula which is named after the city itself which is bordered by the Indian ocean, Puttalam lagoon and the Dutch bay. Peninsula itself creates another lagoon known as Kalpitiya lagoon.



Being in a peninsula kalpitiya is blessed with sandy beaches. Kalpitiya is situted in semi arid zone so is Rich with Flora and fauna matching the climate. Both the surrounding sea and the lagoon is Rich in wild life. Most of the people in kalpitiya make their living by fishing but with the boom of the tourism industry people are shifting from fishing to tourism.

Salterns

Salterns


How to Reach Kalpitiya


Reaching kalpitiya is very is if you intend to drive their you can take the A3 route from Colombo and turn left at palawiya junction. The journey takes 3 hours. Public transport can be a bit cumbersome still there are busses from Puttalam and Negombo. 

You can also use the Puttalam railway line to reach to Palawiya and use busses to reach Kalpitiya.


Things to do


Once you pass kalpitiya junction you can see a totally different landscape first you will meet Puttalam salterns which is a site itself and due to it's windy weather kalpitiya peninsula is dotted with many wind turbines which is quite a nice scenary itself.
Agriculture

Dolphin Watching

Kalpitiya is considered as one of the best places for dolphin watching and you can glimpse whales as the sea around Kalpitiya is loaded with these sea creatures. You can find people who will take you for dolphin watching from the area. People from the jetty told us that March and April are the best time while you can go for dolphin watching from November to May.

Islands around Kalpitiya

Both Kalpitiya lagoon and the Dutch bay is dotted with many little islands totaling 14 islands. You can go to visit these islands.

Kite Surfing

Kalpitiya beach is very famous for kite surfing and there are lots of places providing the experience. 

Bird Watching

Due to the availability of various water bodies like lagoons and shrimp farms Kalpitiya is blessed with lots of birds. You can see thousands of birds here and there along the lagoon.


Beaches

Kalpitiya is blessed with many beaches and you can find many places to have a safe bath like Kandakuliya beach.




Notable Places of interest 


Dutch Fort - Kalpitiya

Kalpitiya was one of the most important trading Post of the Dutch in the 1700s and to control the trade jk Kathy Dutch built a fort disguised as a church. Today this place is under Sri Lanka Navy and you should take permission to enter this place. Which can be obtained from the Navy camp next to the site.





Kalpitiya Dutch Reformist Church

This Church is inside the city of Kalpitiya and will be an nice experience if you love history. The church is pretty ancient and has ancient tombstones inside the church.




Baththalangunduwa Island

This island is situated little away from Kalpitiya can be reached using a ferry from Kalpitiya jetty.  The ferry is available every day except Sundays and public holidays. The journey takes 3hours and leaves Kalpitiya once a day. You can spend approximately 2 hours in the Island. Please be mindful not to miss the return boat else you will have to spend the night on the island. Don't forget to take enough water and food.


St. Anne's Church Thalawila.

Situated few kilometers from Kalpitiya Thalawila Church is considered as the oldest church in Sri Lanka. Church being next to the beach is blessed with natural beauty and is considered holy by most of Sri Lankans irrespective of religion.




Museum in the church features ancient artifacts from the Church like masks, musical instruments and etc.



Lak Vijaya Power Plant - Norochcholei

Lak Vijaya Power Plant is the first thermal power plant operated using coal. You can visit the place but prior approval is needed . Approval should be obtained two weeks before hand and the staff onsite are really friendly. They will provide a detailed description of the operations in the power plant and a tour inside the place. You have to use your own vehicle to enter the place but can't get down except at one place.





Apart from these places you can also visit places like

  • Allarani Palace.
  • Gange Lake Kalpitiya.
  • Kalpitiya fishing wadiyas.
  • Kalpitiya sand banks.
  • Kalpitiya coral reefs.












Location: Kalpitiya Fort, Muhathuwaram Road, Kalpitiya, Sri Lanka

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