Kalutara, city in Western Province, Sri Lanka
Kalutara is a coastal city in Sri Lanka's Western Province, about 40 kilometers south of Colombo, with a small harbor and busy streets filled with local shops and markets. The city stretches along golden sandy beaches lined with coconut palms, while inland you find temples, colonial-era buildings, and agricultural farmland.
Kalutara was once a busy trading city with merchants from India and China, until various rulers including the Portuguese, Dutch, and British left their marks over centuries. These periods shaped the city through forts, churches, and architectural influences that remain visible at multiple sites today.
Kalutara's name comes from the Kalu Ganga River and Buddhism shapes the city's daily life through numerous temples and prayer sites visible throughout the town. The mangosteen fruit grows abundantly here and defines local farming traditions, with vendors selling it fresh in markets as a symbol of the region's agricultural identity.
The city is easy to explore on foot, though tuk-tuks are available for short trips, and travel from Colombo takes about an hour and a half by train, bus, or taxi. Weather stays warm year-round but is driest from December to April, while May through September bring more rain.
The nearby Fa Hien Caves archaeological site contains fossils and tools from ancient times, revealing that humans lived here thousands of years ago. These discoveries make the area a window into early human history on the island.
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