Kalpitiya Peninsula, Coastal peninsula in northwestern Sri Lanka
Kalpitiya Peninsula extends along Sri Lanka's western coast between the Indian Ocean and Puttalam Lagoon. The area contains 14 small islands and is shaped by a string of fishing villages.
Portuguese colonists settled here in the early 17th century and left their mark on the coast. Later the Dutch took control and built fortifications to secure their naval power.
Fishing communities here practice traditional crafts passed down through generations and shape daily life along the coast. You see fishermen at work throughout the day, and notice how much their routines depend on the sea.
The area is accessible by bus or car from Colombo and offers lodging for different budgets. Visitors should know that the best time for dolphin watching or diving varies by season and that facilities are simple but adequate.
The waters here host large schools of spinner dolphins numbering in the thousands, regularly seen leaping and playing. Nearby Bar Reef contains Sri Lanka's largest coral formation and draws divers from around the world.
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