The escapist beach settlement of Arugam Bay on the south-east coast is listed as one of ten top surf spots in the world and is especially popular during the season between July / August when surfers come in search of the thrilling wave breaks. The small bays and beaches of the south coast, especially between Hikkaduwa and Mirrisa, are also popular for surfers from November to April.
Dambulla cave temple also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla is a World Heritage Site (1991) in Sri Lanka, situated in the central part of the country. This site is situated 148 km east of Colombo and 72 km north of Kandy. It is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. The rock towers 160 m over the surrounding plains.There are more than 80 documented caves in the surrounding area. Major attractions are spread over 5 caves, which contain statues and paintings. These paintings and statues are related to Lord Buddha and his life. There total of 153 Buddha statues, 3 statues of Sri Lankan kings and 4 statues of gods and goddesses. The latter include two statues of Hindu gods, the god Vishnu and the god Ganesh. The murals cover an area of 2,100 square metres. Depictions on the walls of the caves include the temptation by the demon Mara, and Buddha's first sermon.
Prehistoric Sri Lankans would have lived in these cave complexes before the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka as there are burial sites with human skeletons about 2700 years old in this area, at Ibbankatuwa near the Dambulla cave complexes.
Negombo is located approximately 37 km north of commercial capital Colombo in Sri Lanka. It is located at the mouth of the Negombo lagoon. The major beach resort in the West Coast is Negombo. The wide sandy beaches and the safe sea are the major attractions of Negombo and it is perfectly located within the 7 km from the Bandaranaike International Airport in Sri Lanka.
Negombo has a small port, and its economy is mainly based on tourism and its centuries-old fishing industry. Negombo is a traditional fishing town of Sri Lanka. Regarded as the traditional fishing town, no wonder Negombo is a gourmet's delight with seafood available in plenty. Also produces spices, ceramics and brassware.
Negombo has a majority of Roman Catholics along with Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims. Negombo has been given the name "Little Rome" due to the highly ornate Portuguese-era Roman Catholic churches found within the township.
The town has several buildings that date back to the Dutch and Portuguese colonial era. Attractions in the city are the old Dutch fort gate built in 1672 now a part of the prison, the Dutch Canal which was then a supply route to the Dutch administration, old churches and fishing villagers. The 100km long canal running through the town is still being used and is an attraction for those who want to see the country from a different perspective. The Katuwapitiya Church and the Grand Street Church are two biggest parishes in Negombo. "Agurukaramulla temple" is a famous Buddhist temple bringing Buddhists from all over Sri Lanka to Negombo every year.
The wide sandy beaches and the safe sea are the major tourist attractions of Negombo, use the town for the first or the last night of their stay in Sri Lanka. Negombo offers some of the better beaches on the west coast of Sri Lanka, and draws tourists who stop over for a day on their way to or from the airport. Several hotels ranging from luxury hotels to small hotels, guest houses and restaurants have in Negombo. Some quiet stretches of the beach are maintained by the tourist hotels. While others are always busy with fisherman and their equipment. Water-sports and diving are also extremely popular among visitors, with a few well preserved coral reefs and a 50 year old shipwreck that serves as an artificial reef for many varieties of fish. There are also local handicraft sales on the beaches and the shops near the town.
Negombo Lagoon
Negombo Lagoon is a large estuarine lagoon in Gampaha District, south-west Sri Lanka. The Negombo Lagoon has an area of 3164 hectares and is situated some 40 km north of Colombo. It is part of a much larger Muthurawajawela Marsh-Negombo Lagoon coastal wetland. The lagoon is fed by a number of small rivers and a canal. It is linked to the sea by a narrow channel to the north, near Negombo town. The lagoon is surrounded by a densely populated region containing rice paddies, coconut plantations and grassland. The land is used for fishing and agriculture.
The lagoon has extensive mangrove swamps. The lagoon attracts a wide variety of water birds including cormorants, herons, egrets, gulls, terns and other shorebirds.
