Everything seen in Colombo? Go South for a walk in Kalutara; it's only a beautiful one-hour train ride away!
Get out at the
Kalutara South railway station and start walking. All straight to the main road and then turn left. Do not miss out to buy green or 'normal' mangoes from one of the fruit stalls. The Kalutara region is famous for its great mangoes and you won't be disappointed!
Before the road crosses the Kalutara lagoon, you should enter the Buddhist site named Gangatilaka Vihara. Colorful ribbons are attached to the Bodhi tree. Just outside the compound, bypassing vehicles stop and the drivers start praying and throwing cash in yellow donation boxes.
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| Kalutara Dagoba, Mai 2013 |
Cross the road (there is a pedestrian underpass) and visit the Kalutara Dagoba. According to local guides it is the biggest accessible Dagoba in Asia. Remove your shoes, climb the stairs and enter the immense hall. On the walls you will spot frescoes that tell the life of Buddha. Go find your favorite painting. Check out the surroundings of the Dagoba, observe ladies praying and have a look at some freaky pictures of malnourished ascetics.
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| Fresco inside the Kalutara Dagoba, Mai 2013 |
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| Praying Ladies, Kalutara Dagoba, Mai 2013 |
Head back to the main road, turn left and left again into the Riverside Road. Its quite a walk to the Richmond castle, but it's worth it. The huge estate with its castle boasts with materials and objects from all over the world. Somehow the guided tour is included in the entry fee (100 Rps.).
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| Richmond Castle, Kalutara, Mai 2013 |
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Precious Window Glass, Richmond Castle,
Kalutara, Mai 2013 |
Walk back to the Kalutara main road and cross the bridge Northwards. Then cross the railways and walk over the railway bridges and further along the track. Then turn left into a small road that leads you to the Kalutara beach. On the way you will pass some mangrove areas and little houses with its curious dwellers.
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| View from Road Bridge, Kalutara, Mai 2013 |
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| Sidewalk beside the Railway Bridge, Kalutara, Mai 2013 |
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| View on the Dagoba and the Bridges, Kalutara, Mai 2013 |
Cross a cricket field and enjoy the beach together will locals who build sand castles, play with the water or ask where you are from and where you are going. The beach is exceptional even if the sea was rougher during the off-season.
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| Kalutara Beach, Kalutara, Mai 2013 |
Walk till you reach a fishermen college donated by the Italian government and walk straight inland to the Kalutara North railway station. If you can, catch the 17.24 h-train to Colombo. The sun-set ride along the coast and through the slums of Colombo is just mind-blowing.
Here comes the map:
View Kalutara in a larger map
