Kalutara or Calotian is a big city in the Western province district of the same name, 40 kilometers south of Colombo. This, by the way, the third largest city in the Western province after Colombo and Negombo and the second largest city in the district (after Panadura). Kalutara - the town is quite picturesque and cute, though, maybe not the most popular among tourists.
The once most important center of spice trading on the island, Kalutara acquired its name on behalf of the river Kalu Ganga (in turn, the name of the river is translated from Sinhal as "black river"), on the banks of which he stands. In the past, the city was actively planted with coconut trees, whose, so to speak, parts (and not just nuts) traded throughout the island, as well as sent for export. Palms, of course, can be seen today.
Once in the city there was a fort, built by Portuguese in 1622, which was then besieged and won the Dutch, and then captured the British. True, even the remnants of the old fort today are no longer there, since in this place they decided to build a Buddhist temple.
38-meter long Kalutary Bridge , running over the mouth of the river Kalu Ganga, connects the Kalutara district with the Vaddow region.
In addition to other attractions, a religious structure called Gangathilaka Vihara , white pagoda height in three floors, as well as chic Castle Richmond. with no less elegated garden and buddhist Temple asocaram In the north of the city (built in 1873).
Infrastructure in the city as a whole is not bad . In Kalutar is Two railway stations , Kalutara North and Kalutara South. Kalutara South is closer to the heart of the city, and in general it is one of the main railway nodes on the way of the so-called Coastal Line line connecting Colombo and Matar.
Also Kalutar is located on the A2 motorway connecting Colombo through Galle with Wellaway through Matar. On this highway constantly drives A large number of buses . But from Kalutary, it's pretty simple to get to neighboring cities and surroundings. Rides on city buses can significantly save your budget (once every 10 times, compared with pokatushki on Tuk Tuki, as you know, not always cheap), besides, it is quite safe, interesting and always very convenient, because the track goes along the ocean And admire the windows extremely nice. And, of course, the drivers of the buses do not durinate and do not stick to tourists for superfluous rupees.
By the way, the special poverty in the city is not felt. As the Lankans themselves say with pride, "maybe we have no special wealth, but we have no poverty as in neighboring India."
By the way, about the inhabitants. Most part of Kalutary residents - Singala (more than 85%), other nations - laracylov professing Islam (or "Moors", descendants of Arabs-merchants who arrived at the island of once), Tamilov - here lives much less. Almost all Singals confess Buddhism, so, Kalutaru can be safely called the "Buddhist town".
Therefore, in addition to the main major temples, there are several small, but wildly pretty Buddhist temples, quite worthy of attention. People in the town (and on the whole Sri Lanka, which is there) benevolent, smiling sincerely and for some reason it is desciously. Of course, in addition to those who rub near the beach in search of gullible tourists who can quickly breed money in different ways. The main trouble of the city - Beach battles and tuk-tubers who stick constantly and all the time overestimate prices. To some extent, local local (not ordinary residents, but working in the tourist sphere) are already spoiled by tourists - sometimes it is very unpleasant. But, some guides in the town are very cool to speak Russian; English many workers are quite balanced.
Beach in Kalutar there is. True, in the north, above the river - and the southern part of the city is on the shore of this full-flower river and her mouth. Therefore, most often travel agencies offer tourists to stay either in the north in the coastal hotel or in the next small town of Waddow, where the beach, and what you want. Kalutara Beach is not a very wide sandy strip, somewhat twisted.
The beach is public, not fenced, as, however, and everywhere on Sri Lanka. Nevertheless, the beach is clean, the territory adjacent to the hotels is written, clean. But outside the beach territories of the beach - already trash. Due to the lack of reefs off the coast in this part there are Enough strong waves - Sometimes the ocean appears before tourists the powerful and merciless (sometimes, moreover, yellow-colored), with waves that are delayed, and it is impossible to resist. But it is most often not in the season. However, at such a time to swim with children is not possible, and adults have to be hard.
Therefore, the Beach battles are very much by the way (in particular for single tourists) - if that, run out of the puchin. Here's another unpleasant: during rains from the local river in the ocean, everything in the world is merged). Unpleasant, ugly - be careful! On the beach, naturally, merchants roam, who are prohibited in the hotel's territory.
In general, hotels in Kalutar are not so much. Like restaurants. With a cafe in Kalutar, this is generally so-so, and those that are available, not so clean on the species (hotel restaurants in the calculation are not taken).
Those who are already tired of lying on the beach, you can advise excursions Or at least trips on Tuk Tuka for fruit and souvenirs To the center of Kalutara (if you do not live in the very center). By the way, if you arrive in some fruit shop with a tuk-tucker, then expect prices to be above almost twice (because the seller will at the same time will dismiss the "share" to the driver for bringing clients). Therefore, it's easier and cheaper to come to the market yourself.
You can choose more complex routes - with Village Village, Tea Plantation, Kandy, Dambulla, Sigiria . Floating with aqualung in these parts could hardly have happened. In the Kalutara district, Colombo and north diving tourists are not offered (And the reefs are not, as I wrote above). Therefore, snorkeling fans will have to go south, where the island is protected by corals.
Here is such an ambiguous place! It can be concluded: Kalutar may not like it, but with the same success can Kalutar fall in love with itself.