Marawila is a small cozy city in the west of Sri Lanka. Nearby is another resort Negombo with natural and historical sights. Marawila is suitable for a relaxing family holiday in the exotics of the tropics, weddings are often arranged here and the most beautiful photo shoots are organized.
In Maraville itself, there are practically no historical monuments, but nature is so unique that for its sake it is worth choosing this place for recreation. The resort is also known for deposits of precious stones: rubies, topaz and sapphires. Hotel chains are located in a beautiful lagoon surrounded by mangrove forests. This is a real exotic fairy tale, and a lot of tourists visit Marawila from October to April, in the dry season.
Marawila is known for its paradisiacal beaches and water sports centres. Active lovers of diving, surfing and kite know that the resort is always open to them.
Marawila Golden Beach
The golden beach in Maraville is named after the color of the sand of the entire coastal area, so soft and light. In the rays of dawn and sunset on the coast, it acquires a noble golden hue. The shore is dotted with palm trees, under which you can hide on a hot day, from such a “shelter” it is convenient to watch the fishermen slowly taking out their nets. Their sailboats can be seen from the beach, and this view is unusually romantic.
The golden beach belongs to the city, but the most convenient and well-groomed areas are in the hotel area. Tourists can use sun loungers, umbrellas and recreation areas. Entry into the water is most often gentle and sandy, but in some places there are also stones. Tropical mangrove forests hide the golden beach and the entire lagoon in their “embrace”, relax on the Golden Beach, enjoy the singing of exotic birds and the gentle waves of the ocean.
Not far from the Golden Beach of Marawila stands the Church of the Holy Cross. They say that miracles occurred at this place: adults and children were healed of diseases thanks to healing water and strong faith in the Almighty.
St. Mary’s Church
St. Mary’s Cathedral is located in the neighboring Negombo from Marawila, the road to the place takes no more than half an hour. The cathedral is not only a sacred place, but also a very beautiful historical monument, the pride of Negombo and all of western Sri Lanka. Tourists say that a visit to Negombo is always a visit to St. Mary. The largest religious place Negombo was created by ancient architects, and we now admire it. The first mention of the cathedral dates back to the 16th-17th centuries, and Portuguese sailors participated in the construction. Locals not in vain call Negombo “little Rome” for a large number of temples of different faiths.
St. Mary’s Church is the largest and most impressive of their Negombo Catholic churches. Externally, it looks very original, the interior is made in turquoise and blue shades. The ceiling is decorated with ancient frescoes, inside you can also admire the magnificent religious statues.
Once on the territory of the church, you feel at home. Relatively recently, a grotto was built, there is a missionary house, in which they will always listen and give valuable spiritual advice.
Dutch Canal / Hamilton canal
The Hamilton Canal, almost 15 km long, is located along the west coast of Sri Lanka and combines several water sections between Colombo and Negombo. The construction was realized in the early 19th century, although such a need appeared much earlier.
Historically, since the 15th century, Sri Lanka has traded with other countries through the Negombo Lagoon, and the canal was needed for transportation. King Paracrambach VII conceived the construction of the canal, and later the Dutch, who came to Colombo and made the capital there, continued his undertaking. They tried to grow rice in the area, but the tides flooded it very often, and this was an additional reason for water management.
In 1802-1804, the canal system was completed, the whole way received the name of Garvin Hamilton – the manager of state revenues and trade. The system removes excess water from the fields and is a trade route between ports to this day.
In the 19th century, Sri Lanka was already under british rule, and the Dutch only participated in the construction technically.
The Hamilton Canal is a beautiful tourist attraction. It is surrounded by tropical forests along the shores, a pedestrian bridge with carved turrets is open, it is pleasantly illuminated at night.
Dutch Fort Negombo
Since the 17th century, a beautiful monument has stood in the town of Negombo: parts of the Dutch Fort. Unfortunately, most of the building has not reached the present, but the main gate and a fragment of the fortress wall have been preserved. From Marawila to Negombo is only 40 km, and tourists often arrange a walk and acquaintance with the fort.
A fort in any country and era is a powerful defensive structure. It had been so since 1672 in Negombo since the time of the Dutch, but a century later the island was captured by the British and the majestic fort was turned into a prison. An institution of this kind was very necessary, and it was cherished. The fort is surrounded on all sides by water, stands on a small hill – this is the principle of the construction of any fortress for its protection.
Nowadays, tourists can see two mounds and an eastern rampart, on this place since the 17th century there have been powerful towers. The main gate has the shape of an arch, a convenient road now leads to them, in ancient times a moat was dug for greater protection. Enemies will not pass so easily, and for “their own” for the passage they threw a bridge.
There was even a gateway between the two towers, that is, the fortress was large and imperious.
Now above the preserved northern rampart you can see the clock tower, built in 1899 in honor of the anniversary of the British Queen Victoria.
Kalpitiya
Kalpitiya is a spacious resort area in the west of Sri Lanka and is the center of a 40-kilometer series of villages. The tourist infrastructure here is very poorly developed, and there are reasons for this.
In the early 2000s, there were hostilities in Sri Lanka, the territory was controlled by rebels, and there was no question of inviting foreign guests. By 2009, the country had become peaceful and the northern provinces had opened up tourism.
Kalpitiya is located nearby in a large reef, which means that it is an ideal place for divers and explorers of the underwater world. Windsurfers and kiters come to the resort in the season of “perfect wind”. In a quiet lagoon, schools are slowly but surely opening up for beginners in water sports. If we talk about a quiet beach holiday, then Kalpitiya is a very good place: in winter there are few tourists here, excellent hotels and restaurants of delicious local cuisine are open.
We are not talking about a luxurious 5-star holiday in chic skyscraper-hotels, on the contrary, it is an authentic place for relaxation and observation of the quiet life of fishermen, their families, rare tourists-athletes on the waves and the endless ocean.
Marawila is a paradise and quiet corner of Sri Lanka where you will forget about the hustle and bustle.
Attractions Marawila on map
