For centuries the best quality cinnamon that grew wild in the area drew thousands of foreigners to Negombo for various trade purposes. The beautiful beaches, fresh fish and beautiful remnants of the colonial era still attract hundreds of tourists to the Negombo city for both leisure and business visits. Situated on the western coast of Sri Lanka, Negombo has some of the better beaches on the western coast and is the ideal getaway for the weekend due to its close proximity to the capital city. Negombo is also a mere 7 kilometers from the Bandaranaike International Airport and sees a number of tourists making a quick stop for a day or two while going to or from the airport.
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The Negombo lagoon is a picturesque location that is not only a major tourist attraction but also the main source of livelihood of the local fishermen, an age old trade among the locals. There is an abundance of crabs, shrimps, cuttle fish, lobsters and many other native fish species in the lagoon that find their way as fresh as being caught in the morning to the many sea food dishes of the nearby hotels. Make a visit to the ‘Lellama’, the second largest fish market in the island and watch the daily fish auctions and maybe even a fishing trip in the lagoon with the area’s fishermen. Negombo is also called ‘Little Rome’ for the hundreds of catholic churches built during the Portuguese colonial rule with stunning paintings and beautifully carved statues. There are centuries old Portuguese and Dutch houses with amazing architecture ordained with intricate designs lining the streets to be explored. The Old Dutch Fort overlooking the ocean, built in 1672 is also a popular haunt among tourists for both its beautiful view as well as its historical value.
One can also visit Muthurajawela, a protected marshland of over 6,000 hectares, home to 190 species of wildlife, an ideal location for bird watching. Excluding the extensive stretches of sandy white beaches, one may also indulge in scuba diving executions along the coast and especially near Kudapaduwa, a 50 year old ship wreck that serves as an artificial reef. After a busy day on the beach spend a little time leisurely exploring the many boutique shops selling everything from antiques to batiks.
Visit any of the Beach Hotels Sri Lanka for a splendid experience of the sun, sand and red hot spice of Asia. Club Palm Bay Marawila is a popular haunt among tourists and locals seeking a weekend hangout among Marawila Hotels for its luxurious and picturesque surroundings.
