Located just over 40 km to south of Colombo, Wadduwa is a laid-back fishing village, complete with coconut plantations, golden beaches and clear blue water. The town gets its name from ancient folklore which suggests that many indigenous doctors resided here in the past. The Sinhalese name for these doctors is “Veda Mahaththaya” and the town was known as “Veda Doova” or land of indigenous doctors. This name gradually transformed into Wadduwa.
Due to its pristine beaches and idyllic lifestyle, Wadduwa is a very popular destination for tourists looking for a beach holiday. When looking for accommodation spaces in Wadduwa, hotels, resorts and backpacker lodges are aplenty. This is mainly due to the fact that the town attracts varying types of travellers, all of whom have one thing in common – the love for the beach.
However, besides kicking back on the beach and lounging in the sun, Wadduwa serves up some other interesting things to do as well. One of the favourite pastimes of tourists in Wadduwa is beach volleyball. Resorts such as the The Blue Water Wadduwa showcase spacious beach space allowing for loads of fun and action.
Kalutara, another popular beach destination is just over 10 mins away from Wadduwa and also offers quite a few sightseeing opportunities. One of the key attractions is Gangatilaka Viharaya, the majestic sight of which indicates that you’ve crossed over from Wadduwa to Kalutara. The highlight of this Buddhist temple is its “stupa”, which happens to be the only one of its kind in the world to have been built hollow. The interiors feature 74 murals depicting various stages of Lord Buddha’s life. The Kalutara Bodiya at the same premises is another must-see. The sacred bo tree here grew from one of the 32 saplings planted all over the country from the Anuradhapura Sri Maha Bodiya, which was planted in 288 BCE.
The 1896 Richmond Castle is another fascinating place to check out. The design remains the best example of 19th century architecture. The castle is also marred in tragedy; a story best heard from local guides.
Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
