Attractions in the vicinity of Negombo (Sri Lanka) - what to see

In addition to the attractions in Negombo itself, while vacationing at the resort, tourists have the opportunity to visit other places throughout Sri Lanka independently or with a multi-day excursion that can be purchased from travel agencies on the street. But there are several attractions not far from Negombo that can be visited during a short one-day trip. You can get to them independently by hiring a tuk-tuk, taxi, or by purchasing an excursion.

Negombo Lagoon

The lagoon is located southwest of Negombo and is connected to the Indian Ocean by a narrow strait. This small body of water with an area of about 35 sq.m. will add variety to your stay in Negombo and can be quite interesting if you take a tour and sail on it. Traveling through the Lagoon, you can see mangrove forests and, if you're lucky, a large number of different waterfowl. You can also go fishing. Local residents live very modestly and poorly along the Lagoon, whose main source of income is fishing and agriculture.

Munneswaram Devasthanam Temple

The temple is located in a small village near the town of Chilaw north of Negombo. It is dedicated to the god Shiva and is considered one of the oldest temples in Sri Lanka, although nothing remains of the temple originally founded in 1000 AD. Largely "thanks" to the Portuguese, who destroyed it twice (in 1578 and 1600), and the persistence of the local residents, who restored it again and again, today it looks impressive. It is a complex of several temples, including the main altar for Shiva (in the center), to the southeast and southwest - a shrine for Ganesha, in the northeast corner - a Buddhist shrine for Ayyanayake. More about Munneswaram Temple and photos.

Munneswaram Kali Kovil Temple

This temple is located 100 m north of the main Munneswaram Temple and is part of it. It is dedicated to the goddess Kali and is popular not only among Hindus but also Buddhists and even Catholics. Externally, it is not very well-maintained but interesting in its own way. Until 2011, animal sacrifice rituals were performed in the temple, which is part of the worship ritual of the goddess Kali. Animals were killed in large numbers, and this greatly outraged some animal rights activists. After their repeated appeals to the local authorities to stop such rituals, they were banned. More about Munneswaram Kali Temple and photos.

Udappu Village

Udappu (Udappuwa) is a small fishing village on the coast 65 km north of Negombo. It is sometimes visited by rare tourists in passing when traveling from Negombo to the north, including to Anuradhapura or Trincomalee. In the center of the village is the main temple, Sri Partha Sarathi Temple, dedicated to the goddess Draupadi. It is thanks to this temple that the village has earned the attention of the most inquisitive travelers. There are several more small temples in different parts of the village. More about Udappu Village and photos.

Colombo

Colombo is the largest city in Sri Lanka (but let us remind you, it is not the capital), and a real treasure trove of attractions and various historical places. There are many temples, architectural sites, interesting museums and much more. And what's great is that you can travel to Colombo from Negombo during the day, get to know the city and return back in one day. There are also excursions from Negombo to Colombo. In addition, in Colombo you can go shopping, walk along the conditional embankment, and visit a casino. In general, there is a lot to do there, and you can go there every day. Details about Colombo attractions and what to see.