Sri Lanka’s west coast covers the coastal belt just south of Colombo all the way down to Hikkaduwa. Popular with holidaymakers due to its closer proximity to the island’s main airport, the west coast offers beautiful sandy beaches, mangrove-lined lagoons and a wide choice of luxurious hotels and private villas.
Some of the area has been spoiled by the 1970’s development of large scale “package resort” hotels and as a general rule we recommend the beaches of Bentota (especially the southern end), Induruwa, Kosgoda, Balapitiya and Ahungalle as being the best. Wadduwa and Kalutara are suitable for those wanting to be close to the airport. Beruwela is, on the whole, overrun with all-inclusive package hotels best avoided.
The beaches of the west coast are at their very best from December to April. During this period the sea is generally calm, safe for swimming and turquoise blue in colour. During the off-season from May to November beware that the sea can be choppy and brown-coloured after heavy rain due to the silt discharged by several large rivers. The beaches tend to be long and wide.
The main towns along the coast – Kalutara, Beruwela, Bentota, Ambalangoda and Hikkaduwa – all share a vibrant cultural heritage including folklore, music and dance as well as architectural influences from the Dutch period. Many temples, kovils, churches and mosques are situated along the coast. Cottage industries such as basket-weaving, mask-carving and antique restoration provide for interesting shopping.
Bentota and Hikkaduwa, two of the coast’s most popular resort towns, are popular for watersports including scuba diving, snorkeling and windsurfing. Bentota’s lagoon is ideal for jet skiing, water skiing, banana-boating, sailing and boat trips along the river. Luxurious Sri Lanka is able to advise you about the best watersport operators so you and the family can enjoy an action-packed afternoon.
Other adventure activities can also be arranged, especially around Kalutara and Bentota. These include a variety of fun cycling trips inland through spice, fruit and rubber plantations. These are available for serious mountain bikers as well as families just wanting a leisurely afternoon ride. Kayaking is also possible, including some guided trips along the Kalu Ganga in Kalutara. Day trips to Sinharaja rainforest can be organized.
The west coast is home to many architectural marvels designed by Sri Lanka’s iconic architecture, Geoffrey Bawa. Of these, the most important is Lunuganga, a garden retreat that was originally an old rubber plantation that Bawa transformed into a haven of peace – a lifelong project cherished by Bawa and designed with numerous varieties of foliage, pavilions, sculptures and statues. His other creations along the west coast include Blue waters, Heritance and the Lighthouse hotel. The Bawa Brief Gardens in Bentota, a fascinating landscaped garden created by Geoffrey’s brother, Bevis, is also well-worth a visit.