Chilaw is located approximately 65km from the Bandaranaike International Airport,
making it a great stop-over whether you’re just arriving or leaving the island. The coastal
town is known for its culturally diverse background; where you can visit religious shrines
and for its natural treasures, where you can embark on a bird-watching excursion through
the Muthurajawela Wetlands. Chilaw offers many things to do and places to visit if you’re
spending your holiday here. Chilaw is a beautiful beach-side town on the west coast of Sri
Lanka. Apart from its palm-fringed sandy beach, the town holds many wonders to discover,
and if you’re travelling alone, here are some of the things you can do that ensure you
experience the best of Chilaw.

Eat At A Roadside Restaurant

Sri Lanka is a small island that is made up of many different cultures and ethnic groups and
nowhere is this better brought out than in its food. To get an authentic experience of local
cuisine, visit one of the roadside restaurants or food vendors in Chilaw that serve some of
the most mouth-watering delights. Some of the popular dishes include kottu roti, vegetable
roti or a traditional plate of rice and curry, whatever you choose these delectable delicacies
will have you craving for more…

Visit Some Historical Sites

Chilaw is steeped in history; two sites, in particular, stand out– Munneswaram Temple and
Madhu Church. Munneswaram Temple is one of the island’s oldest Hindu temples which
dates to 1,000 CE. The temple is one of the five ancient shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva and
is not only visited by Hindus but also people of all faiths. A highlight in the temple’s
calendar is the Maha Shivratri Festival, a nine-day long religious event that is held in
August. Madhu Church is a 400-year-old Roman Catholic Church and one of the few which
has gained Papal recognition. Many Sri Lankan Catholics make the pilgrimage to this
church, especially for the Feast of Madhu which takes place in August.

Explore The Wilderness

Sri Lanka has an exceptional variety of wildlife and one of the best things about Chilaw is
that you can easily access quite a few nature reserves from here.
Wilpattu National Park is the country’s largest national park and it is only about a two-hour
drive away from Chilaw. Go on a game drive around the park to spot elephants, sloth bears,
crocodiles and the elusive leopard. Wilpattu is extremely beautiful as the park gets its name
from the numerous vilus, small bodies of water/ponds, that are found within the thick
green jungle.
Another option is to embark on a dolphin and whale watching excursion in Kalpitiya which
is about 1 ½ hours away from Chilaw. Kalpitiya is the best location for whale watching on
the west coast, with quite a few species of whales swim through its waters. Blue whales and
sperm whales are the most commonly sighted species here. The season for whale watching
is from mid-October to March.

Relax By The Beach

Finally, at its core, Sri Lanka is a tropical paradise and sometimes there’s nothing better
than just relaxing on a beach. End your adventure in Chilaw with a glorious day of rest and
relaxation on one of Sri Lanka’s world-famous beaches.
• Chilaw Lagoon
Your journey begins at Chilaw Lagoon, about 80 kilometres north of Colombo. The lagoon
stretches to a length of nearly 30 kilometres, reaching a width of 2 kilometres at its
broadest point, and is home to a wide variety of fish including catfish, sardines, snappers
and seabass. There are approximately 20 different species of fish, prawns and crabs that
live in the lagoon that are of commercial importance to the country. Sri Lanka has
recognized Chilaw Lagoon as a major source of livelihood for more than a thousand
families that live within its settlements, and is aiming to conserve the lagoon’s environment
whilst supporting the sustainable development of its fisheries.
Fringed by mangrove forests and marshland, the lagoon’s ecosystems are known to protect
the coast from erosion and storm surges, and to shelter young fish that would struggle to
survive if they were to venture outside the safety of its confines. The area hosts the most
species-divergent mangrove forests along Sri Lanka’s western coast, with around 16
different mangrove species attached to the lagoon and surrounding wetlands.

• Dolphin and Whale Watching

Kalpitiya is the country’s premier dolphin and whale watching destination on the west
coast, and it takes about an hour and a half to get there from Chilaw. The season for whale
watching is from mid-October till the end of March as this is when the sea is at its calmest
and the warm waters attract migratory whales. Don’t miss this once in a lifetime
experience as you and your friends will be a few feet away from these magnificent
creatures. Wake up early and head to the beach as you set sail to the depths in search of the
giants of the sea.

• Wilpattu National Park

Wilpattu National Park is Sri Lanka’s largest (and one of its oldest) national parks, it is only
a two-hour drive from Chilaw, which makes for a great half-day excursion! If you’re not
sure of how to get there, ask your hotel to help you plan the trip! They’ll even arrange the
safari jeep and a naturalist to escort you into the park. You should definitely go on a wildlife
safari during your holiday with your friends. Wilpattu National Park thrives in endemic
flora and fauna and is a popular place to spot leopards, deer, and maybe been the shy
leopard! Just keep in mind that loud noises will scare the animals away, so save your
karaoke sessions for the drive back to the hotel.

• Munneswaram Temple

Munneswaram Temple is one of the oldest Hindu temples in Sri Lanka which has roots
dating back to 1000 CE. The temple is one of the five ancient temples dedicated to Lord
Shiva and Munneswaram Temple hosts extravagant celebrations for the Maha Shivaratri
and Navarathri festivals. Before visiting the temple, make sure the group is properly attired
– shoulders and knees must be covered, and footwear should be left in your vehicle or at
the entrance of the temple. Did you know that this temple is also part of the Ramayana
Trail?

• Madhu Church

Madhu Church is one of the country’s oldest shrines and has been a holy site for the past
400 years. Over the years, the church has grown in importance with most of the Catholic
community, who make the pilgrimage at least once a year to Madhu Church, especially
during August for the feast of Madhu. If you’re not a fan of the large crowds, it’s best
advised that you avoid the church during the feast.

• Muthurajawela Marsh

The name Muthurajawela translates to ‘Swamp of Royal Treasure’ and this is exactly what
this marshland is! Muthruajawela Marsh is a fantastic activity to do with your friends, go on
a boat safari along its murky waters and encounter some exciting wildlife such as birds,
monitor lizards, crocodiles and even pythons.

• Rama’s Bridge (or Adam’s Bridge)

The story of Rama’s journey to Sri Lanka begins with the kidnapping of his wife, Sita. The
demon king Ravana is said to have travelled to India and captured Sita while Rama was
away, carrying her on his airborne chariot to his home on the island of Lanka (modern-day
Sri Lanka). Rama chased after them, but found a hurdle in crossing from India to Sri Lanka.
According to Hindu legend, an army of warrior monkeys built a bridge between the two
countries to allow Rama to cross into Lanka and pursue the demon king. The remains of
Rama’s Bridge can be seen today extending from Mannar Island in the north of Sri Lanka, to
Pamban Island in India’s south. It is a chain of disconnected limestone shoals and
sandbanks, covering a distance of approximately 48 kilometres. It is also known as Adam’s
Bridge due to claims from early Islamic sources that Adam, the first man, crossed to India
from this bridge after falling to earth at Adam’s Peak.

• Ravana Cave and Ravana Falls

After kidnapping Sita, King Ravana is said to have hidden her in the caves behind Ravana
Falls. The area was once shrouded by a cloak of thick jungle that would have easily hide the
waterfall and cave away from prying eyes. Located in the Ravana Ella Wildlife Sanctuary,
in Ella, the entrance to Ravana Cave lies around five kilometres away from the Falls, but the
two are said to be connected to each other. The cave is more than a thousand metres above
sea level. Ravana Falls reaches a height of 25 metres and is known as the widest waterfall
in Sri Lanka, and legend has it that Sita bathed in a pool of water gathered by these falls
during her confinement here.
The best time to visit Ravana Falls is between June and November, during the rainy season,
when the waters gush over the rocks and cascades in stunning form to the pool below. Be
careful when attempting to swim here as the rocks can be slippery and the gush of water
might be too strong.

• The Sri Munneswaram Devasthanam Temple

Located in the village of Munneswaram, a 9 minute drive from the town of Chilaw, this
temple complex dedicated to Lord Shiva is considered the oldest Hindu temple in Sri Lanka.
King Ravana was a Brahmin, which is a sacred title in Hinduism. When Rama killed him, he
had committed a major sin in the religion, and so turned to prayer to repent. The
Munneswaram temple is said to be the location where Rama prayed to Lord Shiva for
guidance after killing the king.
The temple complex is one of the Pancha Inshwarams, which are a group of five ancient
Hindu kovils dedicated to Shiva that are dotted around Sri Lanka’s coast. The complex
contains five different temples, one of which is honoured by Buddhist worshipers. In 1578,
the temple was destroyed by the Portuguese, with the entire building left in ruins except
for its basement. Members of the local community managed to save some of the temple’s
idols before its destruction, and it was rebuilt by a Sri Lankan king before again being
destroyed by the Portuguese in the early 17th century, and rebuilt by the locals.

• Anawilundawa Wetland Sanctuary

Located in Puttalam, a 30-minute drive north of the Munneswaram temple,
the Anawilundawa Wetland Sanctuary is one of six Ramsar Sites in Sri Lanka, which means
that it is a wetland of international importance. It is an important ecotourism site that
spans an area of nearly 1,400 hectares and features a collision of three different
ecosystems: the wetlands of the forest (including mangrove swamps and freshwater
swamps); the ecosystem of the saltwater coasts; and the freshwater lakes. The combination
of these individual ecosystems has created a unique nesting and breeding grounds for more
than 150 different species of birds that have made their homes here.
The sanctuary is also home to around 20 different species of mammals, 70 species of
butterflies, and more than half of Sri Lanka’s species of freshwater fish. To best take
advantage of the natural beauty of the wetlands, plan your visit between the months of
October and April, which is when the rarer migratory birds visit. Activities that can be
arranged at the sanctuary include birdwatching tours, hiking expeditions and boat-ride
adventures.