A Glimpse of the Proud History of Kalutara

Kalutara is an incredibly rich landscape where history and natural splendour are concerned. Concerning the prior in particular, there are so many places where you can learn so much about her story.

richmond castle kalutara sri lanka — The colonial architectural marvel: Richmond castle | Photo by insanophobia

Background

Kalutara’s history goes back quite far, even millennia. It was an important trading post for a long time, especially where spice is concerned. It was also made a capital at the behest of a South Indian prince.

Kalutara Bodhiya

kalutara bodhiya sri lanka

This is one of the most significant historical as well as cultural landmarks of the region. You can trace its roots, pun intended, to the original Bodhi tree under which the Lord Buddha attained nirvana. According to legend, it was planted sometime around the 2nd century BC. This is one of the famous attractions in Kalutara and frequently appears on blogs such as Travel Kalutara.

Kalutara Fort

This is a very interesting place to discover the colonial roots of Sri Lanka. The fort was built by Portuguese forces during the early 1600s after the area was captured by them. It was built on the ruined site of the famous Gangatilake Temple.

Richmond Castle

Although Richmond Castle is technically a mansion, it’s massive compared to any other residence in the district. It was built by a wealthy philanthropist who studied abroad and decided to build it based on English architecture. Many excursions to this place are offered through Kalutara hotel deals.