The mighty Kalu Ganga (black river) is one of Sri Lanka’s major rivers, starting at the peak of the majestic ‘Samanala Kanda (mountain) the river discharges at Kalutara, a gorgeous coastal town famous as a holiday destination for its many tourist resorts. If you are looking for a good beach hotel in Sri Lanka Kalutara is an ideal location. If the art of sand mining piques your interest consider staying at the Mermaid Hotel & Club a lovely resort offering plenty of fun in the sun.
Located on a vast coconut estate the hotel sits at the edge of the Indian Ocean, enjoy the fine sandy beaches and relax in comfort within the well-appointed rooms, ranging from standard to superior class, all rooms come with modern amenities for maximum enjoyment.
Sand mining in the Kalu Ganga is an age old art. Witness the sand miners long barges as they glide across the glistening river their precious cargo piled high. The miners each have a point in the river cordoned off for mining, which is a source of income for many locals. Some locals still practise the old fashioned way by diving to the depths of the river with a wicker basket to be filled with sand.
Due to ecological problems such as erosion of land and intrusion of sea water to coconut estates and other cultivations sand-mining is frowned upon. However as this trade is an age-old source of income for many, the government is faced with a rather difficult conundrum in terms of banning sand mining.
Kalutara on the other hand has many other lures. Make your way to the daily fish market where the catch of the day is auctioned off or head over to the nearby turtle hatchery for hands on experience of the gentle giants, if lucky you may be on time to witness a newly hatched batch.
Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.
