Negombo is a bustling beach which can easily be described as one of the ‘happening’ places on the Western coast. Easily reached by the Airport Expressway, it is now just half an hour away from Colombo. The list of things to see and do in Negombo seems endless – wide sandy beaches to explore, sea bathing , boat rides on the lagoon, water sports, historic sites to visit and of course the excellent sea food for which it is famous.
Negombo is located approximately 37 km north of the commercial capital of Colombo in Sri Lanka. It is located at the mouth of the Negombo lagoon. The major beach resort in the West Coast is Negombo. The wide sandy beaches and the safe sea are the main attractions of Negombo and it is perfectly located within 7 km from the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake, Sri Lanka.
A stroll on the beach will bring you as close as you can get to the many restaurants and cafes that have sprung up in the area. International and local cuisine – from Sri Lanka’s hot spicy curries to homemade Italian ice cream – with something to suit every taste bud and purse too! Most places remain open till well past midnight, so if you are looking for a place to chill out – head over in this direction.
Negombo has a small port, and its economy is mainly based on tourism and its centuries-old fishing industry. Negombo is a traditional fishing town in Sri Lanka, and no wonder the town is a gourmet food lover’s paradise with seafood available in plenty. Negombo also produces spices, ceramics and brassware. The town has a majority of Roman Catholics along with Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims while it has been given the name “Little Rome” due to the highly ornate Portuguese-era Roman Catholic churches found within the township. The town has several buildings that date back to the Dutch and Portuguese colonial era. Attractions in the city include the old Dutch fort gate built in 1672 now a part of the prison, the Dutch Canal which was then a supply route to the Dutch administration, old churches and fishing villages.
Fishing is a way of life in Negombo, and the daily hub of activity on its beaches strongly reflects this. The fishing boats leave the coast at dawn and return with their catch by mid day – some of which is auctioned on the beach while the rest is taken to the markets. Fishermen mend their nets, and prepare their boats for the next day‘s fishing – if you strike up a conversation with them you might be lucky enough to be invited to join them on their next trip.
The long stretches of sandy beach are ideal for beach games like volleyball and beach football, while the less energetic can spend their time soaking up the sun while sipping on an ice cold beverage.
The 100km long canal running through the town is still being used and is an attraction for those who want to see the country from a different perspective.
The Katuwapitiya Church and the Grand Street Church are the two biggest parishes in Negombo. “Agurukaramulla temple” is a famous Buddhist temple bringing Buddhists from all over Sri Lanka to Negombo every year.
The wide sandy beaches and the safe sea are the major tourist attractions of Negombo, while many tourists use the town for the first or the last night of their stay in Sri Lanka. Negombo offers some of the better beaches on the west coast of Sri Lanka, and draws tourists who stop over for a day on their way to or from the airport. Several hotels ranging from luxury hotels to budget hotels, guest houses and restaurants are available in Negombo.
Some quiet stretches of the beach are maintained by the tourist hotels, while others are always busy with fisherman and their equipment. Water-sports and diving are also extremely popular among visitors, with a few well preserved coral reefs and a 50 year old shipwreck that serves as an artificial reef for many varieties of fish. There are also local handicraft sales on the beaches and the shops near the town.
Other attractions of Negombo are Negombo Lagoon, Negombo Beach, Fishing in Negombo Lagoon, Dutch Fort in Negombo and St. Mary’s Church in Negombo
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