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Negombo has a rich history, from a fishing village with its peerless mangrove lagoon to a leading west-coast beach resort. Just 35 minutes from the international airport, it is the perfect place to start your Sri Lankan holiday.
Known as ‘Little Rome’ because of its profusion of Roman Catholic churches, the town has two distinct characters: the busy metropolitan shopping and business area, and the northern ‘beachside’ tourist strip.
Here you will find the many restaurants, hotels and guest houses that have put Negombo firmly on the map, whether for ‘bookending’ an island-wide tour or a holiday destination in its own right. For many, the jewels in Negombo’s crown are the lagoon and Dutch canal, which together enable day-long boat trips all the way south to Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital city.
The canal and southern end of the lagoon are also central to a major wetland eco-regeneration scheme that aims to create a haven for wildlife and biodiversity on the west coast. Negombo is also perfectly placed as a start-point point for excursions to Sri Lanka’s major tourist attractions: the Cultural Triangle and Hill Country to the east, the Kalpitiya peninsula to the north, Colombo, and the beaches of the south.
Beaches are not just for sunbathing on, as any surfer will tell you. Especially in Sri Lanka, one of the most reliable surf destinations in the Indian Ocean. Since the early 60’s Sri Lanka attracts surfers from all over the world. The best surf points in Sri Lanka are located on the South
Often referred to as the ‘pearl in the Indian Ocean', Sri Lanka offers world-class Scuba-Diving and Snorkelling tours. A multitude of tropical fish, magnificently colourful coral reefs and fascinating ship wrecks can be explored at several locations off the south coast of Sri Lanka .
Shopping in Sri Lanka can take many forms haggling with a handicraft-seller while sunbathing on the beach choosing fruit from the traditional village store, 'the kade' while side-stepping sacks of rice or checking out the bargain-priced latest international fashions (Sri Lanka is a major g
From chic relaxing cocktail lounges, and modern international restaurants – to lively pubs, tapas bars and sports bars boasting snooker tables and large-screen TV’s, there’s something for everyone.
Sri Lanka’s hill country is a land of tea-laden hillsides, gurgling waterfalls, stirring mountains and clear hill-country air. Here, in temperatures akin to a beautiful English summer’s day, is wonderful walking country.
Sri Lanka and its many lakes, rivers, and leisure centers are good for practicing all types of swimming activities. The numerous lakes and swimming pools offer a good chance for young and old alike to get fun and cool off.
Explore our exotic city. We will let you have a feel and look around the city area in 4 hours on our half day city tour.
Negombo is heavily influenced by the Christian faith. In fact Negombo has been given the name ‘Little Rome’ due to the highly ornate Portuguese-era Roman Catholic churches such as St. Mary’s Church, which is one of the most important structures in Negombo. St. Mary’s Church is the biggest cathedral in Negombo and has a painted ceiling as well as alabaster statues of various saints. The church’s construction was started in 1874 and was completed after almost 50 years in 1922. It is also one of the larger cathedrals in Sri Lanka. Over 90% of the population of Negombo is Roman Catholic and as a result the church is quite an important building in the city. The architecture is majestic and the church has some nice paintings. It is known as Mahaweediya Palliya in the Sinhala language and is quite easy to find. The church consists of three main levels which are immediately apparent when approaching the structure from the front.
Bodhirajarama Maha Viharaya (Angurukaramulla Temple), the well-known Buddhist temple in Negombo is a popular religious center. The beautiful Budu Ge there contains fine sculptural works and paintings on the life of Buddha and Jathaka stories. Its Pilima Ge contains important Buddhist events in Sri Lanka as well as the life size images of all the Sinhala kings from Vijaya to Sri Wickrema Rajasinghe.
The Portuguese fort that stood where the current Negombo Fort is situated was mostly destroyed by cannon during the Dutch siege in 1644. The Dutch fort was built on its ruins, not on the usual square pattern, but on a pentagonal one, though it had only four bulwarks. The fifth one was never built.
The ancient clock tower which like the natives of Negombo is a legacy to the Dutch occupancy of the land.
The Negombo Fish Market is the second largest fish market in the Island. The local people call it Llelama. The fish market is situated near the Old Dutch Fort Gate and held every day except Sundays. According to the statistics of the Sri Lankan Fisheries Department, Negombo fish production for the year 2009 was 20,010MT and 28,250MT in the following year 2010. It is about 8.4% from the total Sri Lanka’s fish production.
Muthurajawela Marsh, which evocatively translates as ‘Supreme Field of Pearls’, is a little-known gem of a wetland at the southern end of Negombo’s lagoon. The area had been a rich rice-growing basin before the Portuguese constructed a canal that ruined the fields with sea water. Over the centuries, Mother Nature turned Muthurajawela into Sri Lanka’s biggest saline wetland, home to purple herons, cormorants and kingfishers. However, the marsh is under pressure from encroaching industrial development. Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/sri-lanka/around-negombo/sights/natural-parks-forests/muthurajawela-marsh#ixzz3bPbnMLKP
The canal was at one time an important link in the transportation route which supplied the Dutch colonial administration. It runs for more than 60 miles, with part of the route running through Negombo. Today it's an attraction for tourists and one of the more interesting ways to see the town and the surrounding area.
THE GALLERY also offers the chance to get done portraits of yours or your loving ones within very short period by most talented portrait artists. THE GALLERY consisting exhibition hall where talented artists in any country can conduct their art exhibition with our professional assistance. THE GALLERY also having 3 bed roomed fully furnished apartment for artists and art lovers to stay and also 2 spacious Roof top open balconies to eat meet and entertainments while feeling the goodness of the unpolluted fresh air comes through the Negombo sea.
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