Negombo Things to Do

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I have a 4 and a half hours transit before my connecting flight to Delhi. A VT member suggested that I come here. It's a peaceful fisherman's village. You can view the market, fresh fishes just brought up from the boat, blueish-silver in color and huge squids.

Railway travel in Sri Lanka is said to be ok for people who are poor in cash but rich in time but Colombo is a traffic nightmare so heading south from Negombo by train can be as quick as driving, is much more fun and costs next to nothing.

Colombo by train is a doddle, Kalutara (and it's wonderful working Temple) is easy enough and for the more adventurous even Galle is possible as a day trip.

The early morning train from Negombo (which admittedly will be packed with commuters on week days) will get you to Colombo Fort in time for the mid-morning (Matara) train via Kalutara and Galle*.

You may need to buy a ticket to Colombo and then another ticket at Fort – go to counter number 4.

Check the times of return trains on your way out of the station at your destination. The stations at Kalutara and Galle are located near the centre, the impressive Galle Fort is across the road past the cricket ground.

Look here for times: http://www.railway.gov.lk/index.php

For more on Galle etc: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/9fa38/788/4/

About 15km south of Negombo lies a large tract of land set aside partly for wildlife, partly for humans and industry. The marsh is in the part set aside for wildlife; it’s mostly a huge, shallow lake with inlets and islands. It links the river and the sea, making the water brackish and the birdlife abundant. Up the river a bit are mangrove forests, home to monkeys and estuary crocodiles. You can only get around by boat.

You can take a 2-3 hour wildlife-viewing boat tour (complete with animal spotter) from the Muthurajawela Visitor Centre, located down a stretch of Dutch Canal. Their boats carry about 12 people, and have louder-than-optimal motors. Also at the centre is a tiny “museum,” and an interesting, if unfocused, video introduction to the area. I went with a guide, which may have increased the cost (Rs2000). The admission price goes to supporting the conservation efforts.

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Most of the resort hotels along the beach have some arrangement with local sailors to take guests out for more-or-less reasonable rates (~Rs1000 per person for an hour). These boats are not what you probably would picture as a catamaran – they’re basically a very narrow hull and an outrigger, with a bench perhaps three feet wide suspended next to the hull. The enormous sail doesn’t swing left to right, rather front to back. There’s a rudder, but it appeared that ropes connecting the sail to the outrigger were involved in steering too. Except for the hull, ours was made of bamboo and held together with ropes. It took a crew of three to manage it.

The average catamarans appeared to seat about four guests comfortably. The captain of ours said he could arrange (independently of the hotel) late night/overnight trips, and an on-board barbeque with fish the crew would catch on the way. To do that, I would need to see him the day before I wanted to go. I didn’t get a price for it, but I’m guessing it would be high. The sunsets alone probably make it worth it.

Quite surprising to find European canals in the first place. This family ran up to people on the beach above the Ranwelli Nature Hotel and took them through the groves and swamps to the river and along the beach to the harbour.This was quite an adventure and we enjoyed every minute.
The car hire was worth it and very good value for money .Both Joseph and his family spoke english and german and this was a big boost.

There are many boats along the beach. They belong mostly to fishermen who sometimes offer tourists a boat trip around the neighboring shore and the delta area of a river. It takes cca. 3 hours and you can see the rain forest, the mangrove, the "compulsory" coconut-picking show, visit a local farm and try the local brandy (arak). It's a natural and wild area and a good chance to meet some local people doing their everyday business.
I don't remember exactly but the price was around 50 USD per boat (2-6 people) but, of course, you have to bargain.

Early in the morning (preferably before breakfast :-)) it's very interesting to visit the local fish market. It is absolutely authentic: all natural, not a tourist spot but that's why a really local experience (provided that you can endure walking on bloody-muddy ground and the smell... :-))

Negombo situated by the shores of a lagoon by the same name once has been a trading port for Portugese and Dutch and is a ideal place for those who want quick access to and from the airport. Attractions in the city are 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 villagers. 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