Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The West
Why Go?
You don't have to be on Sri Lanka's west coast for long to realise that the coastline has
something of a multiple personality. North of the capital is Negombo, a cheerful beach
town crowned with church spires that is, thanks to its proximity to the airport, a staple of
almost every visitor's Sri Lankan journey. Head further north, though, and you enter a wild
and little-visited region that seems to consist of nothing but coconut plantations and la-
goons, sparkling in the sun and filled with dolphins.
South of Colombo's chaos is a world that oscillates between the dancing devils of tradi-
tional Sri Lankan culture in Ambalangoda, the chic boutique hotels and uncluttered golden
sands of Bentota and the down-at-heel but ever-popular backpacker party town of
Hikkaduwa.
Whichever part of the west coast you choose, you can be sure you'll end up spending
longer here than planned.
