Kalutara
| Kalutara කළුතර களுத்துறை | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
  Kalutara කළුතර களுத்துறை | |
| Coordinates: 6°35′13″N 79°57′37″E / 6.58694°N 79.96028°ECoordinates: 6°35′13″N 79°57′37″E / 6.58694°N 79.96028°E | |
| Province | Western Province |
| Government | |
| • Type | Urban Council |
| Population | |
| • Total | 39,700 |
| Time zone | Sri Lanka Standard Time Zone (UTC+5:30) |
| • Summer (DST) | Summer time (UTC+6) |
Kalutara or Kalutota is a big town in Kalutara District, Western Province, Sri Lanka. It is also the third largest urban area in Western Province after Colombo and Negombo. Kalutara is a scenic resort town. It is also the administrative capital of Kalutara District. It is located approximately 40 km south of the capital Colombo.
Etymology
Once an important spice-trading center, the town's name is derived from the Kalu Ganga River ('Black River' in native Sinhala). In the 11th Century, the town was temporarily made a capital on the orders of a South Indian Prince. The region was later planted with coconut trees, whose by-products are used for both internal and external trade. The location also boast fortifications dating back from the times when Portuguese, Dutch and British vied for control of the area.
The 38-meter long Kalutara Bridge was built at the mouth of the Kalu Ganga River and serves as a major link between the country's western and southern border. At the southern end of the bridge lies the 3 stories-high Kalutara Vihara, a Buddhist temple built in the 1960s which holds the distinction of being the only stupa in the world that is hollow.
Also a famous historic temple built in 1873 in Kalutara is the Asokaramaya Buddhist Temple situated in Kalutara north. The official website for Kalutara Asokarama maha viharaya can be found at www.asokaramya.org.
Administration
Kalutara town governed by an urban council with a chairman. The council has 11 members, elected by the local government election. The local board of Kalutara was established in 1878. Then in 1923, the local board was succeeded by the Urban District Council.
Kalutara Bodiya
Kalutara Bodiya is one of the famous sacred shrine in Sri Lanka. It is one of the 32 saplings of Anuradhapura Sri Maha Bodiya. There is a hallow "Dageba" with interesting paintings here.
Calido Beach
Kalutara Calido beach is a popular beach among tourists due to its natural beauty. It is a thin strip of land which runs between the Kalu River and the Indian Ocean.This is very nice area.
Budddhist Holy sites
Kaultara Bodhiya is a sacred and devotional Buddha Buddhist site located on Colombo-Galle road. The Gangatilaka Vihara is one of earliest Sri Lankan Buddhist viharas in Sri Lanka. Buddhism is the religion of the town. Local people speak Sinhalese. Tamil language is spoken by small number of New residents who recently moved from Colombo to outerskirts.
Education
There are famous government and private schools as below.
- Kalutara Vidyalaya
- Holy Cross College, Kalutara
- Holy Family Convent, Kalutara
- Kalutara Balika Vidyalaya
- Tissa College, Kalutara
Kalutara Public library is one of the largest libraries of Sri Lanka. It is located near the High Court.
Public Transport
Kalutara has two railway stations, Kalutara North and Kalutara South. Kalutara South, however, is the one closest to the heart of the Kalutara town. Kalutara south railway station is a major railway hub on the southern railway line.
Due to the location of Kalutara, being on the A2 main road to Galle and Matara, number of bus services pass through the town. It is the main point for bus routes in Kalutara district.
Bus routes terminating at Kalutara:
- 400/1 - Colombo (Pettah)
- 400/5 - Nagoda
- 400/7 - Panadura
- 418 - Payagala
- 419 - Kethhena
- 420 - Horana
- 423 - Neboda (via Thebuwana)
- 422 - Moronthuduwa
- 425 - Bandaragama
- 426 - Nagoda
- 430/1 - Matugama
- 438 - Bandaragama
- 446 - Neboda (via Kendakaduwa)
- 458 - Weralugasthota
- 519 - Weniwelketiya
- 418 - yatadola
- 519 - halkadawila
- 430 - bulathsinhala
- 433 - walallawita
- 400 - akkara 80
- 430 - nehinna
- 418 - thudugala
- 400/6- malwaththa
- 423 - lagoswaththa
- 458 - mulatiyana
- 458 - weragala
- 418 - athukoralagama
- 443 - nagahaduwa
- 519 - sinhagama
- 519 - halkandawila
- 423 - rajawaththa
- 418 - nawunthuduwa
- 17 - kandy
Bus routes heading to/from Colombo travelling via Kalutara:
- 02 - Galle / Ambalangoda / Matara
- 32 - Tangalle / Kataragama
- 393/2 - Baddegama
- 393/3 - Udugama
- 400 - Aluthgama
- 401 - Elpitiya
- 412 - Meegama
- 428 - Walallawita
- 430 - Mathugama
- 434 - Darvinfield
- 435 - Pelawatta
See also
References
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