LankaProvince guide
North Western
15 places below, plus every guide set here. Start with the essentials, then pick your base.
Destinations in North Western
- Arankele Forest Monastery (Kurunegala)
- Athugala Elephant Rock and Buddha Statue (Kurunegala)
- Dambadeniya Ancient Kingdom (Kurunegala)
- Kurunegala Lake and Park (Kurunegala)
- Panduwasnuwara Ancient City (Kurunegala)
- Ridi Viharaya Silver Temple (Kurunegala)
- Yapahuwa Rock Fortress (Kurunegala)
- Anawilundawa Wetland Sanctuary (Puttalam)
- Bar Reef Marine Sanctuary (Puttalam)
- Kalpitiya Dolphin and Whale Watching (Puttalam)
- Kalpitiya Dutch Fort (Puttalam)
- Kalpitiya Kitesurfing Lagoon (Puttalam)
- Munneswaram Kovil Temple (Puttalam)
- St Anne's Church, Talawila (Puttalam)
- Wilpattu National Park Safari (Puttalam)
Guides set in North Western
Hike & Viewpoint
North Western Province Essentials: Scams, Beaches, Food, Gyms, Views
Honest North Western province roundup: scams to avoid, best beaches and views, where to eat, and gym options.
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Wildlife & Safari
Anawilundawa Wetland Sanctuary — Puttalam Travel Guide
Birdwatchers and photographers; Ramsar tanks, jacanas, cormorants and migrant ducks
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Heritage
Arankele Forest Monastery — Kurunegala Travel Guide
Meditation and forest-walk fans; quiet monastery ruins among rock shelters
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Hike & Viewpoint
Athugala Elephant Rock and Buddha Statue — Kurunegala Travel Guide
View seekers and sunset walkers; climb or drive up for town and rock-range panoramas
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Dive & Snorkel
Bar Reef Marine Sanctuary — Puttalam Travel Guide
Snorkellers and divers; Sri Lanka's largest reef with corals, turtles and reef fish
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Heritage
Dambadeniya Ancient Kingdom — Kurunegala Travel Guide
Ruins explorers; ramparts, palace foundations and temple of a 13th-century capital
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Wildlife & Safari
Kalpitiya Dolphin and Whale Watching — Puttalam Travel Guide
Wildlife lovers; dawn boat trips to spinner-dolphin megapods and seasonal whales
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Heritage
Kalpitiya Dutch Fort — Puttalam Travel Guide
Colonial-history stop between beach hours; 17th-century ramparts and church ruins
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Surf
Kalpitiya Kitesurfing Lagoon — Puttalam Travel Guide
Kitesurfers from beginners to pros; flat lagoon water and steady seasonal wind
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City & Market
Kurunegala Lake and Park — Kurunegala Travel Guide
Evening strollers and families; lakeside walk, birdwatching and paddle boats
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Temple & Sacred
Munneswaram Kovil Temple — Puttalam Travel Guide
Hindu pilgrims and culture travellers; thousand-year Shiva complex with festivals
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Heritage
Panduwasnuwara Ancient City — Kurunegala Travel Guide
Off-beat ruin hunters; 12th-century citadel, moat and restored palace complex
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Temple & Sacred
Ridi Viharaya Silver Temple — Kurunegala Travel Guide
Pilgrims and temple-art fans; 2nd-century-BCE cave shrine with Kandyan murals
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Temple & Sacred
St Anne's Church, Talawila — Puttalam Travel Guide
Catholic pilgrims and festival visitors; major shrine with March and August feasts
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Wildlife & Safari
Wilpattu National Park Safari — Puttalam Travel Guide
Safari-goers and leopard spotters; villu lakes, sloth bears, elephants and birds
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Heritage
Yapahuwa Rock Fortress — Kurunegala Travel Guide
History lovers and photographers; ornate stairway, palace ruins and rock-top dagoba
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