©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd

The West Coast

Includes  Why Go? North of . . .89 You don’t have to be on ’s west coast for long to ...... 89 realise that the coastline has something of a multiple person- Waikkal...... 94 ality. North of the capital is Negombo, a cheerful beach town Negombo to crowned with church spires that is, thanks to its proximity Kalpitiya...... 94 to the airport, a staple of almost every visitor’s Sri Lankan journey. Head further north, though, and you enter a wild Kalpitiya Peninsula . . 95 and little-visited region that seems to consist of nothing but Wilpattu coconut plantations and lagoons, sparkling in the sun and National Park . . . . .96 filled with dolphins. South of Colombo. . .97 South of Colombo’s chaos is a world that oscillates be- Bentota, Aluthgama tween the dancing devils of traditional Sri Lankan culture & Induruwa...... 97 in , the chic boutique hotels and uncluttered golden sands of Bentota and the slightly scrappy but ever-­ & Around...... 101 popular backpacker party town of Hikkaduwa. Whichever part of the west coast you choose, a beach stay here makes for the perfect beginning or end to your Sri Lan- kan adventure. Best Places to Eat ¨¨Lords (p93) ¨¨Home Grown Rice & Curry When to Go (p105) Negombo ¨¨Petit Restaurant (p93) °C/°F Temp Rainfall inches/mm 40/104 16/400 ¨¨Spaghetti & Co (p105) 30/86 12/300

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Kalpitiya Garden Brief Muthurajawela Hikkaduwa Negombo Wilpattu Wilpattu Bentota

(p101) Raising a Raising (p101) the sunset to toast day’s a hard after diving and surfing in backpacker this lively hangout. (p89) Finding your your Finding (p89) the and strolling feet a long after beach flight in this oh-so- town. resort easy National Park (p96) Scouring for the undergrowth and spotted leopards of the back deer from jeep. a safari (p98) Feeling the (p98) Feeling as drop levels stress pampered are you trees under palm the area’s in one of boutique hotels. 7 6 5 4 3 2

Highlights 1 West West Coast (p95) Scanning (p95) Scanning for the horizon playful of schools dolphins or learning in kitesurf to lagoon protected waters. (p97) Enjoying the Enjoying (p97) of artful horticulture former Barwa’s Bevis Bentota. home near .t Coast West Coast Ticking off (p91) H and herons egrets ig during a waterborne hli safari birdwatching g this salt through htsmarsh

The Wes 88