Beruwala බේරුවල பேருவளை
Beruwala, is a resort town in the south western coastal belt of Sri Lanka and is located 55 km south of Colombo and 92km south of Colombo Bandranayake International (CMB) airport at Katunayake, Negombo. Beruwala is the very first main beach resort in the south western coastal belt that tourists visit when they travel past the beaches of Kalutara and Wadduwa located south of Colombo. Beruwala is 15km further south to Kalutara. Immediately to the south of Beruwela is the fishing village of Aluthgama. Next to the village of Aluthgama, over the Bentota bridge is Sri Lanka's most famous beach resort: Bentota Beach. Beruwala is one of the Best Beaches of the World popularly known as Beruwala Bay Beach of Sri Lanka
History of Beruwala
Beruwala traditionally was mainly a fishing and trading village where the Arab traders would stop on the way and from their travels which has developed over the years into the busy seaside resort town it is today.
The name Beruwala is derived from the Sinhalese word “Ba Ruvala” for the place where the sail is lowered. The historic Beruwela is seen as the first permanent Arab Muslim settlement on the island, established by Arab traders around the 8th century AD. A large population of Sri Lankan Moors, many of them are gem merchants, still live in the town-- particularly in the "China Fort" and is the oldest recorded Moorish settlement in Sri Lanka. The center of Beruwela is a busy commercial town and the beach areas and surrounding residential areas are quiet and tranquilled
Reaching Beruwala
Beruwala can be reached by main Colombo-Galle motor road (A2) as well as by the newly opened Southern Highway (E01) which give access to Beruwala via two entry points entry points at Walipanne and Dodangoda or by the southern coastal Railway line that begins in Colombo and ends in Matara. Both the railway station and bus station are in the city center of Beruwala. The stretch of Beruwala resort and guest houses begins 2km south of the town.
Beruwala as tourist attraction
Beruwala is Sri Lanka’s resort destination par excellence, perfect for a not tropical holiday with heaving beaches, bland food and characterless accommodation. In the past few years great strides have been made in the field of resort development in this area. There are many guesthouses and small hotels offering accommodation for all tastes and budgets.
The area south of the old historic settlement of Beruwala has been a centre of tourism from the very inception of the tourism market. The stretch of beach from Beruwala all the way to the Bentota River has been known as the Golden Mile of tourism in Sri Lanka and is a pristine beach of golden sand ideal for swimming and there is always a breeze, making even a mid-day stroll very pleasant.
The central location of Beruwala, ensures centric access to secluded beaches extending all the way to Hikkaduwa and Galle as well as in Bentota; located on the golden beach front. There are over 27 luxury resort hotels (including more than 12 star class hotels offering more than 1200 rooms) standing shoulder to shoulder along the broad and still attractive beach of Beruwala.
Beruwala has excellent water sport facilities such as water scooter rides, wind surfing, para-sailing, and water skiing. While the bay beach is safe for swimming in any month throughout the year, it also affords opportunity for Deep-sea Fishing and Wreck & Coral Reef Diving. Another famous attraction in Beruwala is that tourists can fish with the local fisherman on boats or on stilts, as they require. Beruwala also produces some of the finest local toddy which is an alcoholic beverage made out of distilled coconut flower and this has attracted lot of travelers going down the coast to stop by for a drink on route and to purchase some dried fish. Boat ride through Bentara estuary formed by the broad Bentara River that flows into the Indian Ocean at the southern corner of the Beruwala DS is a fascinating day trip.
Two more of Beruwala’s finest attractions are the Beruwala harbor and turtle hatchery. The harbor is full of multi colored boats waiting to set sail during the day and at the turtle hatchery one can see some of the most remarkable turtles in the world.
Just before town of Beruwala, is a small stretch of beach called Moragalla. Moragalla has a beautiful coral reef almost along the side of the main Colombo – Galle Highway. Not the largest beach but definitely one of the most beautiful since the coral reef has created many little pools of warm water where bathers enjoy themselves.
Landmarks in Beruwala
Kachimalai Mosque
The oldest recorded Moorish settlement in Buddhist Island of Lanka, Beruwala is home to the oldest mosque in the island. The Kechimalai (Msjid-ul-Abrar) Mosque, overlooking the town is built on the spot where the first Muslim traders from the Middle East landed & settled in 1024 AD. The mosque with its white minarets, out on a rocky headland on the northern edge is the town's most significant landmark.
Mosque contains the shrine of a 10th century Muslim saint and is an important pilgrimage site which at the end of Ramadan draws around 50,000 pilgrims from all over the island.
This is an exquisite location from which to watch the sunset, with views over the bay & light house.
Beruwala Fishing Harbour
Beruwala fishing harbour is located east of the Kachimalai mosque. The harbour has over 600 boats; many of them are quite sizeable since the fishermen spend up to two months at sea. The fish market is busy each morning where the business begins at the crack of the dawn with fresh sharks, tunas changing hands at a brisk pace.
A walk around the Beruwala fishing port in the early morning affords the sight of fishermen offload the morning's catch from brightly colored outrigger canoes and fishing boats that has returned from night fishing in the deep sea and now lined up. The lively fish market at the habour trade fresh seafood from one end to the other. And among the catch of fish are prawns and lobsters.
Beruwala Lighthouse
The well maintained, functional International lighthouse of Beruwala is located off the beach of Beruwala at the picturesque Barberyn Island enrobed in lush greenery. The island is accessible by a ten minute’s boat ride. A climb to the lighthouse that stands on a cliff 20 feet above the sea level affords stunning ariel views of the Beruwala beach and the surroundings. Built by the British in 1928, it stands a majestic 110 feet tall and definitely has a commanding presence in the island.
Galapatha Temple
This temple dates back to the 12th century. It is no ordinary temple; legend claims it was built by a minister of Parakramabahu the Great (1153 -86 CE) who was responsible for most of the wonders at the medieval city of Polonnaruwa. The temple was linked by a maze of subterranean tunnels with all the other temples in the area - traces of which are still extant. Here, every January a perahera or procession is held on duruthu full moon day to honour the Buddha's first visit to the island.
Kande Vihare Buddhist Temple
Kande Viharaya in Aluthgama (Southern end of Beruwala) has the tallest sitting Buddha statue in Sri Lanka at about 48m / 160ft in height. The Buddha Statue is constructed in Bhoomi Sparsha Mudra (Calling the Earth to Witness His Enlightenment). The building of the Kande Viharaya was initiated way back in 1734 by the Ven. Dedduwa Dhammananda Thero, an understudy of the most Ven. Weliwita Sri Saranankara Nayaka Thero.
Thousands of devotees flock the holy grounds of the Kande Viharaya daily, seeking mental & spiritual relief from all the troubles & worries of day to day life. The tranquility and serenity that the Kande Viharaya brings into your heart, mind, body & soul cannot be expressed or described with words. It has got to be experienced.
Sri Kalyanarama Maha Viharaya, Kaluwamodera
The temple is located at the southern end of Beruwala. The temple which started around in 1825, is today home to the largest Marble Buddha Statue in the country. According to the information on the temple, this 5 foot 9 inch marble statue has been donated around 1877 from Burma (now Myanmar). But we were told that after the publicity of this statue representative of Myanmar Embassy has visited the temple and informed that that this statue is much older than 130 years.
Brief-Gardens (about 7 km from Beruwala)
Brief Gardens is the house and garden of landscape architect Bevis Bawa, developed since 1929. It is a hillside garden with excellent views and many sculptures - both by Bevis himself and other artists. The estate was formerly a rubber plantation. The terraced lawns have a number of interesting and rare plants.
The five-acre gardens are nice for a stroll, but the main attraction is the house, a low-slung orange building stuffed with quirky artworks, some by Bawa himself and other artists. The house has a large collection of antiques.
China Fort
China Fort is the gem trading fair of Beruwala. The gem trading is dominated by the Sri Lanka Muslims, who constitute 7% of the population of Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan Muslims are descendents of Moors. Almost the entire neighborhood of China Fort has been engaged in the gem trade for generations. Much of the gem world’s colored precious stones are traded through these merchants. The Sri Lankan Musilms trace their gem trade back to the era when the Berber’s from North Africa’s Barbary States-Algeria, Libiya, Morocco and Tunisia, dominated the seas from the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean. Berber merchant ships called at Beruwela, perhaps named after the Berbers-Moors. The harbour where the vessels of the Moors were anchored is believed have become to be known as Berberyn Harbour on a later date.
