Beruwela is a young and quiet resort in Sri Lanka. What to expect from your holiday in Beruwela

Beruwala (Sri Lanka) is a place where tourists come who, above all, value comfort. There are almost no vacationers traveling on their own here. After the devastating tsunami in 2004, the city was actively restored, hotels, buildings, and infrastructure were rebuilt. Today it is a resort that has preserved its local flavor and exoticism.

general information

The city of Beruwela is located in the west, washed by the warm Indian Ocean. The distance is up to 55 km, and the prestigious settlement of Bentota is only 5 km. Some sources call Beruwela a suburb of Bentota, but it is an independent town with a population of just over 34 thousand people. Beruwela on the map of Sri Lanka in the south is adjacent to Bentota, Aluthgama, Induruwa, Kosgoda, Ahungalla and Ambalangoda. Heading north takes you to Maggona, Katukurunda, Kalutara, Waskaduwa and Wadduwa.

The town was founded in the 7th century by merchants who arrived from the East. Translated, the name Beruwela means the shore where the sails are lowered.

Beruwela is the first resort that foreigners encounter when moving south in Sri Lanka. Here you will find everything for a lazy holiday - hotels from 2 to 5 stars, cafes, the necessary infrastructure, long beaches. Hot weather During the European winter months, it is accompanied by relaxation on the shores of the Indian Ocean.

Throughout 2012-2013, Beruwela was actively rebuilding after the tsunami in Sri Lanka. The network of hotels was expanded, lawns were laid out, and walking paths were installed.

Attractions and entertainment

Kande Viharaya temple complex

The Buddhist temple complex is located in the neighboring settlement of Aluthgama. The temple was built at the expense of a Buddhist monk and opened in 1734. The main decoration of the complex is a Buddha statue almost 50 m high. Inside the statue there is a five-story museum, its walls are decorated with drawings depicting stories from the life of the prophet. A unique Bo tree grows next to the temple; its age exceeds three hundred years.

Beruwela Lighthouse

The lighthouse is clearly visible in the evening and at night; it illuminates even neighboring bays at a distance of 5 km. The attraction is located on Barberin Island, opposite the port of Beruwela. There are ships from the port to the island; the journey takes only a quarter of an hour. The island is a six-meter rock, from the top of which a beautiful view of the bay opens.

The resort is located just 5 minutes' drive from Beruwela. It is also calm here and you can hide from the noise and bustle. The beaches of Bentota are framed by coconut palms; in sunny weather you can take bright photos. Here you can visit Buddhist temples built in the 12th century. Read .

How to get there

You can get to Beruwala from the main airport in Colombo. The easiest way is to rent a taxi near the airport building, but the cost of such a trip is quite high - about 7,000 rupees (about 55 dollars). It is much cheaper to use public transport.

By bus



A bus trip will cost 60 rupees. From the airport you need to take bus number 187 to Colombo. All buses arrive at the station, here you need to change to a flight to Beruwela. There is no direct route; buses make a stop near the resort. You need to choose flights heading south - to Galle, Matara or Tangale.

It is important! Before boarding the bus, check to see if it goes through Beruwela. The journey takes no more than 1.5 hours. From the bus stop to your accommodation you can take a tuk-tuk or walk.

By train



Those who want to enjoy the exoticism and flavor of Sri Lanka travel by train. Bus No. 187 goes to the railway station from the airport.

The train ticket costs 55 rupees (third class). You will spend only 2 hours on the road, so you can travel 3rd class.

There are 10 trains departing daily towards Beruwela. Depending on the geographical location hotel you need to go to Beruwala station or Aluthgama station.

Good to know! Tourists usually travel around the city by tuk-tuk or rented transport. A trip by tuk-tuk will cost an average of 100 rupees, renting a motorbike costs 700 rupees per day.

Check the latest prices for train travel and transport schedules on the official website railway Ceylon - www.railway.gov.lk.

Compare accommodation prices using this form

Beaches



Given that Beruwala has a port, stories about cleanest beaches somewhat exaggerated. Most of the coastline is a port and boat parking.

The sand strip is quite narrow at high tide; usually in Sri Lanka it is much wider. City beach in a Muslim area is not the best place for swimming - garbage on the shore and in the water is a common occurrence here. Tourists recommend looking for clean, well-equipped beaches in south direction, moving towards Aluthgama. There are also beaches in the northern direction, but the coast here is deserted, without infrastructure.



Nice beaches with decent hotels start opposite Crow Island. There is a well-groomed coastline, clean sand, the beach is protected by reefs, so there are almost no waves. Beruwala (Sri Lanka) borders Aluthgama on the map. Moving south, you will find yourself in a neighboring resort, however, in the low season, due to the large amount of rain, dirt gets into the ocean waters.



Continuing further you will reach the wide and beautiful beach of Bentota. To explore the coastline, it is better to use a tuk-tuk. Works here large Center aquatic species Sports Confifi Marina. In this place you can rent equipment for diving, spearfishing, deep-sea fishing, windsurfing or just banana boat rides.

Beruwela weather is conducive to relaxation all year round: the air temperature during the day stays within +29...+33°C, at night - +24...+27°C. The water in the ocean is always warm, not lower than +27°C. However, there are high and low seasons.

The tourist season begins in October and lasts until April. At this time, the rains are short and rare, and the ocean is relatively calm.



Low season begins in May and lasts until November. This time of year is characterized by precipitation and abrupt change weather. Relaxing on the beach is difficult because the monsoons cause strong waves on the ocean surface.

Beruwela (Sri Lanka) is an ancient city, which in a few years has turned into an excellent tourist area with comfortable hotels and shops. This town, founded by merchants from the East, is shrouded in warm monsoons, imbued with Sri Lankan culture and is conducive to a leisurely, relaxing holiday.

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Which runs along the coast of the Lacadive Sea. There are several ways to get to Beruwella; the easiest (but not the cheapest) is to use the service provided by Bandaranaike International Airport, in particular, by ordering a taxi from the airport.

In terms of cost, the road from the airport to the Beruwella resort will cost $55 for a regular car, or $60 for a car with air conditioning. It will take you about 2.5 hours. For cheaper travel, you should pay attention to regular buses. From airport free bus you need to get to the Katunayake bus station, then change to a bus going to the bus station in Colombo Fort. In Colombo you will have many options to get to Bandaranaike. You can take any of the buses

which for 200 rupees (less than $2) will take you to the desired hotel.
Today the resort of Bandaranaike is experiencing the moment of its rebirth. In 2004, it was completely destroyed by a tsunami that washed away hotels located on the shore due to the earthquake that occurred in Indian Ocean. The hotels that existed then were flooded. Now the situation has changed a lot, everything old has been destroyed, and in its place quite a lot of new, modern hotels have already been built, with a good and thoughtful layout, the level of service of which tries to meet the hopes and expectations of discerning tourists who come here.

The following hotels are located here in Beruwella:

  • Anilana Pasikuda 5*
  • Barberyn Reef Ayurveda Resort 4*
  • Cinnamon Bay 4*
  • Eden Hotel 5*
  • Heritance Ayurveda Maha Gedara 3* (ex.Neptune) 3*
  • Lanka Princess 4*
  • Maalu Maalu Resort & Spas
  • Palm Garden Club 3*
  • Riverina Hotel 4*

Attractions Beruwella

The attractions of the Beruwella resort include those located in close proximity to the village:

Beruwella Beach

one of the most beautiful exotic beaches. There is a place here for both lovers have a relaxing holiday, and for lovers of active pastime.

During the day, along the shore you can see many turtles swimming up to tourists to feed. Traditional types entertainment typical of classic beach resorts here too:

  • diving;
  • windsurfing;
  • banana ride;
  • snorkeling;
  • boat ride;
  • riding a scooter.

Beruwela, Sri Lanka: map, weather, how to get there

The small town of Beruwala is located on the west coast of the island of Sri Lanka, 79 km from Bandaranaike International Airport (Colombo). It is part of the administrative district of Kalutara in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. Beruwala is modern big city with a developed trade in jewelry, notable tourist places are Buddhist temple Cande Viharaya, Barberine Island with a lighthouse and a large fish market.

Translated from Sinhalese, the name of the city sounds like “The place where the sail is lowered,” named after the first Arabs who set foot in Sri Lanka. Modern city grew from a small village founded by Arab traders who first arrived, according to Muslim chronicles, in Ceylon in the 8th century. The peculiarity of Beruwala is that it is a city in Sri Lanka, the population of which belongs to Muslims professing Islam. It is there that the followers of this religion are concentrated in the maximum number for Sri Lanka. Most of Beruwela's population is this moment Their descendants are Muslims, but there are also settlements of Malays and Moors.

Beruwela Map

  • to the north - Maggona, Katukurunda, Kalutara, Keselwatta, Waskaduwa, Wadduwa;
  • to the south - Aluthgama, Bentota, Induruwa, Kosgoda, Ahungalla, Balapitiya, Ambalangoda.

On the territory of the city of Beruwela there are about a dozen Muslim mosques; this area, like the neighboring city of Aluthgama, is considered a place of concentrated compact residence of followers of Islam along the entire southwestern coast. The city area includes a Muslim village called Daga Town.

With some frequency, clashes between Muslims and the Sinhalese population of the region occur on the basis of religious intolerance. The last such conflict was recorded in Beruwela in 2014.

How to get to Beruwela from Colombo Airport

From Sri Lanka International Airport, located in the suburbs of the capital Colombo, you can get to Beruwela using the services of a prepaid taxi at the airport (Prepaid Taxi). The official taxi counter is located outside the arrivals area of ​​Colombo Airport. The taxi service operates 24 hours a day. Travel time to Beruwela from the airport by taxi is 1.5-2 hours, the cost of a trip by car with AC is 6,900 rupees.

You can also get to Beruwela by public transport from the airport itself: to do this you need to take bus No. 187, a ticket costs about 100 rupees, baggage allowance - 50 rupees. The bus goes to Pettah bus station, which is located in close proximity to the Colombo Fort railway station. From there you can take a train or bus.

Note: commuter buses No. 2, 32, 60, etc. do not go along the highway, but along Galle Street, along the entire southwestern coast, which increases the travel time to 3-4 hours, depending on the presence of traffic jams at the exit from Colombo. Buses traveling along the coast from Colombo to Matara run around the clock, but in the evening, after 21-00, their interval increases significantly, reaching up to 1 bus per hour.

Sights of Beruwela

Buddhist temple complex Kande Viharaya
(Kande Viharaya Temple)

One of the most striking tourist attractions in Beruwala is the Kande Viharaya temple complex, located some distance from the coast, in the neighboring village of Aluthgama. The temple was founded in this place in 1734 by the Buddhist monk Karapagala Dewamitta Thero. The centerpiece of the complex is a giant statue of a seated Buddha.

This statue is the tallest Buddha statue in Sri Lanka, its height is 48m. Inside the statue there is a museum occupying 5 floors. The walls inside the statue are traditionally covered with scenes from the life of Buddha.

The temple complex also contains the House of the Buddha Image, a stupa, Sri Vishnu Maha Devala and four Maha Devalayas dedicated to Hindu deities, including the god Kataragama, the sacred Bo tree, which is now over 300 years old.

Fish market
(Beruwala Fish Market)

The fish market in Beruwala is not only a hub of trade, but also a popular tourist attraction. The fish market is located in Beruwala Harbor, next to the Ketchimalai Daga Muslim Mosque.

The optimal time to visit is early morning from 6 to 9 o'clock (when large vessels arrive from night fishing) - after this time, until the evening catch at 16 o'clock, all trade there freezes.

The market sells both fresh and dried fish. It is worth noting that the market is active, and therefore a visit to it is always accompanied by a somewhat peculiar smell of fresh or not so fresh fish.

Beruwela Lighthouse
(Beruwela Lighthouse)

The Beruwela Lighthouse is perfectly visible in the evening and at night, its light reaches the neighboring bays of Maggona and Bentota. The lighthouse is located opposite the port of Beruwela, on the island of Barberyn, separated from the continent by the ocean.

Barberine was previously called not only the island, but also Beruwela, then changing the name to the modern one. The island (and previously the city) were named after the 12th-century Muslim sheikh Abu Barakat al-Barbari from Somalia, who founded the first Muslim settlement on the island, which previously had no clear religious outline.

You can get to the island with a lighthouse framed by coconut trees by motor boat from the port of Beruwela; the journey will take very little time - no more than 10-15 minutes. The island is a 6-meter cliff rising above the ocean, offering an amazing panorama of the coastline of Beruwela Bay.

Ketchimalai Daga Mosque

The main attraction of Beruwela is considered to be one of the oldest mosques on the island - the Ketchimalai Daga Mosque, built by the Muslim religious community on a small flat hill at the landing site of the first Arab settlers.

The building is located at the end of the port. From an architectural point of view, the Kechimalai Mosque is a mixture of Muslim and slightly Indian design styles. During the 2004 tsunami, the building was practically undamaged; local religious people believe that this is a consequence of Allah’s miracle, but, in fairness, it is worth noting that this area was almost not damaged by the tsunami at all compared to the Southern Province.

Legend about the site of the Ketchimalai Daga Mosque

Made, like the entire mosque, from white stone, the traditional minarets are surprisingly harmoniously combined with Indian elements in decoration. According to one legend, the construction of the mosque was started by the Arabs immediately after landing on the shore. Yemen's Sultan Ash-Sheikh Asharaf Waliullah, considered a saint by pilgrims, was buried in the mosque.

The Sultan with 5 brothers and a sister arrived in the 12th century. to the shores of Sri Lanka in Ketchimalai and were received as honored guests by the Sinhalese king, since they were members royal family Hadramuf (Hadramouth). The guests lived in the palace of the Sinhalese king for several years, until the Sultan decided that such a life was not suitable for conducting spiritual practice, after which the Sinhala king allocated him a residence in the western part of Beruwela. After several years of peaceful life at the Sultan's residence, he was buried in Ketchimalai.

The mosque is still operational and attracts a large number of pilgrims, and during the celebration of Ramadan it is visited by up to 50,000 people (according to Muslim sources). The mosque is especially crowded during the celebration last day Ramadan - the festival of Eid-ul-Fitr, which is attended by Muslims from all over Sri Lanka.

Beruwela Photos

Video from Beruwela, Kande Viharaya Temple

Perahera at Kande Viharaya Beruwela Temple, Sri Lanka

Solemn procession for Perahera at Kande Viharaya Beruwela Temple, Sri Lanka

Beaches of Beruwela

The best option for relaxing by the ocean in Beruwela:

  • hotels and guest houses located on the Moragalla beach line,
  • on the territory opposite the lighthouse on Barberine Island or Crow Island,
  • next to the Cinamon hotel.

There is also a lagoon in Beruwela, where there are no waves at all due to the rocks coming to the surface 100 meters from the shore, holding back the waves, but you can expect a large number of local residents there any day of the week, especially on weekends. There are surfboard rentals available at Beruwela Beach. On the border between Beruwela and Bentota (at the bridge) there are several tour companies offering river safaris, diving, river activities and excursions.

Apart from the indicated places, most of the city of Beruwela is not suitable for swimming: on the northern coastline of the city there is a port and there are only a few small and not very clean city beaches, the central region of the coast has a solid rocky bottom covered with boulders of various sizes, for the most part also not suitable for swimming. The large sand spit visible on the map is a beach on the territory of which there are several hotels that are geographically related to Bentota; you cannot get there from Beruwela.

Shops, restaurants in Beruwela

Beruwela is a Muslim village, trade there is very developed: souvenirs and grocery stores, fruit, fish and bread shops. The area called China Fort in particular is home to the jewelry trade. The city has many cafes, restaurants and bars to suit every budget.

On the territory of Moragalla beach there are several hotels and guest houses of different price levels. In Beruwela there are offices of mobile telecom operators, a police station, a post office, chain supermarkets, bank branches and ATMs and a gas station.

Nightlife in Beruwala

There is no nightlife in the city even in high season. True, sometimes during high tourist season(December-February) single events are held to which non-local DJs are invited. Sometimes these parties are held on the beach. At all other times, by 23:00 life in Beruwala comes to a standstill.

Weather in Beruwala, Sri Lanka

The best time to visit Beruwela is considered to be from December to March - at this time there is minimal rainfall, the ocean is quite calm, without storms. The rainy season is considered to be the period from March to October, but rare tropical downpours can continue throughout November and April - the months when the season begins and ends.

The air temperature does not vary much between months: during the day 30-33C, at night 22-25C. The average annual water temperature in the ocean, varying by month with a difference of two degrees Celsius: 27-29C.

It is worth noting that precipitation during the rainy season does not fall around the clock, but still mainly at night. IN daytime the frequency of tropical showers is 3-4 times, lasting no more than 20 minutes, although there are also completely cloudy days. The main problem of the rainy season for tourists is that swimming in the ocean is impossible, because... The waves and currents are very strong, jellyfish can swim.

Beruwela resort is located 56 km south of Colombo. Over the past few years, new hotels have been built on it and the tourist area has been improved, which, unfortunately, suffered a lot during the 2004 tsunami. Concerning natural conditions, then they were and remain excellent: azure waters of the ocean, beautiful sandy beaches and palm trees.

How to get to Beruwella

The resorts of Beruwella and Bentota are located on the Colombo - Matara railway line, but trains do not always stop at these stations. The best way to get from the resorts to the capital or other places - through the town of Aluthgama, which is located exactly in the middle between Beruwela and Bentota.

In Aluthgama, 5-6 express trains stop daily to Colombo (2nd/3rd class 64/32 LKR, 1.5-2 hours on the way) and several trains to Hikkaduwa (2nd/3rd class 35/23 LKR, 1 hour travel time), Galle (2nd/3rd class 64/32 LKR, 1.5 hours travel time), Matara and Kandy (2nd/3rd class 170/90 LKR, 1, 5-2 hours on the way). Prices on the page are for April 2019.

In addition, there are buses from here to Colombo (regular/air-conditioned 32/60 LKR, 1-1.5 hours) and Galle (regular/air-conditioned 32-60 LKR, 1.5 hours).

Search for flights to Colombo (closest airport to Beruwella)

Beach

The main attraction of Beruwella is its pristine beaches, where relaxation is a true pleasure. You can cool off in the turquoise waters, with scuba gear at the ready, fortunately, there is something to admire in the coastal reefs: the remains of ancient ships, schools of exotic fish, turtles and other inhabitants of the deep sea.

There is also a concentration of all kinds of water sports: diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, banana boat rides and scooters - the Confifi Marina Center.

4 things to do in Beruwella

  1. Try the main national drink - arak (coconut moonshine).
  2. Immerse yourself in Magic world Ayurvedic medicine in one of the clinics or spas.
  3. Purchase from the factory moonstone in Meethiyagoda, jewelry with this mystical stone, which manifests its qualities depending on the phase of the moon.
  4. Observe the life of turtles in a specialized nursery in Bentota.

Weather in Beruwella

Entertainment and attractions

Founded by Arab merchants, the town, covered in warm monsoons, is permeated with Muslim culture and the tranquility of a leisurely resort life. The heart of the city is the ancient mosque Masjid-ul-Abrar (Kechimalai), adjacent to the lighthouse, which was built on the site of the first landing of Arab conquerors on the island and still attracts thousands of believers. Religious holidays. Another reason to visit the Sri Lankan resort is the grave of Sheikh Asharent, a Muslim saint whose coffin, according to legend, was washed up by the waves about a thousand years ago on the shores of a modest town. In addition, Beruwella also still houses the first Muslim girls' school.

Another place of mass pilgrimage is located in the vicinity of Beruwella - this ancient temple Kande Viharaya, that is, "temple on the top of the mountain."

Yala National Park

Yala National Park, which you can rush to from Beruwella, is a journey through an amazing protected area, acquaintance with rare inhabitants of the animal world in local forests, where in the most unexpected places there are the ruins of the ancient, no longer existing state of Ruhuna. The cost of the excursion is 100 USD, which includes a jeep ride along the most popular routes of the reserve.

Excursion to Kandy

A visit to Kandy is one of the most unusual and... interesting places Sri Lanka will last two days, during one of which it is worth paying attention to the Spice Garden, the most fragrant corner in the whole world, then look into the Paradeniya botanical garden, located on the hill. In Kandy you can see one of the main attractions - the Buddha Temple. There is also a popular market and an Arts and Crafts Centre. The cost of the trip will be approximately 300 USD.

Sinharaja Forest

In the southwest of the island of Sri Lanka, near the city of Galle, it attracts with its coolness unique forest, who managed to preserve the virgin, pristine ancient nature in his bushes. Apart from the tourist's foot, man had no more time to influence the local beauty, so the Sinharaja Forest was declared biosphere reserve. Here you can easily meet armadillos, macaques, leopards, giant squirrel and a purple-faced monkey. The cost of the trip with transfer is 150 USD.

Sinharaja Forest

Adam's Peak

An iconic place of four world religions - Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism, a place that unites people from all over the world with colorful legends born from the footprint on the top of Mount Sri Pada. Adam's Peak, according to some beliefs, became the mythical place where the first man on Earth set foot. Climbing this mountain can be combined with watching the sunrise at its peak, which will leave an unforgettable cascade of sensations in your memory. The cost of the pleasure is 225 USD.

Bentota

Another resort, which is a 5-minute drive away, is Bentota, where peace and the opportunity to hide from the hustle and bustle of the world on one of the endless pristine beaches under the shade of a coconut palm are more accessible than ever. Bentota is also famous for the ancient Buddhist temples of the 12th century Vanavasa Raya Vihara and Galapata Vihara, which, according to legend, guard an underground tunnel leading to other undiscovered Buddhist shrines.

Beruwela, Sri Lanka: map, weather, how to get there

The small town of Beruwala is located on the west coast of the island of Sri Lanka, 79 km from Bandaranaike International Airport (Colombo). It is part of the administrative district of Kalutara in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. Beruwela is a modern large town with a strong jewelery trade and notable tourist attractions include the Buddhist temple of Kande Viharaya, Barberine Island with its lighthouse and large fish market.

Translated from Sinhalese, the name of the city sounds like “The place where the sail is lowered,” named after the first Arabs who set foot in Sri Lanka. The modern city grew out of a small village founded by Arab traders who, according to Muslim chronicles, first arrived in Ceylon in the 8th century. The peculiarity of Beruwala is that it is a city in Sri Lanka, the population of which belongs to Muslims professing Islam. It is there that the followers of this religion are concentrated in the maximum number for Sri Lanka. The majority of the population of Beruwela currently consists of their descendants - Muslims, but there are also settlements of Malays and Moors.

Beruwela Map

  • to the north - Maggona, Katukurunda, Kalutara, Keselwatta, Waskaduwa, Wadduwa;
  • to the south - Aluthgama, Bentota, Induruwa, Kosgoda, Ahungalla, Balapitiya, Ambalangoda.

On the territory of the city of Beruwela there are about a dozen Muslim mosques; this area, like the neighboring city of Aluthgama, is considered a place of concentrated compact residence of followers of Islam along the entire southwestern coast. The city area includes a Muslim village called Daga Town.

With some frequency, clashes between Muslims and the Sinhalese population of the region occur on the basis of religious intolerance. The last such conflict was recorded in Beruwela in 2014.

How to get to Beruwela from Colombo Airport

From Sri Lanka International Airport, located in the suburbs of the capital Colombo, you can get to Beruwela using the services of a prepaid taxi at the airport (Prepaid Taxi). The official taxi counter is located outside the arrivals area of ​​Colombo Airport. The taxi service operates 24 hours a day. Travel time to Beruwela from the airport by taxi is 1.5-2 hours, the cost of a trip by car with AC is 6,900 rupees.

You can also get to Beruwela by public transport from the airport itself: to do this you need to take bus No. 187, a ticket costs about 100 rupees, baggage allowance - 50 rupees. The bus goes to Pettah bus station, which is located in close proximity to the Colombo Fort railway station. From there you can take a train or bus.

Note: suburban buses No. 2, 32, 60, etc. do not go along the highway, but along Galle Street, along the entire southwestern coast, which increases the travel time to 3-4 hours, depending on the presence of traffic jams at the exit from Colombo. Buses traveling along the coast from Colombo to Matara run around the clock, but in the evening, after 21-00, their interval increases significantly, reaching up to 1 bus per hour.

Sights of Beruwela

Buddhist temple complex Kande Viharaya
(Kande Viharaya Temple)

One of the most striking tourist attractions in Beruwala is the Kande Viharaya temple complex, located some distance from the coast, in the neighboring village of Aluthgama. The temple was founded in this place in 1734 by the Buddhist monk Karapagala Dewamitta Thero. The centerpiece of the complex is a giant statue of a seated Buddha.

This statue is the tallest Buddha statue in Sri Lanka, its height is 48m. Inside the statue there is a museum occupying 5 floors. The walls inside the statue are traditionally covered with scenes from the life of Buddha.

The temple complex also contains the House of the Buddha Image, a stupa, Sri Vishnu Maha Devala and four Maha Devalayas dedicated to Hindu deities, including the god Kataragama, the sacred Bo tree, which is now over 300 years old.

Fish market
(Beruwala Fish Market)

The fish market in Beruwala is not only a hub of trade, but also a popular tourist attraction. The fish market is located in Beruwala Harbor, next to the Ketchimalai Daga Muslim Mosque.

The optimal time to visit is early morning from 6 to 9 o'clock (when large vessels arrive from night fishing) - after this time, until the evening catch at 16 o'clock, all trade there freezes.

The market sells both fresh and dried fish. It is worth noting that the market is active, and therefore a visit to it is always accompanied by a somewhat peculiar smell of fresh or not so fresh fish.

Beruwela Lighthouse
(Beruwela Lighthouse)

The Beruwela Lighthouse is perfectly visible in the evening and at night, its light reaches the neighboring bays of Maggona and Bentota. The lighthouse is located opposite the port of Beruwela, on the island of Barberyn, separated from the continent by the ocean.

Barberine was previously called not only the island, but also Beruwela, then changing the name to the modern one. The island (and previously the city) were named after the 12th-century Muslim sheikh Abu Barakat al-Barbari from Somalia, who founded the first Muslim settlement on the island, which previously had no clear religious outline.

You can get to the island with a lighthouse framed by coconut trees by motor boat from the port of Beruwela; the journey will take very little time - no more than 10-15 minutes. The island is a 6-meter cliff rising above the ocean, offering an amazing panorama of the coastline of Beruwela Bay.

Ketchimalai Daga Mosque

The main attraction of Beruwela is considered to be one of the oldest mosques on the island - the Ketchimalai Daga Mosque, built by the Muslim religious community on a small flat hill at the landing site of the first Arab settlers.

The building is located at the end of the port. From an architectural point of view, the Kechimalai Mosque is a mixture of Muslim and slightly Indian design styles. During the 2004 tsunami, the building was practically undamaged; local religious people believe that this is a consequence of Allah’s miracle, but, in fairness, it is worth noting that this area was almost not damaged by the tsunami at all compared to the Southern Province.

Legend about the site of the Ketchimalai Daga Mosque

Made, like the entire mosque, from white stone, the traditional minarets are surprisingly harmoniously combined with Indian elements in decoration. According to one legend, the construction of the mosque was started by the Arabs immediately after landing on the shore. Yemen's Sultan Ash-Sheikh Asharaf Waliullah, considered a saint by pilgrims, was buried in the mosque.

The Sultan with 5 brothers and a sister arrived in the 12th century. to the shores of Sri Lanka in Ketchimalai and were received as honored guests by the Sinhalese king, since they were members of the Hadramuth royal family. The guests lived in the palace of the Sinhalese king for several years, until the Sultan decided that such a life was not suitable for conducting spiritual practice, after which the Sinhala king allocated him a residence in the western part of Beruwela. After several years of peaceful life at the Sultan's residence, he was buried in Ketchimalai.

The mosque is still operational and attracts a large number of pilgrims, and during the Ramadan celebrations it is visited by up to 50,000 people (according to Muslim sources). The mosque is especially crowded during the celebration of the last day of Ramadan - the Eid-ul-Fitr festival, which is attended by Muslims from all over Sri Lanka.

Beruwela Photos

Video from Beruwela, Kande Viharaya Temple

Perahera at Kande Viharaya Beruwela Temple, Sri Lanka

Solemn procession for Perahera at Kande Viharaya Beruwela Temple, Sri Lanka

Beaches of Beruwela

The best option for relaxing by the ocean in Beruwela:

  • hotels and guest houses located on the Moragalla beach line,
  • on the territory opposite the lighthouse on Barberine Island or Crow Island,
  • next to the Cinamon hotel.

There is also a lagoon in Beruwela, where there are no waves at all due to the rocks coming to the surface 100 meters from the shore, holding back the waves, but you can expect a large number of local residents there any day of the week, especially on weekends. There are surfboard rentals available at Beruwela Beach. On the border between Beruwela and Bentota (at the bridge) there are several tour companies offering river safaris, diving, river activities and excursions.

Apart from the indicated places, most of the city of Beruwela is not suitable for swimming: on the northern coastline of the city there is a port and there are only a few small and not very clean city beaches, the central region of the coast has a solid rocky bottom covered with boulders of various sizes, for the most part also not suitable for swimming. The large sand spit visible on the map is a beach on the territory of which there are several hotels that are geographically related to Bentota; you cannot get there from Beruwela.

Shops, restaurants in Beruwela

Beruwela is a Muslim village, trade there is very developed: souvenir and grocery stores, fruit, fish and bread shops. The area called China Fort in particular is home to the jewelry trade. The city has many cafes, restaurants and bars to suit every budget.

On the territory of Moragalla beach there are several hotels and guest houses of different price levels. In Beruwela there are offices of mobile telecom operators, a police station, a post office, chain supermarkets, bank branches and ATMs and a gas station.

Nightlife in Beruwala

There is no nightlife in the city even in high season. True, sometimes during the high tourist season (December-February) single events are held to which non-local DJs are invited. Sometimes these parties are held on the beach. At all other times, by 23:00 life in Beruwala comes to a standstill.

Weather in Beruwala, Sri Lanka

The best time to visit Beruwela is considered to be from December to March - at this time there is minimal rainfall, the ocean is quite calm, without storms. The rainy season is considered to be the period from March to October, but rare tropical downpours can continue throughout November and April - the months when the season begins and ends.

The air temperature does not vary much between months: during the day 30-33C, at night 22-25C. The average annual water temperature in the ocean, varying by month with a difference of two degrees Celsius: 27-29C.

It is worth noting that precipitation during the rainy season does not fall around the clock, but still mainly at night. During the daytime, the frequency of tropical showers is 3-4 times, lasting no more than 20 minutes, although there are also completely cloudy days. The main problem of the rainy season for tourists is that swimming in the ocean is impossible, because... The waves and currents are very strong, jellyfish can swim.

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