Nature and Cultural tours by Jeep from Mahakumara Safari

Kalutara Temple (Kalutara Bodiya)

Kalutara is historically important due to the fact that it was one of the 32 places indicated by Arahant Mahinda Thera to the king Devananpiya Tissa in the 2nd century B.C. as a place where one of the thirty two saplings of the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi tree in Anuradhapura be planted, to which the King extended his patronage. It is recorded in the Sinhala Maha Bodhi Wansa that until such time when the maritime provinces were subjugated by the Portuguese in 1505 A.D., the historic Kalutara Bodhiya exited intact. In the 16th century this sacred site was turned in to a Portuguese fort. Though no harm is supposed to have done to the Bodhi it was not venerated by the people during that period. It was after the planting of a Bodhi in lower terrace of Pahala Maluwa by an Indian Prince from the Pandya country named Wickrama Pandya in 1042 A.D. that the public began to venerated and consider the site as a sacred place. This prince from Indian became a viceroy in the Kalutara area.

After the Portuguese, the Dutch too use of the present upper terrace or the uda maluwa area as a camp followed by the British as well, subsequently. During the British period, since the latter half of the 19 century, it was used as an office premises with the residence of the Government Agent.

The development activities of the historic Kalytara Bodhi in the recent past begging with the Kalutara Buddhist society which was instituted in 1931 through untiring efforts made by Sir Cyril De Zoysa. In 1942 with the commencement of development activities in the lower terrace, the pinnacle of the chithya was laid.

Ancient Richmond Castle

Thereafter proceed to Ancient Richmond Castle which is located on the river bank overlooking the panoramic view at Kalugaga River ( Black river )

This superb hybrid of Indian and British architecture was copied from the plans of an Indian Maharaja’s palace designed by a London architect. Richmond Castle in Kalutara is a two-storied building with 15 rooms. All the rooms are naturally air-conditioned it has 99 door frames, 38 windows and one roof covering the entire mansion.

The whole building is characterized by elaborate carvings. Italian and Scottish glass windows and mirrors, and shiploads of timber from Burma, were imported to build this superb construction and is complete with a stable, workers’ quarters, guard rooms, dancing floor and all requirements for a luxury life.

Richmond Castle has a fascinating history. Built in 1896, it is considered to be one of the most spectacular architectural works of the period. It was built for a regional governor turned philanthropist with an impossibly long name – Padikara-Mudaliyar (title) Rajawasala Appuhamilage Don Arthur de Silva Wijesinghe Siriwardena (1888-1949).This castle reveals a fascinating story
of a millionaire whose life turned from a strange fairy tale into surmounting despair.

Thudugalla famous waterfall

After the Experience of Richmond Castle we travel to Thudugalla famous waterfall on the route of Matugama Road and on the way the clients can experience an eye witness of the low country nature and the wildness and Arrival of Thudugalla waterfall the clients can enjoy of nature and eventually the clients can bath in the water stream.
At last proceed back to the hotel and on the way ; the clients from Kalutara Area can visit the Kalutara Town as well as the Clients from Bentota Area can visit the Aluthgama Town.