Puttalam

Is Puttalam worth visiting?

Quick answer: Puttalam is mainly a gateway: the town for Kalpitiya's dolphin trips, the road north to Anuradhapura and Mannar, and the Anawilundawa wetland, a Ramsar site about 39 km south. It is about 106 km and 1 hour 56 minutes from Colombo airport by road with no traffic. Stay if you are a birdwatcher or breaking a long drive; otherwise pass through.

Puttalam is the main town of Puttalam District in North Western Province, on a large lagoon. Chilaw is about 52 km south and Kalpitiya about 46 km away on the peninsula.

What is there to do near Puttalam?

What is the Anawilundawa wetland?

Anawilundawa (spelled Annaiwilundawa by Ramsar) is a sanctuary of 1,397 ha, listed as a Ramsar wetland of international importance on 3 August 2001. The Ramsar sheet describes:

• an ancient system of man-made cascading tanks, each 12 to 50 ha and about 200 ha in all, dating back to the 12th century
• tanks only 3 to 4 m deep that support traditional paddy farming
• an important refuge for migratory birds
• habitat for about half of Sri Lanka's freshwater fish species, including at least three endemic species

The sheet also notes threats from prawn farms, invasive species and farm chemicals. It is a 2001 document, so treat it as background, not a current report. Go early in the morning for birds and bring binoculars.

How does Puttalam connect to Kalpitiya and the dolphins?

Kalpitiya is on the peninsula that wraps around the lagoon. Sri Lanka Tourism says Kalpitiya has the country's largest coral reef, about 307 km², 14 offshore islands, salt pans and mangroves, and that large pods of spinner dolphins are found about an hour's boat ride from Kalpitiya harbour. It also says sperm whales gather further out from November to mid-April.

If you are coming by bus, Puttalam is where you change for Kalpitiya. Our Kalpitiya guide has boat trip details.

Is Puttalam near Wilpattu?

Yes. Wilpattu National Park lies to the north of Puttalam. Ramsar lists the Wilpattu Ramsar Wetland Cluster, which covers the whole park, declared in 1938. It says the park has about 205 water bodies and many villus, sand-rimmed natural lakes of 10 to 160 ha filled by rain, and that 21 endemic vertebrates have been recorded, including the Sri Lankan leopard. Sri Lanka Tourism calls the park a hot spot for leopards and lists sloth bear, water buffalo, sambar and spotted deer.

We could not find a reliable road time from Puttalam to the park entrance today, so check with your driver or lodge. Park fees are set by the Department of Wildlife Conservation and were not in our sources today. See our Wilpattu page and national parks comparison.

How do I get to Puttalam?

The NTC list gives fares between end points, not stops or times, so ask at the bus stand. Puttalam is also on a railway line from Colombo; check times at the station, as we could not load the railway website today.

What is the weather like in Puttalam?

Puttalam is hot all year. Average daily highs run from 30.0°C in December to 33.5°C in March, and average lows from 21.4°C in January to 26.7°C in June, on WMO normals for 1991 to 2020. Rain by month:

June to August is the driest stretch, and January to March is also fairly dry. October and November are the wettest. For the whole coast, see our best time to visit guide.

Where does Puttalam fit in a trip?

• West coast to the ancient cities: Negombo, Chilaw, Puttalam, then Anuradhapura is a coast-and-culture route that avoids Kandy.
• Going north: Puttalam to Mannar by bus, then on to Jaffna. See our Jaffna and the north in 7 days.
• A Kalpitiya break: fly into Colombo, drive about 2 hours to Puttalam and on to Kalpitiya.

Further south on the coast road, Marawila is a quiet beach about 34 km from the airport.