Negombo - Negombo

Negombo it is a center in the Western Province of the Sri Lanka.

To know

Negombo is a lively fishing port in the Western Province of the Sri Lanka. Given its proximity to Bandaranaike International Airport, many visitors prefer to head directly to this location after disembarking rather than to the capital. Colombo.

Due to its proximity to the international airport and its beautiful beach Negombo is a very popular destination for tourists. On its beaches you can in fact do water sports, diving and diving to see the small coral reef. Furthermore, in Negombo, there is the second largest fish market in Sri Lanka where you can organize a fishing tour with local fishermen.

The word Negombo was first used by the Portuguese conquerors who transformed the Sinhalese word Mīgamuva (මීගමුව) and which gave its name to the nearby lagoon.

Geographical notes

It is located at the mouth of the Negombo lagoon, approximately 7 km from the Bandaranaike International Airport.

How to orient yourself

How to get

By plane

By taxi from the international airport which is less than 10 km away. The capital, Colombo it is 40 km further south.

On the train

Negombo has a train station. A steam train connects it with Colombo to the south and with Chilaw, Marawila is Puttalam North.

How to get around

What see

• Old Dutch fort. Today part of a prison. 
• Hamilton Canal. The canal that runs through the town, known as the Hamilton Canal, was built in the 17th century by the Dutch. 
• Churches. The numerous Catholic churches that testify to the conversions that have taken place since the time of the Portuguese conquest. For this peculiarity Negombo is known as the "little Rome". 

Events and parties

What to do

• Sri Lanka by Car (Sri Lanka by Car Day Tours), Negombo, ☎ 94 71 514 7 514, @[email protected]. 20€. Tours by car / off-road vehicle are organized daily and all year round, to get to know the most beautiful places in Sri Lanka. 

Shopping

How to have fun

Where to eat

Where stay

Hotels and pensions are lined up on a stretch of sea just north of the town, not far from the railway station. Here the beach is kept clean while not the same can be said of the one near the town.

Moderate prices

Guest House

• Beach Villa Guest House, 3/2, Seneviratne Mw, Lewis Place, ☎ 94 31 22833, 94 31 34134. 
• Silver sands hotel, 229 Lewis Place, ☎ 94 31 2222880, fax: 94 31 2237364, @[email protected]. 
• Rainbow Tourist Guest House, 3, Carron Place (near Lewis Place), ☎ 94 31 22082. 
• Star Beach Guest House, 83/3, Lewis Place, ☎ 94 31 22606. 

Average prices

Below is a list of accommodations in Negombo. The first two, however, are somewhat outside Negombo near the airport

• Pegasus Reef Hotel (On the way to Colombo very close to the airport). With 140 rooms. 
• The Tamarind Tree, Katunayake 1, Andiambalama Estate Yatiyana, Minuwangoda, ☎ 94 1 253802, 94 1 254297, fax: 94 1 254298. With 52 rooms. 
• Blue Oceanic Hotel, Ethukala, ☎ 94 31 79377, 94 31 79099, 94 31 79000, fax: 94 31 79999. With 110 rooms. 
• Sea Garden Hotel, Ethukala, ☎ 94 31 79099, fax: 94 31 79999. With 29 rooms. 
• Sun Set Beach Hotel, 5, Carron Place, ☎ 94 31 22350, 94 31 38758, 94 74 870623, 94 74 870624, fax: 94 74 87023. With 40 rooms. 
• Royal Oceanic Hotel, Ethukala, ☎ 94 31 79377, 94 31 79099, 94 31 79000, fax: 94 31 79999. With 91 rooms. 
• Sunflower Beach Hotel, 289, Lewis Place, ☎ 94 31 38154, 94 31 24308, 94 31 24258, fax: 94 31 38154. With 66 rooms. 
• Topaz Beach Hotel, Poruthota Road, Ethukkala, ☎ 94 31 79265, 94 75 310334, fax: 94 75-310329, 94 75 318383, @[email protected]. With 30 rooms. 
• Air Port Garden Hotel, 234/236, Colombo Negombo Road, Seeduwa, ☎ 94 11 5 440000, fax: 94 11 2 252953, @[email protected]. With 112 rooms. 
• Browns Beach Hotel, 175, Lewis place, ☎ 94 31 22031, fax: 94 31 24303, @[email protected]. With 142 rooms. 
• Camelot Beach Hotel, 345, Lewis Place, ☎ 94 31 22318, fax: 94-31 38285, @[email protected]. With 50 rooms. 
• Ging Oya Lodge, Kammala North, Waikkal, ☎ 94 31 77822, fax: 94 1 252587, @[email protected]. With 10 rooms. 

Safety

How to keep in touch

Around

Thanks to its train station, Negombo makes a great base for exploring the coast of the North-Western Province. Keep in mind, however, that the train dates back to the English era, it is steam powered, therefore very slow and uncertain and moreover it does not always run parallel to the coast. Alternatively, it is always possible to use the suburban buses (preferably those with air conditioning). According to many, this stretch of coast is not as exciting as the other one south of Colombo but it must be borne in mind that it was spared by the Tsunami .

From Negombo you can also reach the cities of the highlands such as Kandy

Other projects

• Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Negombo
• Commons contains images or other files on Negombo

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