Sights in North Of Colombo
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Wilpattu National Park
Due to security issues Wilpattu National Park was closed at the time of research, but there is every chance that it might well re-open sometime in the future. If so you’ll find dense pockets of jungle scrub interspersed with small clearings, and tanks that shrink in the dry season and swell in the monsoon. The park is home to up to 50 elephants and 50 or more leopards, as well as spotted deer, sloth bears, wild pigs, crocodiles and more. At 1085 sq km, it is Sri Lanka’s largest national park.
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Dutch Fort
Close to the seafront near the lagoon are the ruins of the old Dutch fort, which has a fine gateway inscribed with the date 1678. Also here is a green, called the Esplanade, where cricket matches are a big attraction. As the fort grounds are now occupied by the town’s prison, the only way you’ll get a peek inside is by stealing something; though you’d need to be very interested in old Dutch forts to go this far.
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Fish Market
This fish market is across the lagoon bridge. If you can stagger out of bed at 6am, it’s a good place to watch the fishing boats return with their catches. If you’re hanging around the markets, you won’t have to wait long before you’re invited to go out on an oruvaor a kind of vessel; expect to pay around Rs 1000 per boat per hour. A Fishers’ Festivalis held here in late July.
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Fish Market
Fish auctions on the beach and sales at the fish market near the Ducth fort are a slippery and very smelly sight, but one that’s well worth forgoing some swimming-pool time for.
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St Mary’s Church
The fading pink chamber of St Mary’s Church, in the town centre, has some thunderous religious ceiling paintings covering the nave.
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Angurukaramulla Temple
East of town the Angurukaramulla Temple, with its 6m-long reclining Buddha, is worth seeing.
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Lagoon Resthouse
This is one of several old Dutch buildings that is still in use.
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