Area Waikkal

Is a beautiful mix of sandy beaches and lush mangroves that thrive along its river and lagoon.
Waikkal is a great holiday destination, offering a charming blend of the traditional and the contemporary. Located on the west coast, Waikkal is ideal for delectable seafood and exciting boat rides for the whole family through its canals and lagoon. This area is home to a unique mangrove eco-system, providing ample opportunity for bird and butterfly watching. For some lively local colour, visit the Sunday fair at the Kochikade village in Waikkal.

DUTCH CANAL

The boat ride/safari that takes you along the old Dutch canal which runs through Waikkal, gives you snap shots of bird life, essentially comprising waders, stunning kingfishers, rare pied kingfishers, bee-eaters, Brahminy kites, etc. Water monitors, bearing an uncanny resemblance to crocodiles, are also bound to make an appearance, so keep your eye out for a glimpse! You can prolong your boat journey by following the canal onto the sea, where you can continue onwards to Negombo where you can hop into the town, do some shopping and return via boat to Waikkal.

HISTORIC CHURCHES AND TEMPLES NEAR THE AREA – WAIKKAL
Waikkal area has a spectrum of Temples, Churches and Mosques dating back to colonial era and beyond. If you have an eye for architecture and an appreciation for different cultures, then this is a place to wander about and visit these places of worship. Some key places to visit are: Angurukaramulla Buddhist Temple with a recorded history from 1868 and houses the largest statue of Buddha in the area; Pillayar Hindu Temple with a recorded history of 250 years which is likely to be the oldest Hindu Temple in Negombo; St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church built by Portuguese in 1570 which was subsequently destroyed and rebuilt by the Dutch in 1814; St. Stephen’s Anglican Church consecrated in 1879 situated next to the remnants of the Dutch Fort; Negombo Grand Mosque built in 1974.