Chilaw
North Western · Puttalam
Chilaw is a Sri Lankan travel destination known for beach, religious, wetland.
beach
Chilaw
Quick facts
Ideal stay
1 to 3 nights
Stay length
1-4 nights (2 recommended)
Timezone
Asia/Colombo
Elevation
6 m
Tourism region
North West Coast (Puttalam Lagoon Country)
Budget level
Budget to midrange
Recommended pace
Relaxed
Popularity
6/10
Crowd level
Moderate
Difficulty
Easy
Coordinates
7.576256, 79.795357
Linked attractions
9
Connectivity
Internet quality
Average
Mobile coverage
Good
Airports
Nearest airport
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)
Distance from airport
~55 km
Recommended arrival airport
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)
Recommended departure airport
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)
History
Chilaw grew as a fishing and coconut town on the lagoon coast north of Negombo and has long been a centre of the island's Catholic coast. Just inland stands Munneswaram, one of Sri Lanka's most venerated Shiva temples, whose annual festival draws pilgrims of several faiths.
Climate
dry coastal
Best time to visit
Best months
Avoid
Good for
Interest scores
Beach
9/10
Culture
9/10
Photography
8/10
Relaxation
8/10
Nature
5/10
Food
5/10
Hidden gem
5/10
Adventure
4/10
Wildlife
3/10
Shopping
3/10
Nightlife
2/10
Known for
Nearby places
Bookable services near Chilaw
Live provider and guide listings approved in LankaTrip.
Local guides
Local guide
Local Guide
Authentic Sri Lanka experiences with Your local guide
Local guide
Kahandawala Arachchilage Mahesha Janaki K.
Kahandawala Arachchilage Mahesha Janaki — Personal Sri Lanka tours with local insight
Local guide
Tuwan F.
Flexible private tours of Sri Lanka with Tuwan
Local guide
Rachitha kasun
Rachitha — Personal Sri Lanka tours with local insight
Local guide
suranga C.
Authentic Sri Lanka experiences with suranga
Local guide
Isum Gunasekara
Flexible private tours of Sri Lanka with Isum
Map view
Chilaw location
See Chilaw and nearby attraction pins on the map.
Explore Chilaw in depth
Experiences
Experiences in Chilaw
Hidden Gems
Hidden Gems in Chilaw
Food & Dining
Food & Dining in Chilaw
Where to Stay
Where to Stay in Chilaw
Getting Around
Getting Around in Chilaw
When to Visit
When to Visit in Chilaw
Budget
Budget in Chilaw
Safety
Safety in Chilaw
Travel Tips
Travel Tips in Chilaw
Suggested Itineraries
Suggested Itineraries in Chilaw
Nearby destinations
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