Solo Explorer: NEGOMBO, SRI LANKA (CEYLON)

Negombo Beach

NEGOMBO, SRI LANKA (CEYLON)

Negombo is one of the major city in Sri Lanka, situated on the west coast, North of the capital, Colombo. Near the waterfront, the remains of the 17^thcentury Dutch Fort now house a prison. Negombo Lagoon, lined with fisherman’s huts, feeds into the Dutch-Era Hamilton Canal. The canal leads south to Colombo. The Negombo Is the closest tourist destination of the Colombo International Airport(CMB), which is named as Bandaranayake International Airport (BIA). Many International travellers come and stay here, even for a single night in Negombo because of Many reasons and most imperative is that it is easy to reach airport & also the Beauty of Negombo beach & Lagoon is mesmerizing.

The name "Negombo" is the Portuguese corrupted name of its Tamil name 'Neerkolombu'. The Sinhala name මිගමුව (Migamuwa) means "Village of the honeycomb", gaining its name from a legend mentioned in 'Rajaveliya'. The army of King Kavantissa found bee honey in a canoe near the seashore, for Viharamahadevi who was pregnant with the prince Dutugamunu. Because of this, the place was named "Mee-Gomuwa". Negombo is at the mouth of the Negombo Lagoon, in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. It's one of the major commercial hubs in the country. Negombo is known for its long sandy beaches and centuries-old fishing industry. The shallow waters of the Negombo Lagoon provide safe shelter for seafaring vessels due to which it became one of the key ports along with Kalpitiya, Puttalam, Colombo, Kalutara & Galle from which the Sri Lankan kingdoms conducted external trade.

Brief History of Negombo

The Jaffna Kings (The Jaffna kingdom from the 13th until the 17th century, They ruled some part of Sri Lanka & when the last of the dynasty, Cankili II, was ousted by the Portuguese) who controlled greater parts of the North-west coast of Sri Lanka, built fortifications at Negombo, Colombo, and Chilaw. The language used in and around Negombo was Tamil when the Portuguese Colonizers arrived in the 16th century.

The legacy of the Dutch colonial era can be seen in the Negombo fort, constructed in 1672, other Dutch buildings, churches, and the extensive canal system that runs from Colombo in the south, through Negombo to Puttalam in the north. Following the British takeover of the Kingdom of Kandy in 1815, Negombo lost its strategic value as an outpost of Colombo. However, it continued to develop in commercial influence. The Negombo fishery was at the heart of the seafood trade in Ceylon, and many migrant fisherman arrived annually with the profits of their ventures going into the small, prosperous town. In 1907 Negombo was connected to the massive railway project that was linking the island together under British control and encouraging the growth of plantations in coconuts, tea, and coffee.

Geography & Climate

Negombo is about 2M (6.7ft) above sea level, and Negombo's geography comprises of land and water. The Dutch canal flows in the heart of the city. The lagoon is one of the most scenic landmarks of Negombo. There are over 190 species of wildlife and plenty of birds in its mangroves. The northern border of the city is formed by the Ma Oya river which meets the Indian Ocean.

Negombo features a tropical rainforest climate under the Köppen climate classification. The city receives rainfall mainly from the Southwestern monsoons from May to August and October to January. During the remaining months, there is a little precipitation due to Convective rains. The average annual precipitation is about 2,400 millimeters. The average temperature varies 24°C (75 F) to 30°C (86°F), and humidity levels are very high from February to April.

Negombo Lagoon

Negombo Lagoon is a large semi-enclosed coastal water body with plenty of natural resources. The lagoon is fed by a number of small rivers and the Dutch canal. It is linked to the Indian Ocean by a narrow channel to the north, near Negombo city. The lagoon and the marsh land area also support local agriculture and forestry. It has extensive mangrove swamps and attracts a wide variety of water birds. The lagoon supports so many distinct species of flora, fauna, and as well as other species of birds and variety of animals. It's a major local and tourist attraction primarily for sightseeing and boating tours.

Things to do In Negombo before your Next flight

Negombo Beach - No completion of this tour of Sri Lanka without visiting the Negombo beach. The golden-clean sand makes way for you to enjoy Negombo Beach and it’s activities. Negombo beach also hosts picturesque views of the evening sunset same as other beaches in Sri Lanka. If you are a Crab lover Negombo is the one of the best places to taste the crab.
Boat Ride of Hamilton Canal - Taking a boat ride down the Hamilton canal means you are on your way to experience some interesting moments in the life and culture of fisher folk. When you will cross the marshland in a boat you will encounter lots of birds and reptiles such as Cormorants, Ducks, Egrets, Herons, Storks, Eagles & many bird breeds.
Quick Shopping at Negombo - If you are in love with picking up curios & jewellery in your last minutes then Negombo is the ideal place for that and also it will be a great help for your pocket. You can buy Colourful & Charming handmade pieces at Negombo.
Cycling In Negombo - You can easily find a hiring bicycle at Negombo and then you can cover many tourists attractions by cycling, it precisely takes 6 hours to cover main tourist attractive places in Negombo.