Beyond Kalpitiya / කල්පිටියෙන් එහා

Year and Month	11th and 12th of July 2021
Number of Days	Two
Crew	02-Arjuna and Myself
Accommodation	Atara Lagoon-Kalpitiya
Transport	By car and boat
Activities	Archeology, sightseeing and Photography
Weather	Excellent
Route	Colombo->Negambo->Iranawila->Kalpitiya->Uchchimunai->Back to Kalpitiya->Colombo
Tips, Notes and Special remark	The pool at Morawala is a safe bathing place. But the sea was rough when we visited there and we didn’t try for bathing. The bridge over Karambalan Oya at Iranawila is almost finished. Uchchimunai, Kirimundel and Mohoththuwarama can be reached by boat or over the sandy road. But you need a four wheel, trailer bike or tractor if you use the road. Carry a bottle of water and snacks to eat when you go in the boat. Wear slippers. Be aware of sharp items when you walk in shallow water.
Related Resources	Lakdasun trip report- Highlights of Kalpitiya Lakdasun trip report-Beach walk from Kalpitiya to Thalawila
Author	Niroshan
Comments	Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread Beyond Kalpitiya / කල්පිටියෙන් එහා

Kalpitiya has become a major tourist attraction in Sri Lanka during past years. I have been at some hot spots at Kalpitiya in 2016 as a three days trip. Seems Baththalangunduwa is one of the frequently visiting islands at Kalpitiya by travellers. A lot of foreigners come to Kalpitiya in view of kite surfing and dolphin watching. As it is one corner of Sri Lanka we have planned to be there in our around island trip. According to the map Uchchimunai point is the far most point of Kalpitiya peninsula but we were not able to reach there by car. There was a long stretch along the sand reef to reach Uchchimunai point. This trip was planned to reach Uchchimunai point by boat from Kalpitiya. It was coupled with some other visits and I have planned this as a two days trip with a night stay at Atara Lagoon Hotel at Kalpitiya.

On our way to Kalpitiya we have visited some attractive points at western coast of the Island. This two day trip started from Colombo and our first stop was Morawala at Negambo.

Morawala Beach Negambo (මෝරවල මීගමුව) (7.204869, 79.817633) / Shark Pit
Morawala is situated at Pitipana-Negambo. Early days Sharks used to come here to breed. There is a huge reef to create a pool which was used by Sharks to breed. Nowadays it is a popular bathing place as people can swim safe at Morawala. And it is the far most point of Negambo Lagoon.
The access road to Morawala from Negambo main road is quite narrow. The sea was rough on our day of visit Morawala. We didn’t try to have a bath there as nobody was bathing there.

Story of Morawala

Morawala-Negambo

Morawala / Shark pit

With Morawala

Enjoying the beauty of Morawala

We were back to Negambo and drove along the road to reach another popular beach called Browns beach. This must be the most happening Beach at Negambo. A lot of hotels are developed around Browns beach.

Browns Beach-Negambo (7.238269, 79.840369)
Browns beach is surrounded by number of leading hotels in Sri Lanka. It has a beach park but it was officially closed due to Covid pandemic. There were only few enjoying the beach including lovers and beach walkers. Plastic pellets from Sunken Pearl Express ship was seen at the beach.

Browns Beach Negambo

The reef was built to prevent sea erosion.

Plastic Pellets at Browns Beach

Enjoying….

New hotels are rising around this hot spot

.	Empty beach

Not a fishery boat….

Mobile food stall

Water Park at Browns Beach

Then we followed our long way to Iranawila Beach passing Chilaw. Here I preferred to drive on main road rather than closer to the beach as we did it in our around the country trip. Some of attractions at Chilaw I have visited in my visit to Chilaw. Here I wanted to watch another beautiful Beach called Thoduwawa (තොඩුවාව) but ended at Iranawila Beach. Iranawila Bridge is at last steps of it’s construction. The temporary bridge we used in around the country trip was no longer there. Iranawila beach and Thoduwawa beach is separated by Karambalan Oya (කරම්බලන් ඔය).

Iranawila Beach (7.493260, 79.797542)

Iranawila Bridge-Temporary and Permanent.

Karambalan Oya

Thoduwawa Side

Selfie at Iranawila

Iranawila Beach

Hereafter we didn’t stop at any place and straightaway reached Kalpitiya Peninsula. Our accommodation was Atara Lagoon Kalpitiya which was situated at Lagoon side of Kalpitiya.

Atara Lagoon Kalpitiya (8.242250, 79.765479)

Atara Lagoon has a centered pool surrounded by Cabanas. Their service and hospitality are satisfactory. It has a superb view towards Kalpitiya Lagoon and Fishery Harbor. (Actually we got on to their up stair building to get this view. It is still under construction.) Here we fly the drone from the hotel to get aerial pictures of Kalpitiya Lagoon. (Most of drone pictures are out of focus. And this was the last flying of my drone before it is malfunctioned)

Atara Lagoon Kalpitiya-Centered Pool and Cabanas.

Atara Lagoon Kalpitiya

Enjoying at pool

The pool of the hotel

The pool different angle.

Kalpitiya fishery harbor

Starting the day…..

We were expecting the sun rise…But the day was not good

Kalpitiya Lagoon

Island at Baththalangunduwa

Kalpitiya Lagoon and fishery harbor

Kalpitiya Lagoon

Day 02
Beyond Kalpitiya-Uchchimunai Point / උච්චිමුණි
Our main objective of the day was to go to Uchchimunai point of Kalpitiya by boat. Atara Lagoon has arranged a boat to go to Uchchimunai point and Jeewan was our boat rider. The jetty called Sangumalawaththa (සoගුමාලවත්ත) is situated in walking distance from Atara Lagoon. We got into the boat from Sangumalawaththa jetty. Jeewan has pointed out Bird’s Island (කුරුළු දූපත) and “Rodapaduwa” (රෝදපාඩුව) Island on our way to Uchchimunai point.

Sangumalawaththa Jetty

Three man team

“Rodapaduwa” Island. We didn’t land there.

The importance of Uchchimunai point is, it is the far most point of Kalpitiya. It was about one hour boat drive from Kalpitiya to Uchchimunai. There is a Navy camp at this point. First we reached Uchchimunai village where the new church is building. Villagers are building this massive church by their own money. Jeewan was afraid to get the boat closer to the seashore and we had to walk in shallow water. It was good exercises as foot get stuck in mud. Inhabitants of Uchchimunai, transport cement and bricks by the tractor to build the church. There is an annual festival at Uchchimunai.

Reaching Uchchimunai

Massive church

When you walk in shallow water you should be careful about this sharp fishery parts.

A jelly fish

Uchchimunai church

With Uchchimunai church

Inside the church

Shrine of Christ

It is under construction

Uchchimunai

Side view of the church

Uchchimunai School

After visiting the church we have walked into Uchchimunai village. The island was like Baththalangunduwa but this has fresh water wells. People speak both Tamil and Sinhala. There are few shops and their main transport method is by boat. Almost all of them are fishermen. There were well built houses as well. There were some distance to walk to Uchchimunai point but can be reached by boat. But Jeewan didn’t like to go there as Navy was there. Instead of that we have reached the sand reef / small island situated beyond Uchchimunai point.

View of Uchchimunai point where navy camp is situated.

Walking at Uchchimunai village

At Uchchimunai beach

Patterns on sand

A grave at Uchchimunai

A fence mad by dry Palmyra branches

Houses at Uchchimunai

We have landed the boat bit far to the seashore.

Reaching the island closer to Uchchimunai point.

It was a small island about 100m distance. Uchchimunai point is situated closer to it and we were able to view Baththalangunduwa as well.

Uchchimunai Island

At Uchchimunai Island

Jeewan is waiting for us….

At Uchchimunai Island

View of Uchchimunai point from Uchchimunai Island

Baththalangunduwa Island

When we were at Uchchimunai Island

We turned the boat from Uchchimunai Island and returned to Kalpitiya. On our way to Kalpitiya we landed the boat at two places: Kirimundel / Kirimundalama (කිරිමුන්දල්) and Mohoththuwarama (මොහොත්තුවාරම්) in view of visiting churches.

Kirimundel Catholic Church (8.300519, 79.757477)

Kirimundalama/ Kirimundel is not an Island and it is a part of Kalpitiya peninsula. But due to transportation difficulties people use boats to reach the village. Again it is a fishery village. According to Jeewan, Kirimundel Catholic church is built at Dutch period but it has undergone several renovations. The post office and school are situated closer to the church but seems not functioning now. We came across donkeys at Kirimundalama. One important of all these churches are there are no resident Pastures for Sunday mass and one from Kalpitiya visit to each church every Sundays. According to Jeewan this island is getting smaller due to sea erosion. At the end we two found a small sand dune at Kirimundel to get nice clicks.

Reaching Kirimundalama

Kirimundel Catholic church

.	Kirimundel Catholic church

Kirimundel Catholic church

Nonfunctioning Kirimundel School

Kirimundel fishery village. Most of these houses are built with aid of World vision.

Donkeys at Kirimundel

Juvenile crabs

Fishes

Sand dunes at Kirimundalama

Following Kirimundel the boat reached another church called Mohoththuwarama.

Mohoththuwarama Dutch church (8.283592,79.753917)
Mohoththuwarama has two churches: Old Dutch church and newly built church with belfry. Mohoththuwarama Dutch Church was renovated to current stage by a pilot as a wow. This area is out of villagers and we could see some grave stones around it.