The variety of things to do in Negombo are unlimited; from basking under the sun’s glow to being in the centre of the noisy Fish Market.
After a few hours of flying, your kids are most likely cranky and in desperate need of stretching their legs. If the idea of travelling by car for another 1 hour and 30 minutes to the main city of Colombo seems daunting, drop by the nearby city of Negombo instead!
Negombo is approximately 20 minutes from the airport and with a number of accommodation options from hostels to luxury family resorts on offer, you and your kids will be relaxing by the beach within a few minutes. It’s the ideal town to start or end your adventures in Sri Lanka. Here are a few things you can do with your kids while you’re in town.
Beach
While the waters bordering this town might not be kid-friendly, there are plenty of things to do on the golden coast instead. Locals huddle together on a weekend to engage in a favourite pastime activity – flying kites. The evening skies are dotted in kites of different sizes, shapes and colours. Either grab a kite and teach your kids (or even yourself) the art of flying one or watch in excitement at the variety of kites soaring above you. Building sandcastles and trying out local food is another common activity on the beach and will keep your little one occupied for hours.
If you are travelling down south, here are our pick of family-friendly beaches.
Boat Rides
Reel down from the excitement of being in a new country by embarking on a slow boat ride along the Negombo Lagoon. The mangroves are teeming with exotic flora and fauna and if you’re quiet and patient enough, you might just be able to spot a lurking crocodile or a majestic bird.
Negombo Dutch Fort
Fancy a history lesson? No vacation is complete without learning about the town’s rich history, and Negombo fares well in that department. Built by the Dutch during their occupation of the island, enjoy a stroll along the ancient ruins and ramparts of the Dutch Fort while taking in the breath-taking views.
More to do?
If you and your family are keen on exploring religious places of worship, drop by St. Mary’s Church and the Angurukaramulla Temple. However, remember to be respectful of the shrines and the devotees in attendance. There are a variety of attractions in Negombo to visit too. Families staying at child-friendly hotels will have a myriad of activities available in the hotel itself, from play areas to baby pools, making it the ideal option if the parents need some quiet time away from the energetic brood.
Hamilton Canal: A Vestige Of Colonial Engineering
The Hamilton Canal, also referred to as the Dutch Canal, is a historic waterway stretching 14.5 kilometers from Puttalam to Colombo, passing through Negombo. Originally, when the Dutch colonized Sri Lanka, they established Colombo and Galle as their administrative centers. They initially believed the nearby Muthurajawela marshlands would be ideal for rice cultivation. However, they soon realized that the incoming tides flooded the fields with saltwater, ruining the potential for agriculture.
Development and Functionality
In response, during the 18th century, the Dutch embarked on creating an intricate network of structures, dams, and canals utilizing existing waterways. Their primary objectives were to drain the saltwater from the rice fields and to facilitate the transport of cinnamon to the seaports of Negombo using barges. This network eventually came to be known as the Dutch Canal and served as a crucial conduit between various Dutch-held ports.
British Enhancements
After the British took control of Ceylon, they saw the need to improve the existing canal infrastructure. In 1802, under the direction of the Colonial Surveyor General and with support from Gavin Hamilton, the Government Agent of Revenue and Commerce, construction began on a new canal. This canal, which ran parallel to the existing Dutch Canal but was positioned closer to the sea on its western side, was completed in 1804, a year after Hamilton’s death. Sadly, Hamilton did not live to see the completion of the canal that would bear his name, now known as the Hamilton Canal. This enhancement bolstered the connectivity and economic functionality between Colombo and Negombo, marking a significant phase in the colonial legacy of Sri Lanka’s waterways.
NEGOMBO FISH MARKET
A Thriving Fishing Culture
Negombo made its start as a fishing community, and fishermen today continue to hawk their wares on the city’s sandy shores. Starting from as early as 4AM, fishing boats begin to make their way to the beach laden with that morning’s catch. Shrimps, crabs and lobsters are hunted at the famous Negombo Lagoon, while fresh fish is hauled in from the waves of the Indian Ocean.
A Unique Concept
Visitors that walk the shores of Negombo beach can witness the day’s catch being laid out on enormous mats made of coconut fibre. Using an age-old method of open-air drying, the fishermen use the heat of the sun to remove all moisture from the fish and extend their shelf life. It will then get salted before being shipped to all over the island and sold in stores; dried fish is a very common inclusion of Sri Lankan cuisine.
Adjacent to the shores of drying fish, the wet market is where fresh seafood can be bought. Ranging from of offers of tuna, mackerel, squid, sardines and shark, the market is said to be closed on Sundays when the city’s predominantly Catholic population heads to church. However, some Muslim fishermen still operate on Sunday (their religious day of the week being Friday), so it is still possible to witness the fishing community in action.
While some of the fish for sale at the market are brought in fresh, others have been brought in from larger wholesalers in the morning to be sold here. The best fish are sold to local hotels and restaurants before being relegated to either the marketplace or to being dried under the sun on the beach.
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