Nestle on soft sandy shores, basking in glorious tropical sunshine and bordered by a seemingly never ending stretch of azure, the idyllic coastal town of Negombo offers the perfect getaway in Sri Lanka. Conveniently situated within easy reach of the Bandaranaike International Airport, the town offers intrepid travellers much to see and do. Due to its popularity one can easily find accommodation options here and if you are in search of a reasonably priced Negombo hotel from which to head off on your adventures, Hotel J Negombo makes an ideal option.

The sun kissed beach with its golden yellow sand is obviously the most prominent feature in Negombo, well suited for spending lazy hours working on that perfect holiday tan or for engaging in some water sports be it snorkelling and discovering the colourful world that lies beneath or kite surfing as you zip along the waves, the wind driving you onwards. There is however, much more to Negombo than just its beaches.

One of the significant highlights of the town is the colonial heritage it possesses ranging from Dutch fortifications to Portuguese churches. Those heading on sightseeing excursions should look to head to the Negombo Canal also known as the Dutch Canal; constructed by Dutch colonisers in order to transport goods, the canal winds its way through the town and beyond providing an ideal opportunity to embark on a boat ride taking in local wildlife and people going about their day to day activities. Negombo is also known as ‘Little Rome’ due to its high number of Roman Catholic churches, many of which were established during the time of the Portuguese. St. Sebastian Church Katuwapitiya, Grand Street Church, St. Stephen’s Church and St. Mary’s Church are among the well known churches one can visit.

While nature lovers can explore the rich biodiversity of the Muthurajawela Marshland, other sites of interest one can see when here include the remnants of the Dutch Fort, the Angurukaramulla Buddhist Temple and the lively Fish Market where one can see local fishermen bringing in their catch and selling it.

Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+