3 km
from city center 1 out of 5
Places To Visit in Chilaw

Built-in 1412 by King Parakrakrama Bahu VI, Munneswaram Hindu Temple is a complex of five temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, Ganesha, Attanayake, Kali, and even Buddha. The temple has been in existence at least since 1000 CE, although myths associate it with the legendary Indian epic Ramayana and its hero-king Rama. As one of Sri Lanka’s important ancient Hindu pilgrimages, this stunning Dravidian-style temple has a festival of its own called the Munneswaram festival.

3 km
from city center 2 out of 5
Places To Visit in Chilaw

Fringed by luscious marshes and sixteen different species of mangrove forests, Chilaw Lagoon sits on Sri Lanka’s western coast. It reaches about 3.9 metres at its greatest depth, opening to the Indian Ocean, and is perfect for boating, swimming, and wetland safaris. In addition, the lagoon supports an important subsistence fishery, providing livelihoods to over a thousand families.

5 km
from city center 3 out of 5
Places To Visit in Chilaw

Nestled next to a beautiful, breezy estuary area, Chilaw Sand Pits is a unique nearshore environment of shallow lagoons, sandbanks and dunes. Mangroves grow on these sandbanks, strengthening them structurally and sheltering birds and waders like gulls, sanderlings, crested terns, sandpipers, avocet, Whimbrel, oystercatchers, Eurasian Curlew and more. In addition, there are several marine conservatories in the Chilaw Sand Pits, such as Anawilundawa Sanctuary.

0 km
from city center 4 out of 5
Places To Visit in Chilaw

Adjoining the Laccadive Sea, Silver Beach in Chilaw is known for its captivating sunset views. As the name suggests, the waves hitting the beach's sprawling golden shore in the sunlight make its fine sands gleam like silver. One can take relaxing strolls along the water's edge, laden with leaning coconut groves. Featuring lush tropics, colourful birds and panoramic walkways, Chilaw Beach Park sits in the area.

16 km
from city center 5 out of 5
Places To Visit in Chilaw

Tucked between Chilaw and Puttalam, the Anawilundawa Wetland Sanctuary covers 1,397 hectares of three distinct ecosystems - mangrove forest swamps, coastal saltwater belt, and freshwater lakes. Sheltering over 150 bird species, 20 mammalian species, 70 butterfly species, and 50% of Lanka’s freshwater fish, the sanctuary is perfect for birdwatching, boating and hiking. The park’s tanks are over 800 years old, now a natural breeding ground for aquatic birds, reptiles and amphibians.