Koggala is a beautiful coastal town in Sri Lanka. It is also the place where the famous Sinhala writer Martin Wickramasinghe set many of his stories. We visited several attractions in this area, including the oldest printing press in Ceylon, which is also a unique historical treasure.
Koggala has the longest beach in Sri Lanka and it is also one of the most beautiful beaches in the country.
In the evening, before sunset, the coconut trees bend towards the sea and the pandanus plants shine in the golden light of the setting sun. The beach looks very calm and beautiful at this time.
One of the most famous sights in Koggala is the traditional stilt fishermen. These fishermen walk into the sea and climb onto wooden poles placed in the water. Sometimes the sea becomes rough without warning, but they still continue their work. Seeing these fishermen sitting on stilts against the sunset is a very special and unforgettable sight that reminds visitors of old Ceylon.
The Ranwella Temple in Giniwella is located slightly inland, but from the temple grounds you can still see the waves of the sea. The temple has a simple and peaceful appearance. Its design shows a mix of British colonial architecture and traditional Sri Lankan temple styles.
What makes this temple special is that it keeps the first printing press used in Ceylon. This press printed the first Sinhala newspaper.
The printing press was a gift from the King of Siam. In the mid-19th century, Buddhist monks asked the king for a printing press because they believed a newspaper would help spread information. The king, Mongkut, agreed and sent them the machine. At that time, the press cost about 400 pounds, which was a very large amount of money.
The machine arrived in 1859. On August 18, 1860, the first Sinhala newspaper called Lankalokaya was printed. This was an important moment in the history of Ceylon. Today the press is carefully kept in a room near the main temple hall. It is also beautifully designed with carvings that look similar to Celtic or Roman art. On the top of the machine there is a carving of a royal eagle.
Koggala is also famous for its beautiful lake, which is surrounded by mangrove trees. We hired a small boat and travelled across the calm green water.
One of the main attractions in the lake is the island called Madol Duwa. This island became famous because of the adventure novel written by Martin Wickramasinghe. The book Madol Duwa is one of the most popular Sinhala novels and has been loved by readers for many years.
While travelling on the lake we also saw another small island where a cinnamon peeler showed visitors how cinnamon is prepared. He cut the cinnamon sticks from the tree, carefully removed the outer skin, made a small cut with a special tool, and peeled off the brown bark. After that, the bark is dried and tied together in bundles.
In ancient Sri Lankan society, cinnamon peelers belonged to a special group and their skill was carefully protected. Other groups were not allowed to learn this craft. Even today, in only a few places like Koggala, visitors can see this traditional method of preparing cinnamon.
Koggala is truly a peaceful and scenic destination and it is a wonderful place to visit during a holiday in Sri Lanka.
What is it?
Google Ranked #1, the Heartfelt Expedition is a unique tour that invites tourists to personally engage in charitable events from the perspective of a local donor. Participants will be involved in school initiatives, elderly adoption, and community assistance throughout Sri Lanka.
Discover authentic culture and make a difference by helping local communities.
