Kalpitiya located in Puttalam district is known for its natural environment consisting of 14 islands.. The people of Kalpitiya are mostly fishermen. It is now developing as a tourist destination.

Kalpitiya is derived from the Tamil name Kalputti, stemming from the words kal meaning stone and putti meaning elevation. The place was in ancient times also known as Arasadi, meaning in Tamil “place of Arasa tree”.The place was in colonial era known as Calpentyn.

History

Records going far back reveal that the peninsula was associated with maritime trade and smuggling escapades since ancient times. It was first colonised by the Portuguese in early 17th Century. The arrival of the Dutch eventually resulted in the ousting of the Portuguese from here and elsewhere in the island. Historical records show that during the Dutch period of the island’s colonial history, the northern end of the peninsula was used as a strategic base for a military garrison and naval outpost to monopolise trade supplies to the mainland. A well preserved Dutch-era fort (incorporating an earlier Portuguese-era church) occupied by the Sri Lanka Navy, and a Dutch church remain today. Nearby at Talawila to the south, a vibrant annual festival keeps alive its Portuguese heritage, at the ancient St Anne’s church festival, when thousands of Catholic devotees descend upon the tiny village to celebrate St Anne’s Day on July 26.

Tourism

It is now developing as a tourist destination. It is a marine sanctuary with a diversity of habitats ranging from bar reefs, flat coastal plains, saltpans, mangroves swamps, salt marshes and vast sand dune beaches. It provides nursing grounds for many species of fish and crustaceans. The coastal waters are also home to spinner, bottlenose and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, whales, sea turtles, and the elusive dugong. The Sri Lankan government has now formulated a master plan for the development of tourism industry here.

Alankuda is a stretch of beach in Kalpitiya that is home to a number of beach hotels. The beach is a starting point for off-shore whale and dolphin watching in Kalpitiya and offers various water related activities.

Kitesurfing

Dolphin & Whale Watching

Dutch Fort at Kalpitiya

Head for a Safari at Wilpattu National Park

Enjoy the Beach

Kalpitiya is nominally the best location for Kitesurfing in the country. The summer kitesurfing season is from May to October during the south west monsoon while the winter season is from mid December to mid February during the north east monsoon.

Along with Mirissa on the south coast and Trincomalee on the east coast, Kalpitiya is one of the best places in Sri Lanka for dolphin and whale-watching

The fort at Kalpitiya dates back to the mid-17th century when it was a strategically important trading base for the Dutch East India Company. Unlike other forts which was built by the Portuguese, the fort in Kalpitiya was built and primarily only used by the Dutch. When the Dutch left Sri Lanka they left the limestone and coral Kalpitiya Fort in ruins in an effort to dissuade the next colony from using it.