Marawila is a small fishing village located in the town of Puttalam, about 62km from Colombo. Located within 3km of Negombo, Marawila is a quieter setting compared to the former. As it is neither a fully fledged tourist destination nor a thriving town, this little village offers intimate, “close-to-nature” type of experiences to travellers.
Home to untarnished and long stretch of golden sandy beaches, Marawila has proven to be a wonderful destination for those looking for a relaxing holiday away from the commotion of popular tourist hot spots in Sri Lanka. Beach hotels and accommodation spaces are a plenty, with the likes of Amagi Beach Marawila being popular options among tourists.
Picturesque fresh water lagoons, un-crowded beaches and tranquil views of the local fishermen out at sea on their boats make Marawila a desirable holiday spot.
Mostly a tranquil or romantic getaway, Marawila is also home to temples rich in history. The most popular one is “Kurusa Palliya” (Holy Cross Shrine), established in 1875. Besides being one of the older churches in the country, Holy Cross Shrine is also renowned for numerous miracles that are said to have taken place there. Many churchgoers claim that incurable diseases and unforeseen family tragedies have been reversed after having prayed here. To the locals, this church is the embodiment of the living Christ.
Another popular temple in Marawila is Thaniwella Dewale with its prominent horse statue at the front. This shrine was constructed by the son of King Weeraparakramabahu the 8th, Prince Thaniya Wallaba from the Kotte period. History says that the prince once saved the coastal region from a powerful south Indian invader and as a result the townspeople called him Thaniwelle Deviyo. The temple is also home to a Bo tree that is said to be over 250 years old.
Shehera Fioni is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Catalina Forbes. Her content is based on many thrilling escapades offered to travellers across the world.