In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Sri Lanka
Chilaw
Visit Chilaw as a day trip from Colombo; no overnight needed, 1–2 h travel each way, explore beach and Munneswaram temple.
Chilaw is a small coastal town 80 km north of Colombo. Its main attractions – a sandy beach, bird‑watching sandpits and the historic Munneswaram Hindu temple – are reachable in a half‑day. Trains and buses take 2–3 h, a private car about 1 h 20 min, so a single day is enough unless you plan extended beach time.
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Best months
- Nov–Apr (dry season, calmer seas)
- Avoid
- May–Oct (south‑west monsoon, rough seas)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- LKR
- Money
- LKR in small notes for tuk-tuks, buses, tea and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget Rs 2,500–4,000 excl. bed · Mid Rs 4,000–6,000 excl. bed · High Rs 6,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Dialog, Mobitel (SLT-Mobitel) and Hutch sell tourist SIMs at the airport; passport required.
- Emergency
- Police 119 · Ambulance 1990 · Fire 110
- Plugs
- Types D, G, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Old three-round-pin (D and M) and UK three-flat-pin (G) sockets both appear; bring a universal adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: Nothing extra if 10% service is on the bill; otherwise 10%.; Driver: Rs 2,000–3,000 a day at the end.; Safari jeep driver and tracker: Rs 1,500–3,000.; Guide: Rs 1,000–2,000 for a site visit.; Hotel staff: Rs 200–500; many hotels have a tip box.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Bottled water everywhere; many hotels provide filtered water.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels and restaurants, with a hose; squat toilets in bus stations. Carry tissue.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Local bus fare Colombo → Chilaw | Rs 250 |
| Train 2nd class Colombo → Chilaw | Rs 400 |
| Meal at a roadside eatery | Rs 300–600 |
| Bottle of king coconut (kurumba) | Rs 30–50 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CMB · Bandaranaike International Airport
- ≈80 km (50 mi) south, 1 h 20 min by car≈50 mi (80 km) south, 1 h 20 min by car
Typical fares
- Colombo → Chilaw, bus
- about Rs 250, 1 h (check)
- Colombo → Chilaw, train 2nd class
- about Rs 400, 2–3 h (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Tuk‑tuk or hired car for longer trips; walk or rent a bike for beach and town centre (all sites within 3 km (1.9 mi)).Tuk‑tuk or hired car for longer trips; walk or rent a bike for beach and town centre (all sites within 1.9 mi (3 km)).
See and do
Known for
- Sri Munneswaram Devasthanam
- Chilaw Silver beach
- Birdwatching at sandpits
- Coastal scenery
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Sri Munneswaram Devasthanam | Local bus or tuk‑tuk, ~20 min from town centre | ≈30 min total |
| Kalpitiya | Hire a car or take a bus north 30 km (19 mi)Hire a car or take a bus north 19 mi (30 km) | ≈1 h |
Sleep
- Chilaw Far Inn Hotel
- Budget rooms, Rs 7,070 for 2 guests
- Hotel Pearl Gate
- Very low‑budget, Rs 3,500 per night
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | සමාවෙන්නsamāvenna |
| Thank you | බොහොම ස්තුතියිbohoma sthuthi |
| How much is it? | එය කොපමණද?eya kopamanada? |
| Where is the beach? | බීච් එක කොහෙද?bīch eka koheda? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: 'Ayubowan' (Sinhala) or 'Vanakkam' (Tamil) with palms together; avoid: Kissing on the cheek
- Temples: White clothes, shoes off, walk clockwise; avoid: Posing with your back to the Buddha; pointing feet at statues
- Hands: Right hand to give and eat; avoid: Left hand for food or money
- Head wobble: A side-to-side nod means yes or OK; avoid: Taking it as no
- Dress: Swimwear only on the beach; shoulders and knees covered in towns; avoid: Topless bathing
- Buses: Leave front seats for monks, the elderly and pregnant women; avoid: Sitting next to a monk (women)
Scams and watch-outs
- Train schedules vary; check the latest timetable before travel (check).
- Beach has no lifeguard service; swim at your own risk.
- Mosquitoes are common near the sandpits in evenings; use repellent.
Chilaw is generally safe for tourists; keep valuables concealed, avoid isolated beaches after dark, and follow local advice on sea conditions.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Chilaw yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Sri Munneswaram Devasthanam
- Chilaw Silver beach
- Birdwatching at sandpits
- Coastal scenery
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Sri Lanka Tourism Board: www.srilanka.travel
- Wikivoyage: Chilaw, revision 5239760 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5239760
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/chilaw). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.