Kalpitiya Dutch Fort
A small, solid fort built by the Dutch between 1667 and 1676 near the tip of the Kalpitiya peninsula, now inside a Sri Lanka Navy base.
Near the tip of the Kalpitiya peninsula stands a compact, solid little fort built by the Dutch between 1667 and 1676. It guarded the entrance to Puttalam Lagoon and the trade that passed through it, including cinnamon and other goods moved along the coast, and it was one of a chain of forts the Dutch used to control the island's ports.
The thick walls are made of coral and limestone blocks, weathered dark by more than three centuries of sea air. You can still see the main gateway, the bastions at the corners and the ramparts, and inside are the remains of old buildings and a church dating back to the earlier Portuguese period. Compared with the grand fort at Galle, it is small and simple, but it feels authentic and rarely crowded.
The fort is inside the Sri Lanka Navy's base at Kalpitiya, so visits go through the base's main gate. Visitors are usually signed in and shown around, and entry has been free, but rules can change, so ask at your hotel before you go. Carry your ID or passport, follow any instructions from navy staff, and do not take photos of the base itself or anything other than the fort.
Nearby, the old Dutch church is also worth a quick look. The fort is easy to combine with a morning dolphin watching trip or a visit to St. Anne's Church at Thalawila on the same peninsula.
At a glance
- Entry fee: Free, according to recent visitors. Access is through the navy base, so check the current rules.
- Opening hours: Daytime, subject to navy access. Check locally before you go.
- Time needed: About 1 hour
- Best time: Morning, before the midday heat
How to get there
Near the tip of the Kalpitiya peninsula, inside the navy base. Take a tuk tuk from Kalpitiya town and ask for the navy base gate.