Puttalam is an industrial and agricultural processing town in the Puttalam district of Sri Lanka, but the surrounding area has a few tourist attractions.

Understand

Puttalam lies 130 km north of Colombo. It is a Muslim-majority town known for its manufacturing (the name of the town comes from the Tamil words for "salt production zone" but tourists come to see one of the largest lagoons in the country, Wilpattu National Park, Kalpitiya, and the beaches.

Get in

The Puttalam rail line connects Puttalam to Colombo via Negombo.

Puttalam has three main highways that connect it to major cities in the country, the A3 which connects Puttalam with Colombo via Negombo, the A10 which connects Puttalam with Kandy via Kurunegala and the A12 which connects Puttalam with Trincomalee via Anuradhapura.

Daily buses available to Colombo and other cities like Kurunegala, Kandy and Anuradhapura.

Eat

• New Maduhoon Tea Room, Colombo Road (It's just south of the roundabout where the Highways A10 and A2 (Colombo Road) meet on the western side of the road.). This place is good for having Sri Lankan food on a low price. They have hoppers, "short eats" and rice and curry. 20-150 LKR. 

Sleep

Budget

• Rest House (Near the bus station: if you go west from the bus station it's the first and last street before getting to Colombo Rd/The Seaside; there are actually big signs on Colombo Rd showing the direction saying). This hotel looks a little bit old and the rooms are big and have bathrooms. There is also a restaurant which prices are higher than in local eateries (300-800 LKR), but they have beer (350 LKR per bottle) and liquor. From 1500 to 2500 LKR. 

Mid-range

• Ruwala Nature & Aventure Park Resort (reservations@ruwalaresort.com), Kalpitiya Road, Thihaliya, Eththale, Kalpitiya (On the way from Pulatam to Kalpitiya), ☏ +94 777 345 531, +94 777 530 542. Rustic eco-retreat and adventure-park on the banks of the Puttlam Lagoon. From 80 to 120$. 

Go next

• Anuradhapura