Discover Puttalam

Puttalam can be understood through historical events, named places, and its connection to the lagoon. These include a travel account from the 14th century, a royal visit in the 18th century, and a road along the lagoon shore. There is also context about Puttalam Lagoon at the level of the broader travel destination of Puttalam. If you are planning a hotel stay, these different points of reference can first help you decide which aspects of the destination matter for choosing where to stay.

Historical Connections in Puttalam

On September 21, 1345, Ibin Batuta arrived in Puttalam from Morocco on his way to Adam’s Peak. This dated episode places Puttalam within a 14th-century travel history. Another historical event concerns 1720: when the Kandyan king Sri Veera Parakrama Narendrasinhe visited Puttalam, he presented a trumpet and two royal insignia to the Mohideen Jumma (Grand Mosque) Masjid. The two accounts offer different historical points of reference: the first focuses on a journey from Morocco toward Adam’s Peak, while the second concerns a royal visit and a specific presentation. This makes it possible to consider the history separately by time, person, and event.

The traveler Ibin Batuta is also commemorated in the name of a road. The road running along the lagoon shore is called Ibin Batuta Road and was named in his honor in 1991. This connects a dated travel event with a later naming of a road. Another place reference helps locate the area: St. Clement Catholic Church is on the main road between Puttalam and Colombo. The road and the church thus point to different landmarks—the lagoon shore on the one hand, and the main road between the two named places on the other.

The Lagoon in the Broader Travel Destination of Puttalam

In the broader travel destination of Puttalam, Puttalam Lagoon is also considered in ecological terms. A study of ecosystem services examined the lagoon in relation to the Puttalam Divisional Secretariat Division; the surrounding area provides provisioning services within this division. Puttalam is one of four Divisional Secretariat Divisions around Puttalam Lagoon. The Puttalam Divisional Secretariat Division includes six lagoon landing sites.

In the broader travel destination of Puttalam, the population depends directly on Puttalam Lagoon for both food and livelihoods. In Ibn Battuta’s account, the shores of Puttalam were associated with the trade of cinnamon for clothing. The two statements highlight different aspects of the lagoon: a regional source of livelihood and a historical trading connection. This distinction can help with your travel planning if you are interested in ecological context, local history, or regional connections.

When looking for hotels in Puttalam, you can first decide whether local history and orientation or the wider lagoon context is more important for your stay. Then choose a specific hotel based on the criteria that matter for your trip.

Discover more destinations: Bandara Koswatta, Pallama, Diyature, Etalai, Kudawa, Dambadeniya, Galgamuwa, Anamaduwa.

See the broader travel overview: North Western Province.