Kalpitiya is a crescent-shaped strip of land that arches approximately 40km from the Sri Lankan mainland just south of Puttalam on the northwest coast. Almost entirely untouched by tourism except for the resorts that make up Alankuda Beach, this arid, mostly flat, strip of land is famous for its fisheries, its Muslim and Catholic inhabitants, its lagoons and its expansive saltpans. There's plenty of wildlife to be seen both on land and in the
sea, and bird watching is a particularly highlight. Wilpattu National Park – famed for its leopards – is an hour's drive away. Cultural attractions to be discovered include the seventeeth century St Anne's Church at Talawila, Sri Lanka's most revered Catholic shrine, which sees up to 700,000 pilgrims visiting during the festival months of March and August alone. Kalpitiya offers few tourist facilities. Although banks with ATMs are available in local towns, being self-sufficient is a good option. Fresh produce, local beers and spirits can be bought locally but imported goods are unlikely to be found, as there are no well-stocked supermarkets in the locality.
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