North Western Province is a province of Sri Lanka. The province consists of the districts of Kurunegala and Puttalam. Its capital is Kurunegala. The province is known mainly for its numerous coconut plantations. Other main towns in this province are Chilaw and Puttalam, which are both small fishing towns. The majority of the population of Wayamba province is of Sinhalese ethnicity. There is also a substantial Sri Lankan Moor minority around Puttalam and Sri Lankan Tamils in Udappu and Munneswaram. Fishing, prawn farming and rubber tree plantations are other prominent industries of the region.

Visit Archaeological sites. The Wayamba province is a treasure house of archaeology having been seat of four medieval kingdoms of Sri Lanka between the mid 12th and mid 14th centuries. Having forced to move capitals due to foreign invasions, Sri Lankan kings nevertheless built magnificent citadels are Yapahuwa, Panduwasnuwara, Dambadeniya and Kurunegala. Impressive remains of those citadels, palaces, Buddhist temples and monasteries provide exciting sight seeing to the visitors.

Visit Rock temples. Wayamba and Kurunegala are also the home for other ancient Buddhist rock temples, mostly with 1st century B.C roots, with wall and ceiling frescos, colossal Buddha images, stone inscriptions and sculptures dating from early medieval to 18th century period.

Visit Beaches. The sparkling blue surf of the Indian Ocean and scenic tropical lagoons which edge the western shores of the Wayamba province are glided with 240 kilometres of wide, sun drenched beaches. These beaches stretch from Waikkal at its southern end to Dutch Bay in the Puttalam district. Some of Wayamba's best resort beaches are at Marawila, Talwila, Kalpitiya and Waikkal. These beaches are often with the bonus of a lagoon or a river front and make excellent bases for stay-put beach holidays. Some of the beach resorts also offer viewing of underwater Coral wonderlands off Kandakuliya and Karaitivu. Many fishing villages dot the coastal areas.

Kurunegala

Kurunegala is a major city in Sri Lanka. It is the capital city of the North Western Province and the Kurunegala District. Kurunegala was an ancient royal capital for 50 years, from the end of the 13th century to the start of the 14th century. It is at the junction of several main roads linking to other important parts of the country. It is about 94 kilometres (58 mi) from Colombo, 42 kilometres (26 mi) from Kandy and 51 kilometres (32 mi) from Matale. There are eight very noticeable large rocks that encircle and dominate the city. Kurunegala's rocks rise from the plain below and have characteristic names, six of which come from the animals that they are imagined to represent. The largest among them is Ethagala or the "Elephant Rock" The shape of Ethagala resembles an elephant.

Kurunegala is essentially a beautiful and busy ‘junction’ town, as it would have been called in its colonial heyday. It acts as a crossover or interchange point between your important Sri Lankan destinations of Colombo and Anuradhapura or even Kandy and Puttalam. Although off the beaten track, you will find that Kurunegala has its own little box of history and scenic landscapes to share. The town is tucked into a pretty little valley with a lake at the edge of town, encircled by a ring of ancient rocks. Most of these rocks are believed to represent animals. If you stare at them hard enough, you may even discover rock shapes of elephants, lions and tortoises! Although Kurunegala had served as a medieval capital of Sinhala for nearly half a century, not much remains of its medieval palaces or royal pavilions. What the town does have, however, is a massive white statue of the Samadhi Meditation Buddha, overlooking the town from one of the surrounding rock hills. The vantage point offers lovely panoramic views of the valley and the lake stretched out below. The Kurunegala or Rantalia Lake would also offer you peaceful lakeside views as the sun sets over the verdant valley.

Puttalam

Puttalam is a district situated near to the west coast of Sri Lanka. Along with the Kurunegala District, it formulates the North Western Province of Sri Lanka. The district capital is Puttalam, which borders the Kala Oya and Modaragam Aru in the north, Anuradhapura District and Kurunegala District in the east, Ma Oya in the south, and the Indian Ocean in the west. Puttalam is well known for its picturesque lagoons, popular for shallow sea fishing and prawn farming activities. The town of Kalpitiya, and the Kalpitiya Peninsula, is located in this district.

The Puttalam district, an area northwest of Colombo, is a secret treasure trove long left untouched by mass tourism. Thinly populated by a fascinating mixture of cultures and religions, this northwestern province is beautiful and wild, with looming rocks rising sharply from the earth and dreamy wewas (reservoirs) with their circling storks and eagles, flashing kingfishers and beautiful water lilies. The area has several nature reserves, the two most spectacular being the massive Wilpattu National Park and the Puttalam Lagoon. Wilpattu is a vast park which re-opened as recently as 2010. Unique scenery and flora combined with a very healthy number of leopards make this park a fantastic and far less touristy alternative to Yala at the right time of year. To really experience this off-the-beaten-track park, an overnight stay is wonderful. The Chilaw area is a birdwatching haven as it is on the cusp between Sri Lanka’s dry and wet zone. The Anawilundawa reserve is a particularly good and remote spot. Puttalam is a melting pot of Moorish, Tamil, Christian and Sinhala cultures, with an interesting frontier town atmosphere and good food. As you head north from here, the land becomes drier and sparser past the lagoon towards Kalpitiya. For an interesting beach option, head to the Kalpitiya Peninsula, home to several lovely, laid back beach hotels. The beaches are sandy and empty, though in truth, much less pretty than the bays of the southern coast. You'll find the region is somewhat dry and dusty, and there are few outside dining options. There is also a prominent power station off-shore a few miles away and several wind turbines. That said, the beach would suit people who like to get right away from it all and the dolphin watching here is incredible during the right season, which runs from October through to April when the weather is settled and hot. Visitors also come for kitesurfing too, and the season for this runs from May to September, when forceful winds are pretty constant. Further inland, The Mudhouse is a unique experiment in simple village-style living and excellent local excursions and activities. It is an eco-retreat near the mysterious and beautiful Paramakanda Rock Temple, far away from the beaten track. Bicycles come with the room, and exploring this rural area is a joy. This area resounds with history and legend, but two of the most interesting sites are the former and short-lived capital of Pandus Nuwara, the site of a local Rapunzel-like legend about a princess with long hair, and the rock citadel of Yapahuwa.

Large towns

Kuliyapitiya (Urban Council)
Chilaw (Urban Council)

List of other towns

Alawwa
Anamaduwa
Bolawatta
Dankotuwa
Galgamuwa
Hettipola Kalpitiya Kumarakattuwa
Madampe
Maho
Marawila
Narammala
Nattandiya
Nikaweratiya
Pannala
Madurankuli
Wariyapola
Wennappuwa
Pallama
Polgahawela