Uchimunai Church

Located in the North-Western province of Sri Lanka, in the Puttalam district, Kalpitiya is becoming a rapidly popular tourist destination that features 14 of its own small islands more than 150 kilometres away from the dense city of Colombo. On the northern tip of the Kalpitiya peninsula, accessible via a long sand route or through a boat ride across the lagoon, the Uchimunai Church overlooks the water with a view to Wilpattu National Park.

Off the Beaten Path

This Roman Catholic church serves the local fishing village but is not regularly used. The beautiful old church is rarely visited due to the difficulty of navigating its roads, but it is well worth a visit. According to locals, a mass honouring the church’ saint is held once every year at the church. 

The church is currently undergoing some minor renovation, so visitors are advised to take precaution when exploring the interiors. The best way to get to the church is by 4×4 or a dirt bike, as the thick bed of soft sands can be hard to drive on for many vehicles. Alternatively, you can opt to take a scenic boat ride across the lagoon to get to the church.