Found 65 km from the Bandaranayake International Airport and a just 100 km away from the commercial capital of Colombo, the coastal city of Chilaw ranks as one of the more peaceful getaways in the Puttalam District. Known for its diverse cultural background, the main livelihood of the area is fishing. Bearing features of the European influence, Chilaw remains as one of the leading towns that boasts of a large Roman Catholic community. Those entering the city limits will be greeted by a beautiful statuette of Mother Mary built as a means of warding off all evil. .
Anantaya Resort & Spa Chilaw comes across as a favoured holiday retreat as it provides visitors with easy access to the Chilaw beach and lagoon. Showcasing a fine blend of culture, colour and custom, the four week long Munneswaram Festival features prominently and attracts a large gathering of Buddhists, Muslims, Catholics and Hindus. The Munneswaram Temple also is a sacred shrine of worship for those of the Hindu faith and sees festivals such as ‘Sivarathri’ and ‘Navarathri’ celebrated annually. The birth of Sinhala drama – ‘Nadagama’ also derived from Chilaw.