Richmond Castle

Richmond Castle is one of the main tourist attractions in the Kalutara. It was built by Don Arthur De Silva the Mudaliyar has a tale of its own. The Mudaliyar was inspired by the architecture of the Palace of Maharaja of Ramnad of India, one of his old school mates from London. The mansion was completed  around early 1900s by local builders.

How to Get there?

The castle is located in located in a rural area called Thekkawatta which lies some 3 km east of Kalutara town. You can easily hire a tuk-tuk for about 200 LKR from the town. [ Google Maps Directions ]. Public transport is unreliable in these parts hence it is advisable to arrange your own transport.

The entrance is just by the narrow road and you’ll have to travel about another 500m through a tree-lined tranquil road to reach the castle. The carpark is located within the estate.

Open Hours

Everyday from 8:00 AM to 04:00 PM

Ticket Prices

• Foreign Nationals : LKR  500.00
• Local Adults : LKR  50.00
• School Children : LKR  10.00
• Wedding Photography : LKR   3,000.00
• Wedding Pre-Shoots : LKR 10,000.00
• Fashion Photography (Modeling) : LKR 10,000.00

About the castle

The Richmond Castle, which is situated in 42 acres of land with stunning views, is a blend of structural design on a trail from the East to the West.

As the Mudaliyar, wanted to maintain the true luxury and exquisiteness of the mansion; every accessory of the mansion, including the tiles, fixtures wood and even the marble-laid outdoors through the entryway, is said to have been imported from Myanmar.

The banquet hall, which is said to have housed many, both local and foreign dignitaries, has an underground ventilation system, which would direct the cool winds blowing from the Kalu Ganga (Kalu River) into the room, maintaining a natural air cooling system.

The bedrooms of the mansion were designed to be soundproof and to maintain the cool within the rooms, with the aging of the mansion and poor maintenance of it, the putty and other materials used for interiors could be seen through the decayed walls. The Richmond Castle is a living testament to the intricate fusion of the art and crafts of many cultures and works of art architectural structures.

This Mansion was also used to the filming of the world-renowned film ‘water’ due to its architectural significance. The mansion which homes to the Mudaliyar and housed many dignitaries is now a house to the less fortunate children. The house is open to tourists from 9 am-4 pm daily. Visitors are welcomed every day to visit the castle and you can visit the castle throughout the year. You can either go by bus or train to reach the castle.

The featured photo by insanophobia Do not reuse without permission