How to find the best guide on Kalpitiya Dutch Fort

The Kalpitiya Dutch Fort is an important colonial landmark found near the north-western coast of Sri Lanka. For the Dutch, it served as a military and governance capital with many canals and trade routes being created to travel to and from the Fort. This historical site is well worth a visit if you’re in the area and if possible, you should consider hiring yourself a guide to take you through it – here’s how to find a good one.

                                                    Img via Dolphin Beach Resort

What is the Kalpitiya Fort

To start off with, you’ll want to check whether your guide knows of the rich history associated with the fort – how it came to be, what purpose did it serve, and how its role changed with the times. In this regard, it’s good to know a bit about the fort yourself. a bit of reading up and research will help you discern if the guide knows what he’s talking about. As such, here’s a quick rundown on the history of the fort. In 1544, the Portuguese invaded Kalpitiya – hen referred to as Kav Putti – and bestowed the territory to the Jesuits. The Sri Lankan King at the time – Rajasinghe II – sought to reclaim the land and asked the Dutch for assistance. Now, while the Dutch were able to drive the Portuguese away, they did not hand the lands back either. Instead, they commenced the building of a fort in 1667 after realising the value Kalpitiya would have as a port for the Dutch East India Company. The Fort was square in shape with high walls that were made out of coral stone. Once the British subjugated the island, they continued occupying the fort as well – at least up until 1855. After this the fort was left abandoned for many decades, finally being reused by the Sri Lankan Navy during the late 20^th century.

Knowing the Way

The Kalpitiya Fort is quite a large structure. After all, the Dutch did build it as a centre of operations and as such, it had many facilities and buildings. These included a chapel – which was originally built by the Portuguese – a barracks, a large dining hall, a commander’s quarters, and even a prison. This isn’t to mention the numerous watchtowers and guard posts that were sprung all around the fort. Essentially, you’ll need a guide that knows how to navigate this maze, on top being able to regale the significance of each building and section. So, before hiring one, quickly quiz him on how he plans to take you through the fort.

Ask Your Friends

A fairly reliable way to determine if someone’s a good guide is to check with their references, and it’s even better if these are references that you trust. So, if you had friends that have travelled to Kalpitiya, be sure to ask them if they have any recommendations for a guide. Keep in mind that most guides don’t just stick to a select few sites. If some of your friends had a great time with a guide who showed them around another nearby landmark, chances are they’d be a great choice to show you around the fort as well.  

Check with the Locals

You can always ask the locals for a recommendation. The best way to do this is via a forum or through social media. You can simply request for a guide to show you around the Kalpitiya area – or specifically the Kalpitiya Dutch Fort itself. You can also ask your accommodation provider for some guidance as well. Most major hotels and resorts in the area – such as the Dolphin Beach Resort – offer their own tours. It’s very likely that your hotelier will at least have a lead on who the best guides are.