Car rental in Wadduwa puts you on Galle Road (A2), about 33km south of Colombo on the west coast. From here, the hollow Kalutara Chaitya is 9km south, Richmond Castle and its 99 doors are 12km away, and Pahiyangala Cave is about 45km inland.
Rentrals has 39 cars here from $21.29 a day, all with city delivery and no credit card needed. 14 are SUVs and 7 are new.
The cheapest car, the Datsun redi GO at $21.29 a day, has a manual gearbox. Sri Lanka drives on the left, so if you want an automatic, book the Suzuki Wagon R at $22.29 instead. The other 38 cars are automatic.
39 cars from $21.29/day
City delivery on every car
No credit card required
2 cars with unlimited mileage
What you get with Rentrals in Wadduwa
Why rent a car in Wadduwa?
Wadduwa is a quiet beach town with Ayurveda resorts, coconut groves and a station on the coast railway. The places worth seeing are spread out around it.
No regular bus runs to Pahiyangala Cave. Kalutara’s stupa and Richmond Castle sit on opposite banks of the Kalu Ganga, and the Bawa gardens are inland from Bentota. A car covers all of them in a day.
When you rent a car in Wadduwa, every car comes with city delivery and needs no credit card. The Datsun redi GO is the only manual car; the other 38 are automatic .
Kalutara Chaitya: a hollow stupa with 74 murals
The white stupa just south of Kalutara Bridge is hollow. You can walk inside it, which is rare for a Buddhist stupa.
Engineer A. N. S. Kulasinghe designed the thin concrete shell, and the dome is about 30m across. Inside, 74 murals show scenes from the Buddha’s life, and 4 small stupas stand around the centre. Building began in the 1960s, and relics were enshrined in 1980.
The site was a Portuguese fort, later held by the Dutch and then the British. Across the road is the Kalutara Bodhiya, a Bo tree believed to come from one of the 32 saplings of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi at Anuradhapura. Drivers often stop here to leave a coin and pray for a safe journey.
Car rental from Wadduwa to Kalutara takes 15 to 20 minutes. Park at the temple car park on the south side of the bridge, and wear clothes that cover your shoulders and knees.
Richmond Castle: 99 doors beside the Kalu Ganga
Mudaliyar Don Arthur de Silva Wijesinghe Siriwardena built this 2 storey mansion in the early 1900s, finishing around 1910. It sits on a 42 acre estate at Palatota, about 2km inland from Kalutara town.
The house has 99 doors and 34 windows. The story goes that the Raja of Ramnad refused to share the plans of his Indian palace, so Siriwardena sent architects to sketch it during a visit. Italian floor tiles and a Burmese teak staircase are still in place.
Siriwardena had no children. When he died in 1947, he left the estate to the Public Trustee to be used as a children’s home, and it’s open to visitors today.
With car hire from Wadduwa, Richmond Castle is about 12km and 25 minutes away. Combine it with the Kalutara Chaitya on the same morning.
Brief Garden: Bevis Bawa’s estate near Aluthgama
Bevis Bawa started work on Brief Garden in 1929, on a former rubber estate inland from Aluthgama. His father, a lawyer, had bought the land with the fee from a legal brief, which gave the garden its name.
Bawa kept shaping the garden until he died in 1992. Guests are said to have included Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier and Agatha Christie. The Australian artist Donald Friend came for a short stay and lived there for several years; his sculptures and murals are still in the house.
Bevis’s brother Geoffrey Bawa, Sri Lanka’s best known architect, built his own garden at Lunuganga on Dedduwa Lake near Bentota. You can see both in one afternoon.
Brief Garden is about 32km from Wadduwa, roughly 55 minutes by car. The last few kilometres are on narrow rural lanes.
Pahiyangala Cave: 37,000 years of human history
Pahiyangala, also called Fa Hien Cave, is near Bulathsinhala in the Kalutara District. Its entrance is about 50m high, and it’s one of the largest natural caves in Sri Lanka.
Archaeologists found human remains and stone tools here dated to about 37,000 years ago, among the oldest evidence of people living on the island. Local tradition says the Chinese monk Fa Hien stayed in the cave in the 5th century.
A temple now uses the cave, with a reclining Buddha of about 12m inside. You climb several hundred steps to reach it, so go in the morning.
Car hire from Wadduwa to Pahiyangala Cave takes about 1h 15min via Horana, around 45km each way. No regular bus goes there.
Driving the west coast from Wadduwa
Wadduwa sits between Colombo and the beach resorts further south. Panadura is about 6km north and Colombo about 33km, roughly 1 hour on Galle Road.
South along the A2, Kalutara is 9km, Beruwala about 22km and Bentota about 32km, with boat trips on the Bentota river.
Bandaranaike International Airport at Katunayake is about 70km north. Allow 1h 30min using the expressways, and longer at rush hour.
Choosing the right car in Wadduwa
Suzuki Wagon R
The cheapest automatic, with a low deposit. Easy to park in Kalutara and on the beach lanes.
Nissan March
Automatic with unlimited mileage and free cancellation. Good for long days inland.
Honda Fit
More space than a Wagon R, with unlimited mileage and free cancellation.
Suzuki Every
A small van with room for luggage on an airport run.
Honda Vezel
A compact SUV from 14 in the fleet. Handles the rural lanes to Brief Garden and Pahiyangala.
Datsun redi GO (manual)
The cheapest car, and the only manual. Book it only if you drive a manual confidently on the left.
Car rental prices in Wadduwa: 39 cars from $21.29, 38 automatic
38 of the 39 cars in Wadduwa are automatic. The exception is the Datsun redi GO at $21.29 a day, which is manual; the cheapest automatic is the Suzuki Wagon R at $22.29. Every car comes with city delivery and needs no credit card. 26 have a low deposit, 3 have no deposit, 19 have free cancellation, 15 have full insurance, 14 are SUVs and 7 are new. These are the main models; the full list is on the booking widget.
| Car | Transmission | Key detail | Price/day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Datsun redi GO | Manual | Cheapest overall, low deposit | $21.29 |
| Suzuki Wagon R | Automatic | Cheapest automatic, low deposit | $22.29 |
| Suzuki Wagon R | Automatic | Low deposit | $23.29 to $28.29 |
| Nissan March | Automatic | Unlimited mileage, free cancellation | $25.00 |
| Suzuki Every | Automatic | Van body, low deposit | $27.29 |
| Honda Fit | Automatic | Unlimited mileage, free cancellation | $29.00 |
| Suzuki Wagon R | Automatic | Free cancellation, low deposit | $30.15 |
| Suzuki Alto | Automatic | Free cancellation, low deposit | $30.15 |
| Toyota Vitz | Automatic | Low deposit | $32.29 |
| Toyota Aqua (hybrid) | Automatic | Low deposit, low fuel use | $33.29 |
| Toyota Axio | Automatic | Saloon, low deposit | $39.15 |
| Honda Vezel (SUV) | Automatic | Low deposit | $45.15 |
| Toyota Yaris (new) | Automatic | New car, low deposit | $45.15 |
| Toyota Premio | Automatic | Saloon, low deposit | $47.15 |
| Toyota Raize (SUV) | Automatic | Low deposit | $49.29 |
| Toyota CHR (SUV) | Automatic | Low deposit | $50.15 |
| All other 38 cars automatic | |||
The Datsun redi GO at $21.29 a day is the only manual car in the Wadduwa fleet. For an automatic on Galle Road, the cheapest is the Suzuki Wagon R at $22.29. All other 38 cars are automatic. The Nissan March ($25.00) and Honda Fit ($29.00) come with unlimited mileage. Every other car includes 1,400km per rental, which is plenty for the west coast.Cheap car rental in Wadduwa starts at $22.29 for an automatic. Prices change with the season and update daily, so check the booking widget for your dates.
Driving from Wadduwa: distances to Kalutara, Bentota, Colombo and the airport
Times below are typical outside rush hour. Galle Road slows down badly between 7am and 9am and from 4pm to 7pm.
| Destination | Distance | Drive time | Why go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panadura | about 6km | 15 min | Nearest large town, shops and banks |
| Kalutara Chaitya | about 9km | 15 to 20 min | Hollow stupa, 74 murals, Bodhiya |
| Richmond Castle | about 12km | 25 min | Mansion with 99 doors |
| Horana | about 18km | 35 min | On the road to Pahiyangala |
| Beruwala | about 22km | 35 min | Beach, fishing harbour, Kechimalai Mosque |
| Brief Garden | about 32km | 55 min | Bevis Bawa’s garden |
| Bentota | about 32km | 50 min | River boat trips, Lunuganga |
| Colombo | about 33km | 1h | Galle Face, Pettah, shopping |
| Pahiyangala Cave | about 45km | 1h 15min | 37,000 year old remains, reclining Buddha |
| Colombo Airport | about 70km | 1h 30min | Via the expressways |
North of Wadduwa are Moratuwa and Mount Lavinia. South of Bentota, the coast continues to Ahungalla and Hikkaduwa.
Driving tips for Galle Road and the west coast
- Sri Lanka drives on the left. 38 of the 39 Rentrals cars in Wadduwa are automatic .
- The only manual car is the Datsun redi GO at $21.29. Avoid it unless you drive a manual on the left with confidence.
- Galle Road is 2 lanes for most of its length. Buses pull in and out without warning, so keep your distance.
- The coast railway crosses roads in several places. Stop at closed gates and wait for the barrier to lift.
- For Colombo or the airport, the Southern Expressway is faster than Galle Road. It’s a toll road, so carry rupees.
- The roads to Pahiyangala and Brief Garden are narrow and winding. Drive them in daylight.
- Speed limits for cars are generally 50km/h in towns, 70km/h on open roads and 100km/h on expressways.
- The blood alcohol limit is 0.08%, and the minimum driving age is 18.
What you need to rent a car in Wadduwa
Documents
Passport, your home driving licence and an International Driving Permit. Sri Lanka asks foreign drivers to have the IDP endorsed by the Automobile Association of Ceylon, or to hold a temporary local permit from the Department of Motor Traffic.
Age
Drivers must be 18 or older. Some suppliers set their own minimum age, which shows on the car listing.
Payment
Car rental in Wadduwa with no credit card. Pay 15 to 20% at booking and the balance at pickup. 3 cars need no security deposit.
Cover and cancellation
15 cars have full insurance, with tiers shown at booking. 19 cars have free cancellation. Confirm the gearbox before you pay.
How booking works
Compare
Pick your dates and compare the 39 cars by price, deposit, mileage and transmission.
Reserve
Pay 15 to 20% online. Booking is instant, with no credit card required.
Delivery
The car comes to your hotel, resort or villa in Wadduwa.
Handover
Check the car face to face with the supplier, pay the balance and drive away. No hidden fees.
A Kalutara District day from Wadduwa
A full day that covers the cave, the castle and the stupa.
Best time to visit Wadduwa
December to April
West coast dry season. Calm sea and sunny days for beach time and day trips.
December to March
The busiest months for resorts. Book your car early.
May to September
Southwest monsoon. Rough sea and heavy showers; Ayurveda stays and inland trips still work.
October and November
Inter monsoon rain, usually in the afternoon. Lower prices.
What to keep in the car
- Clothes that cover shoulders and knees for the stupa and the cave temple
- Socks for hot temple floors, since shoes come off at the entrance
- Plenty of water and a hat for the Pahiyangala steps
- Rupee notes for parking, tolls and entry tickets
- A torch or phone light for the cave
- Towels for wet, sandy seats after the beach
Suggestions from Rentrals
Check the gearbox before you pay
The $21.29 Datsun redi GO is manual. For $1 more, the Suzuki Wagon R at $22.29 is automatic.
Pick unlimited mileage for long days
The Nissan March and Honda Fit have no distance limit. Useful if you plan Pahiyangala, Kalutara and Bentota on separate days.
Plan your airport timing
Allow at least 1h 30min to the airport, and add an hour at rush hour.
Book a free cancellation car
19 cars have free cancellation. Handy if your flight times change.
Start Pahiyangala early
The steps are steep and get hot by late morning. Leave Wadduwa by 7am.
Book Brief Garden ahead
Opening times can vary. Call ahead before driving out.
Use the expressway for Colombo
Galle Road is slow between Panadura and Colombo. The expressway saves time at peak hours.
Photograph the car at handover
The inspection is face to face. Take photos of each side, the wheels and the fuel gauge before you set off.
Car rental in Wadduwa: frequently asked questions
How much does car rental in Wadduwa cost?
Car rental in Wadduwa starts at $21.29 a day for the Datsun redi GO, which is manual. The cheapest automatic is the Suzuki Wagon R at $22.29. SUVs such as the Honda Vezel, Toyota Raize and Toyota CHR run from $45.15 to $50.15. The fleet has 39 cars, with no credit card needed and city delivery on every car. Prices update daily.
Are the rental cars in Wadduwa automatic or manual?
38 of the 39 cars are automatic. The exception is the Datsun redi GO at $21.29 a day, which is manual. If you’re not used to driving on the left, choose an automatic; the cheapest is the Suzuki Wagon R at $22.29. Check the transmission badge on each listing before you book.
How far is the Kalutara Chaitya from Wadduwa?
About 9km, or 15 to 20 minutes by car. The Kalutara Chaitya is a hollow stupa beside Kalutara Bridge, with 74 murals of the Buddha’s life inside. The Kalutara Bodhiya, a sacred Bo tree, is across the road.
Can I visit Pahiyangala Cave from Wadduwa?
Yes. Pahiyangala, also called Fa Hien Cave, is about 45km inland, roughly 1h 15min via Horana. Human remains found there are about 37,000 years old. No regular bus goes there, so a car is the easiest way. Start early, as the climb is steep.
How far is Brief Garden from Wadduwa?
About 32km, roughly 55 minutes. Brief Garden is inland from Aluthgama. Bevis Bawa started it in 1929 and worked on it until 1992. Geoffrey Bawa’s Lunuganga estate near Bentota is close enough to visit on the same afternoon.
Is city delivery available for car hire in Wadduwa?
Yes, every car includes city delivery. The car can be brought to your hotel, resort or villa in Wadduwa. Add the address and time when you book. The damage inspection takes place face to face at handover.
What is the mileage allowance for car rental in Wadduwa?
Most cars include 1,400km per rental. The Nissan March ($25.00) and Honda Fit ($29.00) come with unlimited mileage. A round trip to Pahiyangala Cave is about 90km, so the standard allowance covers several day trips.
How far is Wadduwa from Colombo Airport?
Bandaranaike International Airport at Katunayake is about 70km north. Allow about 1h 30min using the expressways, and more at rush hour. City delivery means the car can meet you at your Wadduwa hotel after you arrive.
What is Richmond Castle?
A mansion finished around 1910 by Mudaliyar Siriwardena, on a 42 acre estate beside the Kalu Ganga near Kalutara. It has 99 doors and 34 windows. He left it to the Public Trustee as a children’s home in 1947. It’s about 12km from Wadduwa.
Are there SUVs for car rental in Wadduwa?
Yes. 14 of the 39 cars are SUVs, including the Honda Vezel at $45.15, the Toyota Raize at $49.29 and the Toyota CHR at $50.15. Use the SUV filter on the booking page to see them all.
Do I need an International Driving Permit to rent a car in Wadduwa?
Yes, plan on it. Sri Lanka asks foreign drivers to carry an International Driving Permit endorsed by the Automobile Association of Ceylon, or a temporary local permit from the Department of Motor Traffic. Bring your home licence and passport too. The minimum driving age is 18.
Can I book a car with a driver in Wadduwa?
Yes. Rentrals lists self drive and with driver options. A driver suits airport runs or anyone who’d prefer not to drive on Galle Road. Availability and price depend on the car and your dates.
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Book your car in Wadduwa
39 cars from $21.29 a day, 38 of them automatic, with no credit card and city delivery on every car. Compare the fleet above and pick the car that fits your west coast trip.
Wadduwa car rental guide