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Richmond Castle

A masterpiece of colonial architecture featuring 99 doors, 34 windows, and Burmese teak columns. This two-story Edwardian mansion offers visitors a journey back to the early 20th century along the Kalu Ganga river.

Details of Richmond Castle

Open now 

Accessibility

Wheelchair-accessible toilet 

Wheelchair-accessible car park 

Wheelchair-accessible entrance 

Children

Good for kids 

Parking

Paid parking lot 

Free parking lot 

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Overview - Richmond Castle

Located in Palatota, just outside the bustling town of Kalutara, Richmond Castle is one of Sri Lanka’s most captivating architectural heritage sites. Built at the turn of the 20th century by Mudaliyar Don Arthur de Silva Wijesinghe Siriwardena, a wealthy philanthropist and regional governor, the mansion was modeled after an Indian Maharaja's palace. The structure is renowned for its blend of Eastern and Western architectural styles, featuring floor tiles from Italy, stained glass from Scotland, and iron staircases from England. The mansion stands amidst a 42-acre fruit garden on a hill overlooking the Kalu Ganga river. Beyond its beauty, the castle holds a melancholic history; despite his immense wealth, the Mudaliyar died without an heir, eventually bequeathing the property to the Public Trustee for the care of destitute children. Today, it serves as a popular tourist attraction and an educational center, offering visitors a glimpse into the grandeur of the colonial era.

Tags/ Categories

Historical SiteArchitectureGardenEducationalScenic Viewpoint

Highlights

The Main Mansion-image

The Main Mansion

Main Hall Wood Carvings-image

Main Hall Wood Carvings

Riverside Gardens-image

Riverside Gardens

Upper Balcony View-image

Upper Balcony View

Nearby Attractions

Kalutara Bodhiya-image
Religious Site

Kalutara Bodhiya

4.7

2,100 reviews

One of the most sacred Buddhist sites in Sri Lanka, featuring a hollow stupa and a revered Bodhi tree. Located near the Kalu Ganga bridge.

Calido Beach-image
Beach / Nature

Calido Beach

4

450 reviews

A popular strip of beach located on a spit of land between the Kalu Ganga river and the Indian Ocean. Great for sunset views.

Thudugala Ella Waterfall-image
Nature / Waterfall

Thudugala Ella Waterfall

4.3

320 reviews

A scenic waterfall located a short drive away, popular for bathing and surrounded by lush rubber plantations.

Ranjith's Carving Shop-image
Shopping / Art

Ranjith's Carving Shop

4.8

120 reviews

A local artisan shop famous for traditional Sri Lankan wood carvings and masks, offering demonstrations of the craft.

Navigations

Richmond Castle, Palatota Rd, Kalutara 12000, Sri Lanka

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Reviews

SA

Sanjula Ransinghe

Richmond Castle is one of the most beautiful and historically rich places I’ve visited in Sri Lanka. The architecture, inspired by an Indian mansion, is stunning with its intricate woodwork, large windows, and elegant design. The entire …

2 weeks ago

K.

K.G.R Thilina Buddhika Kahagalla

Richmond Castle in Kalutara, Sri Lanka, is a magnificent colonial-era mansion built in the early 1900s by Mudaliyar Don Arthur de Silva Wijesinghe Siriwardena, a wealthy landowner and philanthropist. Inspired by the palace of an Indian …

2 weeks ago

IS

isuru ayodhya

Richmond Castle, Kalutara – Review Richmond Castle is one of the most beautiful and historically fascinating places …

Edited a month ago

MI

Milinda Bandaranayake

Old mansion built by a wealthy person. Now functioning as a tourist attraction and a male children home. Entrance tickets are cheap and parking available inside the premises. The guide will give you a tour with the history of this place. All this will take around half an hour to 1 hour.

2 months ago

M.

M. TELEESHA FERNANDO

That was a superb place in kalutara district. You can learn mant things including history of that place, beauty, view, technologies which used for make it. Good for visit with ur families and friends even for school trips

4 weeks ago

MU

Mujahid Ahamed

It is a historically significant place with some of Europe's best architecture. It has a unique natural air cooling system, old Sri Lankan architectural technology, and more. You must visit this location to observe more.

4 months ago

HA

Hasith

Richmond Castle is a truly serene and beautiful place with a fascinating and poignant history.This Edwardian mansion, completed in 1910, was built by Mudalivar Don Arthur de Silva Wiiesinghe Siriwardena. He was inspired by a palace in …

2 months ago

GE

geethaka prabath

A peaceful spot with historical charm Richmond Castle in Kalutara is a colonial-era mansion with a unique backstory. …

5 months ago

SP

SP UK

13.09.2025 For an entrance ticket of 100 Rs for adults and 50 Rs for kids, this place is …

3 months ago

VA

Varathan NK

I recently visited Richmond Castle and it was such a beautiful and peaceful experience! The architecture is absolutely stunning — a blend of Edwardian style with a touch of local charm. The castle has a rich history, built between 1900 and …

7 months ago

IJ

Ijeshe Chandratilleke

A historical location in Sri Lanka. Hope authorities can preserve it for future generations. At the moment condition is not good. Sad to see standards going down.

a month ago

ER

eranga snow

Richmond Castle was commissioned by the local landowner and philanthropist Padikara Mudali Nanayakkara Rajawasala Appuhamilage Don Arthur de Silva Wijesinghe Siriwardena (12 November 1889 – 8 July 1947). Educated in Britain, Siriwardena was …

3 months ago

UM

UMAR Shums

I absolutely loved visiting Richmond Castle! Nestled within a vast 42-acre estate, this mansion is a true piece of Sri Lankan history. The architecture is stunning, and the peaceful surroundings make it a perfect getaway for anyone who …

7 months ago

SH

Shanuka Rathnayake

On March 31, 2023, we had the pleasure of visiting Richmond Castle in Kalutara, and it was a truly fascinating experience. The architecture and history of the castle were incredibly impressive. Surrounded by lush greenery and a peaceful …

6 months ago

TH

tharuka Yatiwella

This place was absolutely worth the visit. The guide was very friendly and explained everything in detail. We learned a lot, and the location itself was beautiful—a historical castle. Truly a valuable place to experience, and I hope its heritage is protected for future visitors. Loved it!

2 months ago

SH

shashini nawodya

A must-visit place. The entrance ticket is Rs. 100/=. If you’re coming by train, get off at Kalutara South railway station and take an Uber or PickMe; it will cost around Rs. 250. Never take the wheels from Wheel Park though — they charge around Rs. 400/500

3 months ago

IS

isuru nuwan

Incredible achievements! The affluent individuals in Sri Lanka truly exemplify wealth and prosperity. 🤑 …

Edited 3 months ago

IR

Ira Halas

This is a unique place for Sri Lanka. It’s a pity that it doesn’t look very well-maintained, but in my opinion, that adds to its charm. We didn’t have time for a full tour, but we saw a guide giving a tour and sharing stories about the place with other visitors. Worth a visit if you have the chance!

9 months ago

IS

Isuru Jayasundara

Richmond Castle in Kalutara is one of Sri Lanka’s most captivating heritage sites. Built in the early 1900s by Don Arthur de Silva Wijesinghe Siriwardena, a wealthy landowner educated in England, the mansion is a unique blend of Eastern and …

6 months ago

LA

Lasas Dias

This is not a bungalow, this is a mansion. The special thing about a mansion is From the ground, you can't see the roof here, it looks like a wall.

3 months ago

LI

lilan priyashantha

Uncover the story and the life of a local rich man who maintained ties to their colonial parents well by visiting the castle. …

a year ago

RI

Rizky Adi

Before I came to Sri Lanka, I have already looked for the information about this castle and its beautiful history. …

8 months ago

JO

Joe Kirby Brendan Treacy

Beautiful old building which unfortunately is going to disappear soon as it hasn’t been maintained at all! Got a lovely tour from a sweet lady, we were the only visitors there! It’s fascinating from an architectural point of view and a lovely place to visit!

10 months ago

MA

madee mathi

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A truly wonderful experience! We had an amazing vintage-style photo shoot at this beautiful old bungalow. The …

2 months ago

TH

Thilina M Liyanage

One of the places that you must definitely visit if you are touring around Kalutara. The place is maintained by the government trustee department. And the renovation process is in progress (We also saw that some places need a serious …

a year ago

RA

Rashmika KKR

Richmond Castle, a magnificent Edwardian mansion, stands proudly near Kalutara, Sri Lanka. Built between 1900 and 1910, it was the cherished residence of Mudaliyar Don Arthur de Silva Wijesinghe Siriwardena. …

Edited 9 months ago

ME

Melan De Silva

Important place for the person who likes to discover historical facts of Sri Lanka. The castle is a huge one and those days ,the owner used imported quality …

2 years ago

RU

Rumesh Akalanka

It's really nice to see an ancient place where people who had relations with foreign countries lived in Sri Lanka.

4 months ago

RO

Romain Joseph

A castle with historical significance! This is the most famous castle among school students. …

9 months ago

SE

Sewwandi Senevirathna

The Richmond Castle is the former home of a previous Ceylonese governor (Padikar Mudali) during the British colonial era of Sri Lanka. This is located in Kalutara, in an iconic location where you can see the Kalu river, the Kalutara Bo tree …

a year ago