Dharga Town (Sinhala:දර්ගා නගරය Tamil: தர்கா நகரம் ) is a town located in Kalutara District, Western Province, Sri Lanka.[1] Governed by the Beruwala Urban council under the Government of Sri Lanka. Dharga Town is close to Aluthgama and the tourist town Bentota.
Dharga Town
දර්ගා නගරය தர்கா நகரம் | |
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![]() Sheik Hassan Bin Osman Magdoomy (Rali) Dharga Mosque | |
![]() ![]() Dharga Town Location in Sri Lanka | |
Coordinates: 6°26′45″N 80°00′09″E | |
Country | Sri Lanka |
Province | Western Province |
District | Kalutara District |
Population (2012) | |
• Total | 20,540 |
Time zone | UTC+05:30 (SLST) |
Postal code | 12090 |
Area code | 034 |
The name Dharga Town was derived after the Dharga of Sheik Hassan Bin Osman Magodoomy (Rali)'s shrine, which traces its origin to around 1866 AD, when he was enshrined in his home town.[2] The town was named Dharga Town by the Muslims in the 1940s.[3]
While the first Sri Lankan Muslim settlement was considered Beruwala also known as Berbereen which was founded by Abu Yusuf al-Barbari, a Berber Traveler, the Second Muslim settlement was in the town called Dharga town which was then called as Alutgamaweedia.[3]
Dharga Town is a Muslim majority town. Sinhalese are sizable minority. There is also small numbers of Tamils.
Dharga Town has three Government Muslim Schools such as Zahira College Dharga Town (One of the oldest schools in Dharga Town),[4] Al Hambra Maha Vidyalaya and Aluthgamveediya Muslims Ladies National School along with other Government Preliminary Schools and Private Schools. One of the Teacher-training College of the Government is also situated in Dharga Town named, Dharga Nagar National College of Education.[5]
Majority of the population are Sri Lankan Muslims, while Sinhalese and Tamils make up the rest of 20540 (including Seenawatha 765-A and Welipitiya 768-A)[13]
The Aluthgama Railway Station is located on the Coastal Line, connecting Colombo to Matara and Beliatta.
Dharga Town is served by the B157 Aluthgama – Mathugama road in Sri Lanka.
Dharga Town has an extensive public transport system based on buses operated both by private operators and the government-owned Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) along the B157 Aluthgama – Mathugama road and the closest main bus stand is Aluthgama Bus Stand situated in the A2 highway.[16]
Auto rickshaws also known as Three wheelers are entirely operated by individuals and hardly regulated whilst some are metered.
There are many private taxi's operated by individuals which includes Van's and Car's mostly parked in the Taxi stands in the town.