Kanyakumari to Colombo - 263
Kanyakumari to Tuticorin
Kanyakumari (8°05'N., 77°33'E.), the S extremity of India, is low and sandy, with a small white pagoda on its extremity. This pagoda is surrounded by a high wall above which the top may be seen. A bungalow lies NW of the pagoda. A conspicuous memorial, 37m high, lies close W of the cape. The coast close W of the pagoda is barren and sandy, but is wooded NE of it.
Kanyakumari Light is shown from a square white tower, 63m high, and painted in red bands, about 0.3 mile NW of.the cape. A church, 54m high, lies in a village about 0.5 mile N of the cape.
Good radar returns have been reported from Cape Comorin at 23 miles.
Foul ground extends about 0.5 mile S and SE from the cape.  An area of foul ground lies 1.5 miles offshore, about 7 miles W of Cape Comorin.
The land rises gradually N of Cape Comorin so that from a distance the cape appears as a sandy promontory. A mountain, Marutva Malai 369m high, about 4 miles NW of the cape, appears as a pointed cone except from E or S
Tides-Currents.-The tidal currents off Cape Comorin set E during the flood and W during the ebb, but their direction and strength are much affected by the ocean currents.
Many villages and whitewashed churches lie along this coast, but landing in a ship's boat is always difficult and dangerous.
An obelisk, 8m high, lies on the coast about 2 miles N of Cape Comorin, and serves to mark the position of a stranded wreck about 0.5 mile ESE.
Caution.-When approaching Cape Comorin from the NW during the NE monsoon, a vessel sheltered by the coast as far as Muttam Point, about 14 miles W of the cape, may suddenly pass from a calm into the strength of the monsoon, even if already well offshore.
East Cape (8°12'N., 77°45'E.) is prominent, and the coastal reef, with depths of 5.5m, extends about 1 mile offshore near the cape.
Anchorage.-Shelter from W winds can be found in the bight between Cape Comorin and East Cape, but during the SW monsoon landing by ship's boats should not be attempted as swells roll into the bight.
Anchorage for small vessels can be obtained in 7.3m, in the bight N of East Cape, partially protected from W winds and swell by the coast SW.
A shallow flat of rock and sand extends about 7 miles SW from the coast abreast Mampuri (7°59'N., 79°45'E.). A 3.7m shoal lies on this flat about 4.3 miles WSW of Mampuri and about 3.5 miles offshore; this shoal is particularly dangerous as depths over 183m are about 1.5 miles W of it.
Vessels passing the peninsula should keep 7 miles offshore and in depths over 37m to avoid the above-mentioned shoal.
A reef, above and below-water, lies about 3.5 miles N of Chilaw Point and about 0.5 mile offshore.
Chilaw Point (7°36'N., 79°47'E.) can be identified by a sandhill and a round hummock nearby. A red can buoy is moored about 3.5 miles WSW of the point.
Anchorage.-Anchorage for small vessels can be obtained in 11m, about 1.8 miles NW of Chilaw Point. Vessels making this anchorage from the S should keep 4 or 5 miles offshore and close to the land near the point.
The coast from Chilaw Point to Negombo Point, about 24 miles S, is almost featureless except for a break in its fringe of coconut trees, about 4 miles N of Negombo Point, marking the entrance to Maha Oya.
Negombo Point to Colombo
Negombo Point (7°12'N., 79°48'E.) has been reported to give good radar returns at 22 miles. The twin towers of a church in Negombo, E of the point, are conspicuous. A church with a red roof and low twin towers, together with a school house about 183m NNW, is conspicuous about 5.5 miles S of the point.
A narrow reef, with a least charted depth of 2.7m, lies with its S end about 2 miles NNW of Negombo Point; a dangerous wreck lies at the SE of the reef.
Anchorage.-Anchorage can be taken about 1 mile W of this reef, except during the SW monsoon. Small vessels, with local knowledge, can anchor E of the reef in about 6.1m, about 0.5 mile offshore.
A 14.2m shoal extends over 3 miles N from a position about 8.5 miles WSW of Negombo Point.
Mutwal Point (6°58'N., 79°51'E.), at the N end of Colombo Harbor, lies about 14.5 miles S of Negombo Point. A trawler harbor, with a fishing harbor close E, lies NE of the point; a breakwater shelters each harbor from W.
Kalapu Gala, a narrow rocky reef, extends about 4 miles N from about 0.3 mile ENE of Mutwal Point; the reef lies parallel to the coast and about 0.5 mile offshore, with several rocky heads with depths of less than 1.8m. The sea breaks over the reef during the SW monsoon, and even in calm weather rollers occur.
The entrance to the Kelani Ganga lies about 0.8 mile NE of Mutwal Point. The coast, for about 5 miles N of the river entrance, is sandy and thickly fringed with coconut trees..4.11 A beacon, 8m high and painted white, lies about 2.3 miles N of the entrance to the Kelani Ganga.
Colombo (6°56'.5N., 79°55'E.)
Colombo, the principal port of Sri Lanka, lies between Galbokka Point (6°56'N., 79°50'E.) and Mutwal Point, about 2 miles NNE. Galbokka Point is a black rocky knoll connected by a short sandy isthmus to the land at the S end of Colombo Harbor.
The harbor is artificially formed by three breakwaters.  SouthW breakwater, extending NNE from the shore at the S end of the harbor; NorthW breakwater, a detached breakwater; and NorthE breakwater, extending W from Mutwal Point.  There is a foul area on the inner side of the NW breakwater.  The S end of the harbor is connected with Colombo Lake by a canal with locks; the canal is dredged to a depth of 3m.
Winds-Weather.-The SW monsoon brings heavy rain and winds which occasionally reach gale force. During this time a moderate swell runs in the harbor, making cargo handling difficult.
Tides-Currents.-The tidal rise at Colombo is 0.7m at MHWS, and 0.5m at MHWN.
The current off Colombo is variable, and its velocity seldom exceeds 0.5 knot. Near shoal water the current sets N at a velocity of 1.5 knots during the NE monsoon, resulting in an E set off the W entrance; this has also been reported during the SW monsoon.