– an International Bird Migration path
It is located in the south east of the Island, besides the Bundala Bird Sanctuary and the Yala National Park, the oldest known National Park in the world. Kumana National Park is an Internationally important wintering ground for migratory water birds in Sri Lanka. Kumana harbors more than 197 species of birds including migrating greater Flamingo, which migrate in large flocks to take a well deserved break from flying across long distances of the seas, bays and the Indian Ocean. Kumana N.P. is an amazing maze of lakes, estuaries, lagoons, ponds, dunes & waterways which attract birds on inter-continental flights.
During sunrise & sunset these wetland waters glitter almost like gold which attracts photographers & travelers. It is home for the insignificant little bee-eaters to grotesque open-billed storks. Birds come all the way from Siberia & Mongolia and India to winter here in this Park. It is also home for civets, giant squirrels and plenty of crocodiles. Marine turtles including ‘olive ridley’, ‘green leatherback’ & ‘loggerhead’ lay their eggs on the coast of Kumana. Many big mammals such as hippopotamus, rhinoceros, wild buffalo & elephants live side by side with the two legged ones.
A popular destination for its awesome, tantalizing and warm surf. It is a pretty wide, long & deserted shoreline to get horizontal, kick back, relax & unwind. Its close proximity to the Blue Lagoon (Nil Kalapuwa), tangy Seafood, the Capital Colombo & the airport highway makes it even more attractive. Plenty of water sports such as scuba diving, snorkeling, windsurfing and kite surfing are attractions to this mesmerizing ‘long beach’ of the west coast.
Colonial & Christian influences have left behind numerous pretty monuments & buildings designed with attractive architecture & grace to match the architecture of the entangled Buddhist, Dravidian, Arab & prehistoric culture of the resplendent isle. The large blue lagoon, turquoise to blue green Sea, estuaries, creeks, brooks & streams enable a substantial catch of fish in order to supply an increasing demand for seafood by large hotels in Negombo, its suburbs & adjacent settlements.
The Old Dutch Hamilton Canal passing through from the north to the south enabled convenient transport of seafood from the very olden days. Still it is an alternative mode of transport of goods, seafood & people, especially when the highways get jammed.
Negombo Dutch Fort, St. Mary’s Cathedral, Guruge Water Park, Morawala Pebble Beach, St. Sebastian’s Church, St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, Bird Watching at Muthurajawela Marsh Estuary, Hamilton Canal, Fish Market, Bodhiraja Temple, Blue Lagoon etc. are some of the main attractions in Negombo to visit. A busy fishing Harbour with its hive of activity offers a wide variety of fish and other seafood to towns & suburbs in the neighborhood.
Dikwella, meaning long beach in Sinhalese, is an emerging beach destination on the southeast coast of the Island for having a ball on an alluring seashore full of enjoyable attractions. Certainly a dazzling beach including a stirring surf, fun filled watersports activities, balmy sunshine, white sand, aquamarine sea & a long wide shore of a bay. A beautiful palm fringed shore with up and coming huts to kick back, relax and unwind. Juice bars, ayurveda massage parlors, yoga & meditation retreats are slowly coming up to meet the modern and healthy demands of foreign travelers who want to enjoy a short vacation of their lives on a beach, and here at Dikwella we welcome you to an authentic experience, true to the expression ; ‘life’s a beach’ !.
Fishermen with wooden boats, far from and ‘not yet’ motorized and together with their ‘neighbors’ pulling long nets of fish from the water, give it a natural old fashioned feel for a shoreline which appears pretty legitimately natural, almost deserted and untrudged. A short stroll to the east from here, takes one to find yet another tranquil beachfront known as Hiriketiya, which has been affectionately shortened to simply sound like ‘Hiri’ by the foreign guests’ who found it for its promise. It is now slowly getting popular for its remarkable surf, sand and palm fringed ‘sandwalk’ around a half circular curved half circle cove bay area with friendly locals to interact with. Other deserted shores interfacing the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea & the Bay of Bengal are : Tangalle (Tanning Rock), Nilwella (Blue Beach), Weligama (Sandy Village), Kalpitiya (Time Park), Hambantota (proposed new Capital), Kirinda, Talalla, Dondra, Ahangama, Talpe, Dodanduwa (Orange Isle), Kosgoda, Induruwa, Moragalla, Ventura Beach, Kalutara, Waskaduwa, Panadura, Lunawa, Angulana, Mt. Lavinia, Crow Island Beach, Preethipura, Uswetikeiyyawa, Bopitiya, Waikkaal, Iranawila, Chilaw, Mannar, Delft Isle, Kayts, Point Pedro, Casuarina, Mullaitivu, Pottuvil, Panama etc.
Well known for its pristine honey coloured beaches, turquoise ocean, views of metaphoric watersports in the sea, lake, lagoon, river & estuaries area. Bird watching amidst the water hides is an exciting adventure. Bentota is home for numerous five star resorts, hotels & Ayurveda wellness retreats for healing, convalescence, health & beauty treatment which includes the chic Robinson Resort in an atoll across the lagoon, lake, river & the sea. Plenty of estuaries in the area attract birds to sing, fish, fishing enthusiasts & wildlife including iguana & numerous varieties of turtle, tortoise & crocodiles. Saman Villas by the Laccadive Sea, Gardens of Bevis Bawa, Kosgoda Turtle Sanctuary, River Safaris, Kayaking, Canoeing, Boat rides to Cinnamon Isle are some attractions here. Plenty of boat rides take the discerning traveler bird watching throughout the numerous estuaries in the vicinity as the river & lake discharge its contents to the sea while the sea reciprocates on high tide.
Great place for banana boating, water sports like jet skiing, speed boating, wakeboarding, paddle boarding, Kite Surfing, seaplane rides, windsurfing, scuba diving, snorkeling, lagoon fishing, bird watching & observing small creatures getting into their regular synchronization, as there are millions of creatures such as crickets, frogs, fruit flies, dragonflies & fireflies who get into sync every night. There are a small number of stilt fishermen in their meditative angling in this incredibly organic bio diverse settlement. ‘A fisherman was observed to be catching far more fish than several others in the vicinity, when the others went to check how he was excelling, they found that he was using barbequed worms as bait’.
Powerpark is what it means in Sinhalese, this deserted but marvelous shore is a Non Touristic destination as not many visitors are aware of this fabulous beach paradise on the way to Galle heading down south on the ‘Indian Ocean Boulevard’ (Galle Road) far from the highway.
Alluring silicone sand, blue water, brisk sunshine, surfable surfs & palm fringed bay of tranquility attract no one in particular. It is deserted and empty indicating that there are only a few families of fishermen with their boats parked on the sand to be seen.
According to the locals, the Sea Warriors — ‘Muhudu Weerayo’ originate from this area on the west coast. These warriors are said to have been defending the shores with boats, swords & daggers which they used for fishing in the Indian Ocean. Compared to the Stilt Fishermen found further south these warriors were good enough to spike at sharks found further deep into the Ocean. However, on the arrival of Buddhism into the country about 2500 years ago, these warriors converted their lives to become more & more passive, non violent & peaceful.
In order to mark this, there is an unassuming place to enable adherents to practice Meditation in a quiet & peaceful surrounding in a temple near the beach at ‘Power Park’.
Awesome Enticing Beachfront of glorious silicone, scenic islands like Seenigama (Candy Village), Coral Gardens, Moonstone mines, & the tranquil lake in Hikkaduwa are the popular attractions. Seagulls, Larks & Crows are flying all over the seashore ‘waving’ & chirping to welcome the visitor. One doesn’t miss this magnificent sight of the birds amidst the picturesque Hikkaduwa beach in this paradise. The black crow or Raven cawing to signal anything edible to their mates. This noisy black bird is the oldest known garbage picker provided by nature, since the time of the ancient kings and before.
‘Hikka’ as it is simplified by foreign guests, is one of the first destinations for foreigners traveling to Asia to check out in Sri Lanka, what attracted them was this golden sandy shore, sunshine, the variety of corals, blue-green colored Sea, cheap cabanas, food & elegant music which led to ‘HikkaRocks’. It became popular in the seventies during the time of rock & roll, hippie culture & the turning point towards alternative schools & thought.
Nowadays Hikkaduwa has lost most of the potential guests to other up & coming destinations in the southern coasts. Places like ‘Why not’ where they play great music, have survived a number of hard times like the ‘Tsunami’, Covid 19 virus pandemic & other undesirable events. “Wedihiti Kanda” viewpoint in the vicinity, is a ‘non touristy’ place of interest, as it’s a nice trek up a hill not too high & not too far away from the blue sea, enabling a bird’s eye view of the Ocean, the beachfront & the lush greenery of the vicinity. A few miles south of Hikka is a deserted beach known as Thiranagama, if one wants the privacy to be secluded from the crowds of enthusiasts.
Aquamarine sparkling bay packed with silica sand, coconut palms & corals with great surfs on the horizon, though light enough for a variety of water sports, sunshine, golden sand under the palms for sunbathing, tanning or simply kicking back to unwind, this is a magnificent shore.
Not too far about 90 meters to the south is Dalawella Beach which is almost entirely deserted, if one wants more privacy far from the crowds, here it is.
No large resorts yet, but sufficient restaurants, yoga, ayurveda massage spas and juice bars to serve large crowds of beach enthusiasts lined on the elegant shady palm fringed coast, which is pretty cool.
Water Sports such as scuba diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, kite surfing, fishing, & diving are popular on the breezy shore. Magical sunsets, fireflies, & wicked beach parties attract most visitors to overstay on this exceptional beachfront.
Beachfronts around Palm Island, Rumassala, Coco Bay, Unawatuna Bay & the deserted Dalawella beaches in the vicinity of Galle are wonderful pristine beaches like natural swimming pools spread out between about 2 to 9 km south from town. Great places for snorkeling, scuba diving, jet skiing, kite surfing, windsurfing, sun bathing, sun tanning & other watersports activities of uncanny beaches. Kaluwella (Black Sand Beach ) is also a deserted tranquil beach with clean black sand 4 km north from town.
Galle township is a somnolent but splendid old town on the south-west coast of the magical Isle. Formerly the capital of Ceylon, with a natural harbor during the time of the Portuguese period before the British changed the Capital to be Colombo. Apart from the dazzling beaches at Unawatuna Bay, Kaluwella (black sand shore), etc. it is full of attractions including the Madhu River for boat excursions into the nature & natural turtle farms on the shores.
The Galle Dutch Fort ( A UNESCO World Heritage Site ), a lively medieval township, is one of numerous attractions to visit. Originally built by the Portuguese, it was renovated by the Dutch & restored by the British replete with green & granite ramparts, cannons, dungeons, stone bunkers & Stone Park benches. A stroll down the stone paved roads springs one the feeling of being in Rome, the architecture of the old buildings of this Fort are predominantly European. The old fashioned courtyards & sidewalks of the built up area of the little town offer the eyes, the comfort of ‘space’ to enjoy what one looks at & ‘see’ it. Stone parapet walls serve to classify the distinct areas of the ramparts, so are the massive walls on the perimeter of the fort, built wide & high enough to protect its ‘residents’ from any attacks by adversaries back in the days. There are dungeons built in the basements to contain trespassers or prisoners. On the green grassy ramparts there are canons placed at strategic locations for defense purposes. From the eastern rampart, one can see the picturesque Galle International Cricket Stadium.
One of the most adored destinations for Spotting Blue Whales & Dolphins as the density of these exciting creatures is pretty high just across the horizon from Mirissa & the vicinity. Ferry Boats take discerning visitors from the fascinating beachfront out into the Ocean for Whale watching where the size of a heart of a whale can be not less than the size of an average car, to give you what dimensions to expect and playing with dolphins a few hundred meters into the Ocean.
A sparkling beach with golden sand, southern sunshine, balmy ocean temperature with a cool breeze is ideal for suntanning, walking, and simply dipping in the warm blue-green water. Challenging & Tall surfs attract many to indulge in Surf boarding & other water sports all across the bay with special guidance & training offered for wanna-be surfers to quickly learn how to surf over the gleaming waves.
“If I had to return back to life, I’ll rebound as a dolphin”
– Max Planck
The ‘Surfers Paradise’ of Sri Lanka, but twice as unpretentious. The discreet atmosphere here welcomes one to expect less surfers & beach enthusiasts since it is certainly difficult to get there, as there aren’t any direct roads to reach this hideaway on the east coast. So it is still non-touristy with Incredibly Extensive Golden Beaches to trudge, sunbathe, sun tan, watch the surfing or just chill out. The laid back atmosphere enables one to relax & perhaps read a book or just kick back & unwind. Tall waves attract surfers from all over the world, especially from down under. Plenty of seafood at budget prices for the perceptive traveler to indulge.
Crocodile Rock, Peanut Farm, Pasarichenai & Pottuvil Point Beaches are almost deserted as surfers aren’t attracted to those beaches. Lagoon Safari is not too far to see a large variety of wildlife & indulge in riding on Elephants. There are splendid beach parties with cool music in the night to have lots of fun. Those who prefer a quiet night can watch how the frogs, crickets & fire flies get into sync either gnawing, screeching or lighting on & off, having begun to do what they adore to do after sunset, gnawing, screeching or lighting randomly at various places, only to sync later. These are some anomalous creatures that get into sync like flocks of birds or shoals of fish happen to suddenly turn altogether simultaneously. This phenomenon of synchronization is a show that awaits the discerning traveler. The Mangrove bushes enable fireflies to proliferate. All others just adore their habitat.
A few kilometers south is another deserted beach known as Panama Beach with wide golden sandy shores to kick back & get horizontal.
A Sensational beach located on the Northeast coast of the Island, north of Trincomalee is this gorgeous beachfront to relax & unwind. Tranquil and deserted, the golden sand, blue-green water, calm waves rolling over a shallow depth invites the discerning to take a walk in the crystal clear water of the bay while simply taking a dip into the warm sea.
Hardly any fishing boats in the vicinity to bother as the shore is too shallow for such ‘floatables’ in this haven for seagulls, turtles, fish, wild prawns, oysters, lobsters, crabs, calamari and other exotic creatures. Various atmospheric seasons determine which of the numerous species of creatures will frequent or proliferate, to be caught by fishermen.
Kick back, relax & unwind on this magnificent shore that is especially devoured by honeymoon couples for its serene beauty & tranquility.
Further south of Trincomalee is the splendid Marble Beach, pretty calm, quiet and tranquil to simply lie down horizontal, relax, chill & unwind.
Yet another emerging destination for Surfing with tall surfs, like Arugam Bay, it is located further north on the East coast south of Nilaveli Beach. Impressive tall surfs, in this immaculate shoreline of pebbles, golden sand & almost green crystal clear Sea water attract the discerning surfer. Due to its unusual, uncommon & ‘not so well known’ name tag, most travelers who R & R here would want to keep it discreet, vetoing the almost deserted Beach to get crowded. Plenty of beach parties make it a happening destination fully worth going the distance & the crooked way to get there is certainly value for money, as those with two minds aren’t gonna come. So if somehow you manage to get there, keep it modest, discrete and have the fun with the least aggregate of holidaymakers to bump into on this tantalizing shore.
Watersports activities are picking up, as it is becoming a great place for snorkeling, scuba diving, jet skiing, kite surfing, windsurfing, sun bathing, sun tanning & other activities of ‘a life’s a beach’ destination.