Galle is a fort town with beautiful sea views of Sri Lanka's southwest coast. The fort here was originally
built by the Portuguese but upon taking Galle, the Dutch destroyed a great deal of what was Portuguese and
constructed a fort of their own. Even the British had a part to play in Galle at one point and so I suppose
it is safe to say that Galle is therefore quite European in many ways. One very pleasant way to watch the
sun set is to walk along the coast at Galle and take a pew beneath the old lighthouse, commanding fine
views of the ocean, as it turns orange in the fading light.
Although the town of Galle suffered major damages during the Tsunami tidal wave disaster in December 2004
the Old Dutch Fort located in the heart of the town withstood the devastation.
UNAWATUNA
Unawatuna is 4 km southeast of Galle or 120 km from Colombo, and is a
beautiful wide curving golden beach in the south that is popular and safe for bathing by which there is a
reef protecting it. It is popular for travelers because at this beach there is no annoying road right to
the beach unlike some other places such as Hikkaduwa. However, during public holiday, the beach can get
very crowded.
West coast of Sri Lanka, a popular tourist destination is an also a breeding ground for turtles. Legend
says that Unwatuna was created from a piece of earth from Himalaya that had fallen from Hanuman in the
Ramayanaya epic.
Unlike the other resorts to the north Unawatuna is still a very quite place and an excellent location to
enjoy the tropical beauty in relative recluse. Ideal for snorkeling and swimming. There are some coral
reefs to be explored at near by Rumassala and now becoming popular as a bird watching location.
Unawatuna offers a wide range of accommodation scattered around near by village, but for more luxurious
places are few minutes' drive from the beach. The beach sidebars and restaurants are in abundance.
Unawatuna HOTELS
Light House Hotel - www.jetwinghotels.com
Amangalla Resort - www.amanresorts.com
HOOMANYIA BLOWHOLE
Going further south, 189 km. from Colombo, is a blowhole, Kudawella,
rare geological formation on the rocky beach throwing huge columns of water high up into the air with a
loud noise like a natural spout. This noise has given the village its name Hoommane. Huge ocean waves
breaking on the rocks are thrown up through an opening in the rock causing this wonderful sight that should
not be missed by anyone going along the southern coastal road.
Hoomanyia Blowhole is an amazing wonder of nature. Located near to Tangalla on Sri Lanka's south west coast
and easily reached by tuk tuk, the blowhole is a natural hole amidst a rock formation that projects a
natural jet of water from the Indian Ocean skywards in excess of 18 meters at regular intervals. Beware of
a sudden change in wind direction as the shower could be headed in-bound.
MIRISSA
Situated on the Matara road 4 km southeast of Weligama, Mirissa marks
one of the country's most beautiful beaches. Its headland separates its small fishing harbor from its
beautiful curve of sandy beach with calm, clear waters. Mirissa is the alternative for quieter place to
Unawatuna or Hikkaduwa.
TANGALLA
Situated 195 km from Colombo, Tangalla is one of the nicest spots
along the coast, particularly if you want somewhere to find a place to laze and soak up the sun. Tangalla's
series of bays are the modern attraction, white sandy beach of Medaketiya shimmer away from the northeast
to smaller bays on the west. However, some of the beaches in these bays shelve off very steeply and the
resulting waves make them dangerous for swimmers. The town pretty much reminds of the Dutch period, for
example, the Rest House was once home of the Dutch administrators.
Tangalla Hotels
Amanwella Resort – www.amanresorts.com
WELIGAMA
Weligama - means 'Sandy Village' - is situated in Matara district,
143 km from Colombo or 27 km from Galle with its sandy sweep bay. It is indeed a very fishing town with
less travelers visit. Very close to the shore there is an off shore islet known as Taprobane where a dream
house of French Count de Maunay was built on, Weligama is where you will see the famous stilt fishermen.
Weligama Hotels
Barberiyn Ayurvedic Beach Resort Weligama - www.barberyn.com
HAMBANTOTA
Hambantota is a fishing community on Sri Lanka's south east coast.
An interesting location for a morning stroll is the large fish market here that houses many different
varieties. Hambantota bay forms a crescent, with fishing boats lining the shore and is a quiet pleasant
place to relax although swimming is perhaps better elsewhere.
This area was badly affected during the Tsunami tidal wave disaster in December 2004 & currently
slowly getting back to normalcy.
WEWURUKANNALA VIHARA
Wewurukannala Vihara is an amazingly huge Buddhist temple 22 km from
Matara (further along the coast toward Colombo from Tangalla). The temple complex is dominated by an image
of a seated Buddha some 50m high. This Buddha is supposed to be the largest of its kind in Sri Lanka and so
try to find a wide enough camera lens to get it in shot if you will. The insides of the temple proper are
decorated comic book style with scenes depicting the Buddha's chosen path to enlightenment, though many of
these beautiful wall murals have been savagely de-faced in recent years.
KATARAGAMA
Kataragama a popular pilgrimage destination frequented by adherents of
all religions in Sri Lanka. The main shrine devoted to God Skanda popularly described in eulogies as a God
having six faces and twelve arms whose assistance is sought for worldly gain. The history of the shrine
dates back to 2 century BC. The annual procession held in July or August is the main event of the shrine
with firewalkers and Kawadi dancers. Offerings to the god are made at 4.30 am 10.30 am and 6.30 pm daily.
Kataragama Hotels
Kataragama has a network of hotels, guesthouses as well as free pilgrim rests.
Rosen Renaissance Hotel - www.kataragama.org/rosen-hotel.htm
YALA
About 35 Km from Thissamaharama is the country’s largest and most
visited national park the Yala National Park. There are numerous kinds of animals wandering around the park
including elephants, peacocks and the leopards. During the pre-Christian era this area has been a centre of
Buddhism with numerous monasteries. More than 50 inscriptions have been found which dates from 2nd to 1st
century BC.
Ruhuna National Park at Yala is Sri Lanka's most popular wild life safari destination. Situated about 300
km from Colombo the 1250 sq km park is home to leopards, crocodile, elephant, deer, sambar, bear, wild bore,
wild buffalo and peacock and may varieties of birds including migratory birds such as flamingos. The
uniqueness of the park is it's many different habitat diversities such as dense jungles, lagoons and open
park areas, a beautiful sea front and rocky outcrops.
The Months of January and May are peak month for best of the vegetation and the dry season is from June
to October. Hiring of four-wheel drive jeep a must for those who want to wonder in to its many trails to
explore the national park.
There are many archaeological sites within the park and the ancient monastery of Sithulpahuwa situated at
a beautiful rocky platform is among its most visited sites.
Saltpans at Palatupana are a popular location for bird watching.
The leopard is the largest member of the wild cats found in Sri Lanka and Yala is probably the best
location to view these magnificent beasts in their natural habitat.
For information on tours to these sites and more, visit our Galle Cruise page. |
