Hikkaduwa Beach: A Serene Paradise of Crystal Waters and Vibrant Marine Life

Hikkaduwa Beach in Southern Province

Hikkaduwa Beach is a popular destination among tourists who visit Sri Lanka. Located on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, Hikkaduwa Beach boasts of crystal clear waters, pristine beaches, and a wide variety of marine life. It is the perfect place to relax and unwind, soak up the sun and indulge in water sports.

The beach is lined with palm trees and has a long stretch of soft sand, making it an ideal spot for picnics, sunbathing, and swimming. The shallow waters close to the shore are perfect for children to splash around in, and the coral reefs further out provide a great opportunity for snorkeling and diving. The coral reefs are home to a diverse array of marine species, including colorful fish, turtles, and even sharks, making it a popular destination for scuba diving enthusiasts.

There are plenty of activities to keep visitors entertained, including surfing, windsurfing, jet skiing, and banana boat rides. For those who want to explore the surrounding areas, there are plenty of tour operators offering boat trips along the coast, which provide the perfect opportunity to spot dolphins and whales.

Aside from the beach itself, Hikkaduwa also has a bustling town center, which is home to a vibrant market selling everything from fresh produce to souvenirs. There are also plenty of restaurants, cafes, and bars along the beachfront, where visitors can enjoy a meal or a refreshing drink while taking in the stunning ocean views.

Overall, Hikkaduwa Beach is a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to Sri Lanka. Its stunning natural beauty, abundance of activities, and friendly locals make it the perfect place to relax and recharge. Whether you’re a sun-worshipper, an adventure-seeker, or simply looking for a place to unwind, Hikkaduwa Beach has something for everyone.

 

(Cover Image Credit: Kasun Vindika from facebook)

Coconut Tree Hills in Mirissa

Coconut Tree Hills is a recently famous tourist attraction in Sri Lanka, where it is situated in the Mirissa area of the Southern Province. The picture of this place will definitely come up on Google Images when someone is searching “Sri Lanka.” It is a nice little dome-shaped hill surrounded by palm trees. Coconut Tree Hills is a place that you should not miss during your southern Sri Lanka tour.

Mirissa is a popular tourist destination in Sri Lanka, with most visitors coming to surf at Mirissa Beach. It’s also a great place to see whales in the Indian Ocean. Along with these things, you should not miss the Coconut Tree Hills as well. You can observe this little mountain from Mirissa Beach without any trouble.

 

There are two major routes to reach Coconut Tree Hills from Mirissa town:

1) Through Mirissa Beach

2) Through Bandaramulla Temple

Most tourists and visitors reach the place through Mirissa Beach. As soon as you reach the beach, you need to walk towards the left and should walk a few meters until you pass a few bays. Then you can get to the location and identify it from afar. Parrot Rock is another little hill you will meet during that walk. It is another place that is nice if you can reach it. You can observe Mirissa Beach from that little mountain too.

If you are driving or are too lazy to walk along the beach, you can reach the location via Bandaramulla Temple. However, you need to walk on a difficult road to reach the place, whether you choose any of the above routes.

Coconut Tree Hills is a privately owned coconut farm that is open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You do not need to bring a ticket to enter. After you reach it, you will observe an amazing view of the Indian Ocean. The place is fully covered with palm trees, and you can capture stunning photographs to publish on Instagram. The blowing sea breeze will make you more comfortable and help you relax.

The place is normally crowded every day with locals and foreigners. But if you can go there in the early morning, you can observe stunning pictures of the sunrise in a less crowded environment. Anything before 9 a.m. is less crowded, which you should note before your visit. The sunset time is also a superb time to be on Coconut Tree Hills. The climate report explains that October through December is the rainy season in the area. As a result, the best time to visit here is from January to May. Another thing to keep in mind is that the beach is closed from May to September during the monsoon season.

So, we request that you visit Coconut Tree Hills during your next visit to Mirissa. Take some stunning shots there, and don’t forget to tag them with the username @mahaweli.lk on Instagram.

 

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(Cover Image Source: Wonder Discovery from FB)

Unawatuna Beach in Galle

Unawatuna Beach in Glle

Unawatuna Beach is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Sri Lanka. The beach is situated on the southwestern coast of the island. It is a superb spot for safe swimming in the country, which is another best places to visit in Galle. The distance to Unawatuna Beach from Colombo is 145 km, and from Galle, it is 5 km. It is not far from the cities of Bentota and Galle. Therefore, you can visit here during your southern tour of Sri Lanka.

The beach is gorgeous and attractive to anyone. The golden sands, turquoise water, and palm tree line will surely provide a fantastic feeling for you. It is considered that Unawatuna Beach is a superb spot for swimming. The little child can bathe safely here due to the shallow water level. The tourist can rent a sunbed and enjoy the sunshine while watching the beauty of the Indian Ocean.

There are so many restaurants, guest houses, hotels, and shops around the place. The vendors are selling clothes, souvenirs, and jewelry. So, you can fulfill your requirements without any trouble anymore. On the western side of the beach, you can see a small hill with a pagoda and a Buddha statue. It is open for visitors to reach there, and you can experience a magnificent view of the beach from there.

Unawatuna is always busy with visitors, and most locals come in the afternoons and evenings. Therefore, mornings are the perfect time to visit Unawatuna Beach on a weekday.

 

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(Cover Image Credit should go to the original owner)

Weherahena Temple in Matara

Weherahena Temple in Matara

Weherahena Temple or someone called “Weherahena Poorwarama Rajamaha Viharaya,” is another nice place to visit in Matara, Sri Lanka. It is a popular Buddhist pilgrimage site with a large Buddha statue. The temple is considered the first and largest tunnel temple in the world. But there is no great historical value behind this. The distance to Weherahena Temple from Colombo is 170  km, and from Matara city, it is 7 km.

There is an interesting story behind this tourist attraction. It dates back to the early 20th century. Rev. Parawahera Rewatha Thero has arrived in the Weherahena area as a punishment from his teacher. The land was approximately 0.5 acres in size at the time, and it was made up of a Bodhi tree. The Thero then built a small clay house on the land with the support of the people. He then decided to develop the temple and planned to build it into the largest Buddha statue in the world. He also wanted to build a tunnel temple, as has been mentioned in the Ummagga Jathaka Story.

In 1939, the Thero began construction on the planned temple with the help of Anagarika Dharmapala. The tunnel was first made, and the work on the large statue was started later. Finally, the statue was completed in 1976. Japan was also encouraged to rebuild the temple in a modern style after 1976. The area of the whole temple is nearly 3 acres today.

Today, visitors to the temple can see the beautiful and decorated art on the tunnel walls. The 39-meter height Buddha statue has brought massive attraction to the temple from the Buddhists in Sri Lanka. The Buddha statue is also thought to be in the samadhi position.

We suggest you visit this beautiful Weherahena Temple during your tour of southern Sri Lanka.

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(Featured Image Credit: Gamini Nishantha from Facebook)

Goyambokka Beach in Tangalle

Goyambokka Beach

Goyambokka Beach is another beautiful shoreline in the Tangalla area of the Southern Province, Sri Lanka. It belongs to the Matara district and is situated 34 km away from Matara city. The distance from Colombo to the beach is 205km. Anyhow, it is 3 km away from Tangalle city.

Goyambokka Beach is not a popular beach among most Sri Lankans and foreign travelers, apart from the locals nearby. You can easily get here after a 5-minute tuk-tuk ride. The beach will surely attract you with its moderate waves and white sands. It is considered that Goyambokka beach is a superb spot for swimming and surfing. As well as that, you can do other water activities, including diving.

The beach and surrounding sea are rich in marine wildlife like other places in Sri Lanka. Therefore, visitors can dive deep to explore them. Sea turtles are common, as you can see here. Some tourists love to explore how turtles lay their eggs in the mid-night.

There are many restaurants and guest houses nearby. Therefore, you have enough facilities on or near the beach. It is a place with fewer crowds most of the time. The palm tree line has given a beautiful view of the beach further.

Goyambokka Beach is a fantastic spot if you are visiting Tangalle Beach or the surrounding areas. If you are a passionate traveler who is exploring hidden treasuries in Sri Lanka, then you should add this beautiful beach to your list.

Thalpe Beach in the Southern Province

Thalpe Beach in Sri Lanka

Thalpe Beach is a newly famous beach which is situated in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. It is widely popular among local and international tourists because of its rock pools. The distance to Thalpe from Galle City is about 11km.

Thalpe Beach is a clean and calm place. You can bathe and enjoy it like other beaches in the southern coastal areas. But the place has a completely different experience and beauty. Man-made rock pools are the major attraction of the Thalpe. These rock pools were carved out of coral 50 years ago. People have used these rock pools to soak coconut husks. Then they separate the coconut coir.

Today, the rock pools are not used by anyone. So, the travelers use them for baths and other relaxing activities. It’s around 1.2m deep. Thalpe is the only beach where you can see such rock pools. Early mornings in March and April are ideal for a visit here. The pools are filled with sand in other months of the year.

Anyhow, you need to be careful of sea urchins, which are prevalent in these areas. They are harmful to the body and give pain. You can see many fishermen surrounded by areas, including stilt fishermen. There is a lack of luxury hotels in recent areas. But there are many beach villas available for tourists.

Don’t forget to visit Thalpe Beach and enjoy your vacation in Sri Lanka.

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(Featured Image Credit Goes to: Ayale Travel from Facebook)