Off the beaten path around Arugam Bay

This page is about less-frequented places of interest in the
southeast of Sri Lanka.

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all over Sri Lanka here...

Arugam Bay

Popular tourist attractions in the southeast of Sri Lanka

Among surfers, beginners and intermediates alike, Arugam Bay and the nearby town of Pottuvil are the preferred destination in Sri Lanka. Beach holiday makers, too, are attracted to the southeast coast, particularly during the northern summer months. But nights in Arugam can be quite noisy in weekends, when young people from Colombo come here to enjoy having parties with friends. Among holiday makers, the most popular excursion from Arugam Bay is a jeep safari in Kumana National Park, which due to numerous lagoons and ponds and swamps is extraordinarily rich in birdlife and is home to both crocodile species occuring in Sri Lanka.

Lonesome places in the hinterland of Sri Lanka's surfing destination Arugam Bay

2**stars & rarely visited

It’s quite common to combine a morning safari in Kumana National Park with a visit of Okanda Beach and Kudumbigala Rock. Though several travellers do so, Okanda is still a very lonesome beach and Kudumbigala, one of the loveliest ancient sites of Sri Lanka, isn’t crowded, either. Besides being a heritage destination and the best vantage point in the region, Kudumbigala is also a nature reserve. Sloth bears inhabiting this region are said to come close to the monastery from time to time.

2**stars & almost secret

The  national park of Lahugala-Kitulana is too small for jeep safaris but has some obervation spots to see wild elephants. Lahugala has an important excavation site, too. The so-called Magul Maha Viharaya is surrounded by legends from a distant pass. The parents of the national hero, Dutthagamani, are said to have marries here. The buildings are from much later centuries. One remarkable feature is Sri Lanka’s only moonstone depicting mahouts sitting on the backs of elephants. Lahugala is on the way to Gal Oya.

2**stars & rarely visited

Gal Oya further inland is Sri Lanka’s only national park that can be explored by boat. Boat excursions in the afternoon allow observations of wild elephants, some of them even swiming to islets close to the shores. Early morning boat safaris are better for bird observations. Prior booking of boats is advisable, as rangers and boats are not always available. There are several days a year without any foreign guests in Gal Oya. Insofar it’s still off the beaten path, though mentioned in almost all pocket guides.

1*star & almost secret

A morning or afternoon boat safari could be combined with a detour to Buddhangala and Rajagala and Digavapi, three araeological sites close to Ampara. Buddhangala is one of the earliest Buddhist cave hermitages on the island, Rajagala is one of the remotest temple excavation in Sri Lanka, whereas Digavapi is a pilgrimage site, believed to have been visited by the Buddha. The main attraction is the largest stupa in the Eastern Province. All three places are almost never visited by foreign tourists. Rajagala and the adjoining Piyangala hermitage are very appealing.

2**stars & almost secret

A heritage tour to Buddhangala and Rajagala and Digavapi can also be combined with a detour to Rufus Kulam. In contrast to Gal Oya National Park, entry is free at Rufus Kulam. Though not large, Rufus Kulam is one of the most enchanting lakes in Sri Lanka. This is one of the very few places on the island, where exciting wildlife observation is possible without jeep and without ranger. Wild elephants come often to this lake in the evening hours. Also deer and wild buffalos can often be seen here. It’s also worth a half-day detour from Pottuvil or Arugam Bay without any further visits.