The crescent-shaped beach of Unuwatuna, situated only 3 km east of World Heritage Site Galle, is famous for its shallow turquoise water and lush green palm trees. Small reefs allow snorkeling and protect the sandy beach and make it safer for children than any other beach at the southwestern coastline. Though much of the sandy strip was lost due to the Boxing Day Tsunami 2004, Unawatuna is still Sri Lanka’s most popular beach with independent travellers. Though large hotel complexes are not yet built at the lovely beach, there is a large amount of guest houses, Ayurveda parks and restaurants and discos, making this a busy and quite noisy place, particularly in the weekends, when young people from Colombo come here to have fun. The more picturesque and best protected part of Unawatuna Beach is at ist western end of the beach, where stairs also lead up to a small hill with a pagoda and a newly erected huge Buddha statue, with a beautiful view overlooking the entire beach.

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Thennaddi Bay is a long beach almost untouched by tourism although not far away from the busy Passikudah Beach. Thennaddi Bay is home to a Tamil fishing community. You can observe traditonal fishing techniques here, but most locals don’t understand English.

Weligama at the south coast of Sri Lanka has three very diverse attractions. First of all, the sandy sweep bay is beloved with beach holiday makers and beginning surfers. Weligama is the beach with best chances to take a photo of stilt fishers. Secondly, heritage tourist can find a small but extraordinarily beautiful and somewhat mysterious rock-cut statue to the north of the town. The Bodhisattva statue is known as Leper King. Last not least, the town of Weligama is famous for a specific handicraft. The art of lace-making, practiced in the regions of Galle and Weligama, is known as Beeralu in Sinhala.

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The south coast beaches in the surroundings of Tangalle in the western part of Hambantota District have developed into a favourite destination of families and independent travellers in recent years. One reason is that Tangalle belongs to the intermediate and dry zone that receives sunshine also during the monsoon season, which corresponds to the northern summer months. The climate is much drier than at the traditional beach resorts further west in the Matale and Galle Districts of the Southern Province. Another reason is, that the beaches outside town are smaller less crowded those close to the centres of coastal towns. The area of Tangalle offers Ayurveda facilities, too. Rewarding destinations for beach holiday makers in the Tangalle region are the rock temple of Mulkirigala 18 km further inland, the spectacular Hoomaniya Blowhole 11 km west of Tangalle, the Kalametiya Lagoon and Bird Sanctuary 24 km east of the city, and the turtle watch beach and conservation centre of Rekawa  10 km east on the way to Kalamitiya. Very close to the town is the natural swimming area of Parewella.

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Arisimalai is the loveliest untouched beach in the area to the north of Trincomalee, there are no houses, no stalls and no roads close to the beach, but it can be reached within 10 minutes from a car park near Pulmoddai. „Arisi“ means raw rice in Tamil, and „malai“ or „male“ means hills. The name, also transcribed „Arisi Malai“, refers to the send of the beach which resemblesrice. The grain of sand is remarkably big and seems like polished.  This gives an amazing feeling to your feet when walking along the charming beach. Swimming is relatively safe compared to other beaches, as the bay is protected by rocky small promontories. Not many foreigners find their way to this lovely place.

Beruwela is remarkable for two reasons. It’s the most popular beach destination in Sri Lanka’s Western Province, located at its southern boundary. Neighbouring Bentota belongs to the Southern Province. The agglomeration of Beruwela, Aluthgama and Bentota offers the widest range of accommodation available in coastal towns of Sri Lanka.

Secondly, Beruwela offers a variety of tourist attractions, such as a light house island, the fishing harbour, the huge Buddha statue of Kande Viharaya or the charming and artistic Brief Garden. Beruwela is a traditional centre of Sri Lanka’s Muslim population. Many of the so-called Sri Lankan Moors are gem merchants, living in the northern area of “China Fort and Maradana” close to the harbour. The Kecheemalai mosque on a rocky peninsula protecting and overlooking the harbour was the first place in Sri Lanka that served as a Muslum place of worship. The highly benerated mosque, originally established by Somalian traders, is now redesigned in a historicising or colonial style.

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Batticaloa is a district capital in Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province, situated 110 km south of Trincomalee, which is the provincial capital. Batticaloa is situated on a peninsula and an island at the mouth of Sri Lanka’s largest and most dendritic lagoon. At the open ocean, there are long sandy beaches in the suburb of Batticaloa at the opposite side of the lagoon’s opening, namely on the  isthums of Kallady. The main cultural attractions of Batticaloa are the Dutch Fort and several Hindu shrines, the temple festivals of which are spectacular. Batticaloa is not yet a mass tourism destination. Guesthouses are available, particularly at the beach of Kallady, but most travellers visiting the coastline of Batticaloa District stay in Pasikudah, which is located 30 km further north. The shallow region of the Batticaloa Lagoon is a perfect place for cycling tours.

Tirukovil is a town with a small fishing port just 10 km north of Sangamankanda, Sri Lanka’s easternmost point. Tirukovil simply means “Holy Temple” in Tamil, the name refers to a temple, of course. It’s one of numerous Tamil temples dedicated to Murugan, known as Tiru Sitira Velayutha Swamy Kovil. The term “Vel” included in this long name refers to the holy spear of Lord Murugan. The spear representing the deity is venerated instead of an image, this aniconic form of worship is typical of the religion of the Vedda community, for whom Tirukovil is one of the three most holy places along the east coast. To the north and south of Thirukkovil are lagoons and untouched sandy beaches.

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Hi! Currently, my guests and me are in the Arugam area, more precisely at Whisky Point to the north of Pottuvil. We also enjoy excursions and visited Kumana National Park. But it's main surfing season here now. Some surfers kindly allowed me to publish their images. So here are some fresh impressions from Whisky Point. To read more about surfing in in southeastern Sri Lanka, please visit my new Arugam Bay page. We hope to help to prepare your holidays and enjoy your time here. Nuwan from Pottuvil