Unawatuna Beach near Galle - beautiful but crowded
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Unawatuna beach is famous for its crescent-shaped bay with a the white dagoba of the Wella Devale pituresquely situated on a rocky promontory and also for its shallow waters protected by the Goda Gala Reef. The beach is therefore perectly well suitable for children. Due to the promontory and the reef, Unawatuna is one of Sri Lanka’s few beaches that enable safe swimming in the sea undisturbed by dangerous underwater currents.
Unawatuna was an insider tipp for travellers in the 1980s, when many backpackers turned there back to Hikkaduwa, has Sri Lanka’s former “hippie beach” had become touristy and a destination for other beach holiday makers, too. However, Unawatuna soon lost its appeal for those looking for an undisturbed beach. At the turn of the millennium, it was crowded with guesthouses and nightlife became noisy near the beach. In 2004, Unawatuna was devastated by the boxing day tsunami. Although the official government policy intended to provide a safety zone between ocean and accommodations, Unawatuna Beach soon was even more crowded with guesthouses again, and some of them closer to the sea than before. The effect of the tsunami on the reef as well as construction activities almost on the sand afterwards resulted in the constriction of the sandy beach. As there is not much sand left, some guests are disappointed. However, fringed by lush groves of coconut palm trees and framed by the scenic headlands, Unawatuna has not yet lost its charme entirely... and bathing is still safe. But you should be aware, it’s a busy place and music is loud in the evening. After the opening of the Colombo-Matara highway, Unawatuna has become a favourity place for weekend-parties of young people from Colombo. |
Unawatuna is the favourite beach of most independent travellers enjoying a few days of relaxation after a round trip in Sri Lanka. Still there are no luxury hotels in Unwawatuna.
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Attractions of Unawatuna
Among independent travellers, Unwatuna earned a reputation as one of the best places for Ayurvedic Holidays in Sri Lanka. Ayurveda farms are usually more tranquil places than the beachfront. During the off season from May to October, Unawatuna becomes a quieter place, except from the weekends.
Watersports such as diving and snorkelling, though not spectacular when compared to other tourist destinations at coral reefs, are an additional attraction for holiday makers. Numerous colourful species of fish such as humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) can be found at Galapiteala Reef and Napoleon Reef. Shipwrecks in about 30 minutes boat-ride distance make the beach popular among scuba divers too. The British sailing steam ship “Rangoon”, built in 1863, sank close to Galle harbour after striking an outer rock. It’s still standing upright on the bottom of the sea, at a depth of 30 meters.
A boat trip to the deserted Jungle Beach, halfway to Galle near the Japanese Peace Pagoda, is also recommendable during the peak season, as not many travellers visit this idyllic sandy beach.
The Habaraduwa Turtle Hatchery is located about 3 km southeast of Unawatuna, near the village of Talpe. The hatchery conserves turtle eggs laid on the nearby beach by three different species of sea turtles.
The Yatagala Rajamaha Viharaya is situated in only 4 km driving distance from Unawatuna, at the other side of the main road (A2). It’s a typical cave temple below a natural rock shelter, a new gaudy standing Buddha flanks the rock. The cave is adorned with murals and houses a reclining Buddha of 9 meters length.
The historic fort of Galle, a World Heritage Site in only 6 km distance (3 km, as the crow flies), of course is a must-see for holiday makers, who spend more than one night in Unawatuna.
During the main season, hiking in the Sinharaja range, Sri Lanka’s largest tropical rain forest, is a recommandable day trip but only in case you are willing to get up very early in the morning.
Watersports such as diving and snorkelling, though not spectacular when compared to other tourist destinations at coral reefs, are an additional attraction for holiday makers. Numerous colourful species of fish such as humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) can be found at Galapiteala Reef and Napoleon Reef. Shipwrecks in about 30 minutes boat-ride distance make the beach popular among scuba divers too. The British sailing steam ship “Rangoon”, built in 1863, sank close to Galle harbour after striking an outer rock. It’s still standing upright on the bottom of the sea, at a depth of 30 meters.
A boat trip to the deserted Jungle Beach, halfway to Galle near the Japanese Peace Pagoda, is also recommendable during the peak season, as not many travellers visit this idyllic sandy beach.
The Habaraduwa Turtle Hatchery is located about 3 km southeast of Unawatuna, near the village of Talpe. The hatchery conserves turtle eggs laid on the nearby beach by three different species of sea turtles.
The Yatagala Rajamaha Viharaya is situated in only 4 km driving distance from Unawatuna, at the other side of the main road (A2). It’s a typical cave temple below a natural rock shelter, a new gaudy standing Buddha flanks the rock. The cave is adorned with murals and houses a reclining Buddha of 9 meters length.
The historic fort of Galle, a World Heritage Site in only 6 km distance (3 km, as the crow flies), of course is a must-see for holiday makers, who spend more than one night in Unawatuna.
During the main season, hiking in the Sinharaja range, Sri Lanka’s largest tropical rain forest, is a recommandable day trip but only in case you are willing to get up very early in the morning.
