If Sri Lanka is
Serendipity, beach lovers will find many places. The
coast line here is uneven with many bays and sheltered
coves. On some beaches here you can walk a mile into
the sea.
Jaffna
398 km. from
Colombo, Jaffna has an austere kind of beauty that
is vastly different from the rest of the island. Its
virgin beaches and coraline coast, off shore islets,
and the peninsula's very distinctive way of life can
be an enigmatic experience for the individual traveller.
Not to be missed are the sand dunes of Manalkadu -
a miniscule desert whose sheer wildness will impress
you. Casuarina Beach is situated at Karainagar and
there are good beaches also at Santhakulam and Thondaimannar.
Trincomalee
257 km. from Colombo, Trincomalee is the ideal refuge
for the beach addict, with its fine natural harbour
and excellent beaches.
Nilaveli
14 km. from Trincomalee, Nilaveli was the venue for
the 1985 International Funboard Championships. All
water sports are available here including fishing
and sea angling. Whale watching in the sanctuary is
a speciality. (Dist. from Colombo: 271 km).
Arugam
Bay
314 km. from Colombo, a most beautiful bay with good
surfing. The East coast offers infinite possibilities
for all kinds of water sports and underwater photography.
The many ship-wrecks of the coast are a tempting challenge
to the diver.
Negombo
A characteristic fishing town 37km. north of Colombo,
it is a mere 6 km. from the International Airport.
Set amid lush groves of coconut palms, it breathes
the spirit of the sea. Negombo is a gourmet's paradise
with sea food in plenty. Old world fishing craft like
the outrigger canoe and the catamaran bring seer,
skipjack, herring and mullet, pomfret and amber -
jack while lobster and prawns are caught in the lagoon.
Mount
Lavinia
Just 12 km. south of Colombo, Mount Lavinia is an
immediate city suburb and the beach is one of the
better known even in colonial times. It lies alongside
a wind swept headland jutting into the waters of the
Indian Ocean. The sand is the softest and the waves
calm and clear. The Governor's House built in 1805
by Sir Thomas Maitland, now forms part of the famous
Mount Lavinia Hotel.
Beruwela
56 km. south of Colombo, Beruwela marks the
beginning of a 130 km. stretch of beach where resort
development has taken immense strides in the past
few years. Good bathing may be had in the bay all
year round.
Bentota
62 km. south of Colombo, the Bentota Resort Complex
is a romantic rendezvous of river and sea with several
hotels, railway station, post office, shopping arcade,
cafeteria and an open air theatre showing folk and
mask dancing with clusters of palms overlooking everything.
Ambalangoda
A half hour's drive from Bentota is Ambalangoda, home
of devil dancing and mask making.
Hikkaduwa
98 km. south of Colombo, Hikkaduwa is the place for
underwater delight. Site of the famed coral gardens;
hire a glass bottomed boat or goggles and flippers
and explore the fantasies under your feet. Don't purchase
or encourage sale of corals.
Galle
116 km. south of Colombo, is the most important southern
town with an old-world charm. Believed to be the 'Tarshish'
of the Bible, its natural harbour was a famous fort
in days gone by. Famous for its Dutch fort, lace making,
ebony carving and gem polishing.
Weligama
27 km. from Galle with its picturesque bay, and an
off shore islet where a French Count built his dream
house, Weligama is where you will see the famous stilt
fishermen. (Dist. from Colombo: 98 km).
Part of the information is Courtesy of www.nirvanatour.de
