Hikkaduwa
The Main road proceeds south past beautiful Akurela
beach, with a fabulous reef, and then screeches right
through Hikkaduwa 100km (62miles)
from Colombo - making it difficult to understand why the
beach resort remains so popular.
International surfers are attracted to this buzzy bit
of coast, and divers come to explore the nearby coral
reefs, but the beach is narrow, the currents are strong
and the rash of hastily built hotels and guest houses
have just about robbed this once beautiful stretch of
coast of its carefree character. Still, backpackers, independent
travellers and package tourists alike seem to favour the
Goa-meets Bali beach atmosphere created by the diving
and surfing scene, the beach restaurants and bars, shops
and snake charmers. Furthermore, Hikkaduwa's broad range
of accommodation caters to all pockets.
" Coral " is the key word on Hikkaduwa, and
just as in Bentota where every hotel calls itself a "Villa"
here you will be hard pressed to final a hotel without
"Coral " in its name. Numerous diving and snorkelling
outfits in the town cater to those interested in exploring
Hikkaduwa's "Coral Sanctuary". Unfortunately,
the coral reefs themselves are slowly dying, but they
are still well populated by a variety of fish and turtles
which can be easily observed even when snorkelling only
a short distance from the shore.
For divers there are also fascinating, well-populated
wrecks and dives to lower-level reefs which are still
living. At the southern end of town, Wewela
has the best surfing waves, and you can also body surf
at Narigama where the beach widens
for a while, allowing sunbathers to chill out in the swelter
- but swimmers need to watch out for the strong undertow
and currents.
As a much calmer alternative to the teeming thrust of
energetic beach life, you should visit the lake at
Dodunduwa. There is rich birdlife and an island
with a serene Buddhist hermitage, which can be visited
by prior arrangement.
Another place providing rural light relief is the Sri
Janaadarama Mahavihara just 4km (2.5miles) down
baddegama Road. north of Hikkaduwa bus station. The one
foot-long key that the monk uses to open the main temple
is one of the sights, as is the list of foreign benefactors.
This unremarkable temple has benefited from sitting next
to a major resort and is well manicured. A lake about
2km away is a good spot for birdwatching.
