Traveling to the southeast of Sri Lanka usually means staying in Arugam Bay or nearby Pottuvil, where most hotels and guest houses are available close to a beach. Both sandy beaches have sections that are relatively safe for swimming. There are untouched beaches further south and north. But taking a bath in the ocean is not recomendable, because currents can be strong and dangerous.
Arugam Bay & Pottuvil - Sri Lanka's Top Destinations for Surfers
Both Arugam Bay and Pottuvil are travel destinations for surfers in the first place. The surfing season at the southeast coast is the regional dry season from May till September. Some of the surf breaks are okay for beginners, but most of them are perfect intermediates. Frankly, though Arugam has the best surfing spots in Sri Lanka and maybe in South Asia, it's not a paradise for advanced surfers. Moreover, the surf break called main point at the promotory of Arugam Bay can be quite crowded. Due to the large numbers of surfers and rocks below the water level, it's not recommendable for beginners. However, there are many more surf breaks in the surroundings. Pottuvil has to surf breaks named Pottuvil Point and Whiskey Point. Both are also near guesthouses and hotels. But lighthouse point further north is less crowded. To the south of Arugam Bay are two further surf breaks in a not too far distance, namely Elephant Rock and Peanut Farm. Futher south are Panama Point and Okanda Point, which are almost untouched.
Attracting young people from Sri Lanka and foreign countries alike, the beach of Arugam Bay can be quite busy and noisy, particularly the weekends are beach party time.
Nonetheless, Arugam Bay is also recommendable for those holiday makers who want to relax but do not spend the entire day at the beach. The hinterlands of Arugam are worth exploring, as there are several cultural and natural attractions, they are usually not overcrowded and many of them are almost untouched. Here is a shortlist of the most significant attractions that can easily be reached on half-day or day-trips from Arugam Bay or Pottuvil:
Nonetheless, Arugam Bay is also recommendable for those holiday makers who want to relax but do not spend the entire day at the beach. The hinterlands of Arugam are worth exploring, as there are several cultural and natural attractions, they are usually not overcrowded and many of them are almost untouched. Here is a shortlist of the most significant attractions that can easily be reached on half-day or day-trips from Arugam Bay or Pottuvil:
Just south of Arugam Bay is the Crocodile Rock with a lake that is home to numerours mugger crocodiles. Though the lake is picturesque, please keep distance. This is the only place in Sri Lanka at all where a foreign traveler fell victim to a fatal attack of a wild animal. It took several days after that crocodile attack, observed by other from a distance, to find his body in the lake.
Kumana National Park & Kudumbigala - to the south of Arugam
Kumana National Park is the easternmost part of the Yala wildlife zone. Leopards occur but are rarely sighted. Wild elephants can be spotted more frequently, but not in large groups. Crocodiles and deer van be observed in larger numbers on almost all Kumana Safaris. However, the major attraction of Kumana is not the density of wildlife but the untouched amphibic landscape consisting of a variety of almost circular saltwater lagoons known as Kalapuwas and less brackish swamps and several freshwater lakes alike. One of the largest is the namegiving Kumana Villu, which can be seen on the common safari routes. The diversity of wetlands is the reason why Kumana National Park is a perfect nesting ground of aquatic birds. Kumans was a bird sanctuary prior to gaining national park status. Actually, Kumana is the region of Sri Lanka with the largest number of bird species, more than 200 occur in the park.
Adjacent to Kumana National Park is another sanctuary known as Kudumbigala. During Palu fruit season in July and August chances are not too bad to observe sloth bears in this area. However, Kudumbigala is a heritage destination in the first place. An ancient rock monastery has been revived. Kudumbigala again houses several reclusive Buddhist monks. The centrepiece of the Kusumbigala sanctuary is the rock of the same name. It's highly recommendable to clim to the top, it's an easy hike, not steep. The summit is the best vantage point in southeastern Sri Lanka, the 360 degree panorama includes views to the lovely green palm groves along the coastline as well as to the rough and rocky hinterland of Kumana. Kudumbigala Rock is crowned by a brick stupa in a very uncommon shape, its silhouette resembles more Tibetan chortens than Sri Lankan dagabas.
Lahugala & Gal Oya National Park - to the west of Pottuvil
The most significant archaeological site in the hinterland of Arugam Bay and Pottuvil is Lahugala just outside the national park of the same name, which is situated to the west of Pottuvil and usually crossed by all traveleres arriving at the south coast. Not many undertake the small detour to the Lahugala Magul Maha Vihara, which is from the late Anuradhapura period. It's the best specimen of a specific style of ancient monasteries, namely the so-called Pabbata Vihara type, which is characterized by a symmetrical arrangement of the four major ceremonial edifices within a rectangular walled compound. Some carvings are of an uncommon style, some statues are still in situ.
A full-day excursion from the southeast coast is required to cisit Gal Oya National Park further inland. It's Sri Lanka's only national park to be explored on boat safaris. The core of the national park is Sri Lanka's largest lake, Senanayake Samudra. Elephants can be seen roaming at the shores and bathing in the lake and sometimes swimming to islets in the evenings.
Rufus Kulam - off the beaten path to the north of Pottuvil
To the north of Pottuvil, there is a hidden chocolatebox lake called Rufus Kulam. It's rarely visited by foreigners, although it's one of the most beautiful lakes of Sri Lanka, situated amidst large groups of boulders. The western shore is flat and attract wild elephants and feral buffaloes in the evening. This is one of the very rare places in Sri Lanka where you can observe wildlife without paying for a jeep and without a ranger. However, you should not go there without a guide or a local friend, just for your own safety you should not be alone. You should also be aware, that the lake is inhabited by crocodiles.
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