Sunday, October 11, 2009

World famous beautiful beaches in Sri Lanka



Sri Lanka is surrounded by golden beaches and the beaches in Sri Lanka are the best in the world. Sri Lanka is the ideal holiday destination, and is a land of many appealing beaches, which are a major tourist attraction. Being a tropical island, it is endowed with an idyllic setting with swaying palms bending over the white sands lapped up by blue waters coral growths, pearl banks (North West) etc. So pull off your sandals and dip your toes into the clear, soft sands of the beach. As one travels along the western, eastern and southern coastlines one will come upon yet another identical and tempting tropical and panoramic view, which proves that this unique isle is the best place to relax and enjoy a perfect holiday.





With smooth velvety sands, ebb and flow of the tides, calm waters around the island there is everything that anyone to be entertained by. If you are keen on water sports, discover what an aquatic playground the beaches of Sri Lanka would provide. Snorkeling, windsurfing, angling and sailing are just a few activities if one wants to indulge in, Swimming diving, sunbathing and just relaxing are some of the favourite pastimes of the tourist. By the way, you would never miss beach seining still a favourite form of fishing in Sri Lanka and also stilt- fishing, a popular sight along the coast to the deep south.

Beruwala beach in Sri Lanka is ideal for swimming almost throughout the year
Here is a very good example of how a small sleepy fishing village with only a bay nearby is transformed into a grand holiday resort with numerous luxury hotels and other amenities inviting the tourist. This small town situated 56 kms south of Colombo possess a stretch of coastline dotted with palm trees, white sandy tracts and clean blue waters nearby. The bay remains ideal for swimming almost throughout the year and there is heavy tourism development centred around Beruwala

Galle

116 Kms South of Colombo, Galle is the chief city and one of prime importance in the south. It has an old-world charm pervading its air. This natural harbour was a famous landing place for foreign trades in the delays of yore. Today the place holds fame for its Dutch fort, lace making, ebony carving and gem polishing. Primarily built by the Portuguese and extended by the Dutch, this is now a WORLD HERITATGE SITE. Oldest building constructed by the Dutch here is occupied by the national Museum in Galle. A pleasurable activity one could occupied in while in Galle would be a stroll along the circuit of the walls of the fort and inside it. The latest addition to Galle is the SANATH JAYASOORIYA Cricket grounds.

Hikkaduwa beach in Sri Lanka is one of the beautiful destinations
Hikkaduwa is one of the famous tourist destinations in southern Sri Lanka. It is 98 kms south of Colombo and its beautiful beaches a lot of glamour to this town. It is the place where you can have a glimpse of the fascinating underwater world and see the creatures that inhabit the unfathomable depths of the sea. The famed coral gardens are located here. Just get hold of a glass bottomed boat or goggles and flippers and plunge into the ocean!.

Unawatuna beach in Sri Lanka, rank amongst the twelve best beaches in the world
Unawatuna Beach is located just south of Galle, the chief city in the south and 125km from Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. This 4km expanse of palm-fringed sand is said by some to rank amongst the twelve best beaches in the world. This beach is a paradise for all those who yearn to enjoy the silence of the sea and dive deep into the blue waters of the ocean. There is a reef protecting the beach, which makes it perfectly a safe haven for bathing. Other major attractions of this southern beach include shallow waters for swimming, and diving. Within its reach there is an accessible, reasonably well-preserved coral reef that serves as the base for snorkelling. For all those who fancy scuba diving, this tropical bay in the south will definitely catch your fancy since for the scuba divers; there are several wreck dives only 20-30 minutes away from the beach by boat. Thus it is the most favoured beach for all those looking for some exciting water sport activity like swimming, scuba diving or snorkelling.

Mount Lavinia

Just 12 km. south of Colombo, Mount Lavinia is the most popular beach because of its close proximity to the capital. It is situated beside a wind swept headland jutting into the waters of the Indian Ocean. Mt-Lavinia beach is noteworthy in historical value as well as in beauty. It is an ideal place to indulge in relaxation and enjoy the sea. The Governor's House built in 1805 by Sir Thomas Maitland now forms part of the famous Mount Lavinia Hotel. Mt-Lavinia Beach is quite busy on Sundays and public holidays with large crowds gathered to participate in many beach sports activities such as swimming, wind surfing, beach volleyball, beach rugby, etc. Music by Live bands & Entertainment by DJs keep the toes of the crowd tapping.

Negombo

Negombo is located 37km. North of Colombo and 6 km. from the Katunayake International Airport, Negombo is an ideal fishing town as well as a paradise for the seafood buffets. You can enjoy watching the old -world fishing crafts like outrigger canoes and the catamarans bringing a variety of marine fishes like seers, skipjacks, pomfrets and amber-jacks. In the lagoon lobsters and prawns are caught and served as fascinating delicacies in the nearby restaurants. There's much more in Negombo than just a sandy stretch of beach, where much history has been witnessed. During the time when Dutch were ruling the coastal areas of Sri Lanka, a fort, a canal and many a church was built and cinnamon cultivation took high priority. Remains of these provide a glimpse of the past and adorn the beach in Negombo along with fishing villages, which are sprinkled in the area.

Bentota beach in Sri Lanka is an ideal romantic beach holiday
If you are looking for an ideal romantic beach holiday Bentota located 62 kms south of Colombo is the ideal place to go. The place is a small town fast developing, teeming with growth of hotels, shopping arcades and cafeterias. There is also an open air theatre where folk and mask dancing is performance. This section of the southwestern coast gives a typical picture of a tropical beach dotted with palm trees; white sandy drenches and blue waters.

Ambalangoda beach in Sri Lanka has a beautiful stretch of sandy beach
Ambalangoda, on the southwestern coast about 85 Km from Colombo, has a beautiful stretch of sandy beach and a captivating rocky little islet off its coast. Ambalangoda is most famous for its mask carving a traditional cottage craft. You can find many types of traditional Sri Lankan masks beautifully painted with attractive colours in ambalangoda. These masks are used in sorcery and some traditional rituals.

Weligama

27 km. from Galle, Welingama is blessed with its picturesque shallow bay; broad sandy beach provides fantastic scenes for the eyes of a visitor. Weligama is also the home of the famous stilt fishermen, who standing on stilts closer to the beach wait patiently for their catch; look out for curd and treacle, which are in plenty here.




East Coast

The east coast has a lot to offer to the tourist. The uneven coastline is dotted with many bays and sheltered coves. In some beaches one can walk even a mile into the sea.

Trincomalee

Trincomalee is regarded as on of the most magnificent harbours in the world. Its exceptional beauty is commented by many a traveller for the island in the past. Horatio Nalson, Great Britain’s greatest Admiral and naval hero of the 18th Century described Trincomalee as the finest harbour in the world. The British, at one time wanted to use this as their chief naval base in the east. Trincomalee, 257 kms away from Colombo is also endowed with excellent beaches and perfect hang-outs for beach buffets and offers some of the best sea- bathing places in the country.

Nilaveli beach in Sri Lanka is ideally suited for sun bathing and diving
Nilaveli-situated at a distance of 271 km from Colombo-is a prime beach resort on the East coast. In the northern stretch of 'Trinco', known as Nilaweli, shallow beach goes up to half a mile into the sea. The hot wells and the Pigeon Islands are the important places of tourist interest in the vicinity. There is an old Portuguese/Dutch fort reminiscent of the Colonial era. The beach has ample water sports facilities including fishing and sea angling. Nilaveli is ideally suited for sun bathing and diving. A few metres from the coast are a small rocky island good for snorkelling. This, only 8 miles from Trincomalee once possessed the chief slattern in the South- East of Sri Lanka.

Batticaloa

It is the famous 'singing' fish and is at exit point of a picturesque lagoon made up of a series of connected lagoons filled with mangrove swamps that attracts tourists to this serene beach. Situated at a distance of 314 km from Colombo, Batticaloa is famous for its `Singing Fish' and picturesque lagoon. On full moon nights a faint but distinct musical sound rises from the lagoon waters. This is attributed to a noise emanated by a kind of fish found in the lagoon. A Dutch Fort near the lagoon is another tourist attraction and the whole area around bears signs of European occupation, by the Portuguese, Dutch and the British.

Kalkudah beach in Sri Lanka is a popular tourist centre with the fine bay Passekudah lying close by
32 km. from Batticaloa, Kalkudah is a popular tourist centre with the fine bay Passekudah lying close by. The calm reef-protected sea is an ideal place for having a sea bath. There is also a popular hotel along with other amenities required for the tourist. Kalkudah & Passekudah are two very fine beaches in the East Coast. Kalkudah Bay, a 2 km long wide stretch of beach-located 32 km north of Batticaloa-is well protected from the monsoons by an offshore reef. Passekudah Bay is another wide beach 4 km long, just south of Kalkudah. The two beaches form an ideal stretch for bathing, windsurfing and water-skiing.

Arugam Bay beach in Sri Lanka is one of five best places in the world for wind surfing

Located 314 Km to the East of Colombo, Arugam Bay is a fishing village. The town has a sweeping beach and a beautiful bay that is excellent for wind surfing, which is regarded as one of five best places in the world for wind surfing. The bay offers numerous possibilities for water sports and underwater photography. The many shipwrecks off the coast offer a tempting challenge to the divers.

Source :http://www.scenicsrilanka.com

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