What Is Batticaloa Famous For? Know The Best Things To Do In This Eastern Town Of Sri Lanka 

BY  Sibashree Jul 17, 2026

Every guidebook I read before my third trip to Sri Lanka showed Vavuniya in the same way.  The map was also similar in its approach, and Vavuniya looked like a dot between Anuradhapura and Jaffna. It looked like a place that everyone passed through, but not a place to stop.  The feeling or vibe was similar to Mannar, as most forums wrote it off as “not much else.” However, when I actually went there, I realized what I would have missed.  So, when my driver, Ravi, suggested the Anuradhapura-to-Jaffna drive with a day in Vavuniya instead of pushing straight through, I said yes mostly out of stubbornness. I wanted to see what a “Nothing” town on Sri Lanka’s most historically loaded highway looked like up close.  Honestly, I was not prepared for how much those hours in Vavuniya would sit with me.  The Omanthai Moment  Around twenty minutes before reaching Vavuniya Town, Ravi stopped the car.  The road there narrowed and slowed at a junction called Omanthai. There was nothing very dramatic, and it only had a few roadside stalls, buses idling, and the ordinary chaos of the A9 highway. However, the stopover became unforgettable as Ravi tapped the wheel and said, almost as an aside,  “This was the checkpoint.  During the war, you couldn't cross here without permission. Now you don't even notice it unless someone tells you." That gap between what a place was and what it looks like now is, I've realised, exactly why Vavuniya stayed with me. Also, if Hikkaduwa was the spot to witness the rampage of the 2004 tsunami and the story of human resilience after it, Vavuniya was a story of how Sri Lanka continues to evolve despite a violent history of Civil War.  And that evolution probably shows in the recent reclassification of Sri Lanka's economy in 2026 as an upper-middle-income economy by the World Bank.  What The War Left Behind And What Has Been Rebuilt In Vavuniya?  Being from India, I felt connected to the civil war struggles in Vavuniya.  However, the information available to me was mostly in fragments. Standing in Vavuniya made the fragments feel connected.  During the 26-year conflict, Vavuniya functioned as a critical frontline and government-held enclave bordering LTTE territory to the north. In the final and brutal phase of the civil war, hundreds of thousands of people fleeing the fighting in the Vanni passed through Vavuniya.  Many people were even housed in transit camps, and the largest was known as Menik Farm as the conflict wound down in 2009.  However, you cannot spot any visible sign of these conflicts today.  I saw a town that was rebuilt as a meeting point and not a dividing line.  Tamil, Sinhalese, and Muslim communities live alongside each other here, and you can feel it in the built environment alone. A Hindu kovil, a mosque, and a church can sit within a few streets of each other, something I didn't see with the same density anywhere else on this trip. I want to be honest that this isn't a place with a museum or memorial that neatly packages this history for visitors. So, you have to arrive already curious and often ask. How I Spent A Slow Day In Vavuniya Town (The Places I Visited)  Vavuniya Town is walkable, and instead of being a bucket-list destination, it allows you to engage and get immersed in its spiritual, historical, and cultural vibe.  Nevertheless, these are the places I visited during my day trip to Vavuniya Town.  1. Kandasamy Kovil Kandasamy Kovil, a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Murugan, is at the heart of the town. It is similar to the temples in Jaffna in vibe. However, you cannot expect the quintessential grandeur of the South Indian temples here.  I loved that there was no queue in the temple when I visited. Just a handful of locals were moving through their morning rituals as I stood at the edge and watched them.  2. The Vavuniya Archaeological Museum The Vavuniya Archaeological Museum was a short walk away from the Kandasamy Kovil.  It is a small museum that remains open from 8:30 AM to 5 PM and offers free entry.  Furthermore, it remains closed on Tuesdays.  You can explore this small museum in half an hour. However, that does not reduce the historical value of the pottery, statues, and inscribed stones on display. These made me familiar with the district's history back well before the war, back to the Rajarata and Vanniar periods I'd just been reading about on the drive in. 3. Vavuniya Kulam And Iratperiyakulam Lake In the late afternoon, Ravi drove me out to the tanks.  Vavuniya Kulam, the town's main reservoir, had a peaceful vibe. The locals were fishing or just sitting by the water as the light softened. Iratperiyakulam Lake, a little further out, had the same unhurried energy with no ticket booth and no crowd. 4. The Market This was definitely one of my favorite parts of a trip to Vavuniya.  I wandered the Vavuniya town market at dusk. Tamil, Muslim, and Sinhalese traders shared the same narrow lanes, selling produce, dried fish, spices, and fabric side by side. It was great to see and was tangible evidence that this town has genuinely moved past being a dividing line. One Day In Vavuniya: The Itinerary TimeActivity MorningArrive via A9, stop at OmanthaiLate Morning Visit to the Kandasamy Kovil and Archaeological MuseumAfternoon and Late AfternoonVavuniya Kulam and Iratperiyakulam LakeEveningExploring Town Market and DinnerNext MorningOnward to Jaffna What I Ate In Vavuniya  Like the food in Jaffna, Vavuniya also treated me with Tamil delicacies. So, rice and curries dominate the options.  I had a lunch plate with five or six vegetables and fish curries that easily rivalled anything I have had further south. In the evening, I found a roadside stall doing kottu roti, chopped and fried on a hot griddle with theatrical noise, which felt like the right way to end a day built around quiet places. Reaching Vavuniya And Getting Around Vavuniya is on the A9 highway, which is the main north-south highway of Sri Lanka.  Also, it is on the Northern Line railway connecting to Colombo in the south and Jaffna further north.  However, you can visit Vavuniya from Anuradhapura like me, and it is a fairly short onward drive.  If you are traveling from Colombo by road. It will be a long four-hour drive, though!  Within the town itself, everything I wanted to see was walkable or a short tuk-tuk ride away.  I didn't rent anything as Ravi's car covered the tanks and the outskirts, and my own feet covered the town centre and market. Why You Must Not Skip Vavuniya  Vauniya does not have the spiritual intensity of the Dambulla Royal Cave or the cultural grandeur of Kandy.  It also does not want to be a headline destination.  I understand why it gets treated as a highway stop rather than a place to stay. However, for me, that was exactly the point. I stood at a former front line that's now just a bus stop, eating a curry plate shared by three communities that were once defined by the war between them. Overall, it offered a northern Sri Lankan experience that is not curated for visitors or trying to grab attention.

BY  Sibashree Jul 28, 2026

On the bus route hugging Sri Lanka's south coast, Dikwella sat as a shadow to two more prominent names in Sri Lankan Tourism, Tangalle and Mirissa.  Mirissa stood out with its whale-watching boats and rooftop bars. Tangalle, on the other hand, showed its glossy resort strips.  However, Dikwella waited quietly with just a busy street, a fish market, and a few guesthouses.  Furthermore, the stretch of coastline of Dikwella unfolded quietly on either side of town.  I was looking for that quietness exactly, and that is why I ended up spending three nights there.  In this article, I will share my experience in Dikwella Beach, how to reach there, the things to do, and more! Where Is Dikwella? How To Reach It?  Dikwella or Dickwella is in the southern province of Sri Lanka.  Between Tangalle and Matara, this coastal town is also closer to the Galle–Mirissa corridor. So, Dikwella is accessible.  However, the thing is that it is usually far enough off the main tourist script. So, to me, Dikwella felt like a place where locals lived and not a backdrop built for visitors. If you are already exploring the south coast, Dikwella is a short hop from nearby towns. It is just about twenty minutes from Matara, fifteen from Mirissa, and only ten minutes or so from Tangalle.  Local buses run this route constantly, and the ticket prices are very low, though a tuk-tuk is more comfortable if you're carrying luggage. If you are traveling from Colombo, you will have to drive for around three and a half to four hours down the Southern Expressway to reach Dikwella.  The road exits near Matara and continues along the coastal road.  However, I took the Colombo Fort to Matara train and then a short tuk-tuk ride to Dikwella.  The train takes longer. However, the time you spend on the train journey here is more than worth it as it is one of the most beautiful railway routes in Sri Lanka.  It hugs the coastline for long stretches south of Galle.  Colombo Fort To Matara Train  There are many daily and weekly trains running between the Colombo Fort and Matara railway stations.  I took the 8050 Express train. It runs daily.  It departed the Colombo Fort Station at 6:50 AM, and I reached Matara at 10:15 AM. I was traveling in a 3rd class compartment, and the ticket price was LKR 300.  The second class tickets cost LKR 600.  From Matara, I took a tuk-tuk that charged me LKR 2500.  Getting Around Dikwella  You can hire a tuk-tuk to explore Dikwella and visit the nearby attractions such as the temple and the blowhole.  The rental cost is around LKR 3000 to LKR 4000.  However, I rented a scooter. It was more affordable, costing me LKR 1000 a day, and it gave me more flexibility to explore the smaller lanes and beaches nearby. What Are The Things To Do In Dikwella (The Best Is That You Do Nothing) Dikwella is the place that allows you to enjoy the joy of just existing.  So, even if you are an introvert like me, you will find the place comfortable for getting knocked over by a wave or simply waiting for the water to wash your feet.  Nevertheless, exploring the Blue Beach, a visit to Hiriketiya, a ride to the Hoo-maniya Blowhole, and a visit to the Wewurukannala Vihara are the to-do things in Dikwella. Being At The Blue Beach And The Double Bay  Dikwella Beach or Dickwella Beach has become the Blue Beach thanks to the locals and the nearby hotel owners.  It is a double bay formation just west of town, where two curved stretches of sand meet at a narrow rocky point. Due to the shape of the bay, the open-ocean swell gets broken up. So, the water inside remains calmer than most beaches along this stretch of coast. So, if you are visiting alone or with family, this is a more comfortable space for swimming.  I saw palm trees leaning out over the sand at angles that look almost too deliberate, like a photograph. Furthermore, in the late afternoon, the light turned the water somewhere between turquoise and navy.  I spent one whole evening doing nothing but sitting on the sand with a king coconut, watching fishermen haul in nets a little further down the beach. It was not a dramatic sunset by postcard standards. It was better, honestly, because there were maybe a dozen other people on the entire beach to share it with. 2. A Visit To Hiriketiya After soaking in the silence of Dikwella, Hiriketiya was my next stop to feel the pulse of the area.  Technically part of the greater Dikwella area, Hiriketiya has become one of the fastest-growing spots on Sri Lanka's south coast in recent years. It is a near-perfect horseshoe-shaped bay that has turned into a magnet for surfers, yoga retreats, and a rotating cast of digital nomads working from beachfront cafés. The bay itself is small. While the small bay offers intimacy, a lack of space can also make it feel very crowded with a surge in the number of visitors.  I rented a board for a couple of hours one morning, and it cost me LKR 500. Even as an amateur, the gentle, consistent waves here made it one of the friendlier places I have tried to learn surfing.  The scenario, however, entirely changed by the evening. The beanbags outside the restaurants were occupied, and people were busy gorging on the best seafood and wood-fired pizza.  It felt like a stark contrast to how quiet Dikwella felt.  3. A Visit To The Hoo-Maniya Blowhole I took a scooter ride toward Kudawella and reached Hummanaya, or Hoo-maniya blowhole.  It was like a narrow rock chimney with incoming waves getting forced up through a submerged cavern and bursting out at the top in a sudden plume of spray.  The water here makes a low rumbling sound that gives the blowhole its onomatopoeic name. Despite being the only natural blowhole in Sri Lanka and one of the largest in the world, the Hoo-Maniya Blowhole is unpredictable.  Some eruptions are a modest fizzle, others send spray shooting dramatically into the air, and the difference comes down entirely to the sea conditions that day. The locals told me that the blowhole is the most powerful during the southwest monsoon.  During the monsoon months, rougher seas force water through the cavern with more pressure. As a foreign visitor, I had to pay 500 LKR as the entry fee. For locals, however, the entry fee was 50 LKR for adults and LKR 20 for children.  The parking charges were LKR 50 to LKR 100.  There is a proper viewing platform from which you can cherish the unique geology of the place.  4. Visiting The Wewurukannala Vihara And Its Giant Buddha I took a scooty ride for about twenty minutes inland from Dikwella, and on the road toward Beliatta, I found a Buddhist temple appearing over the treeline.  It was Wewurukannala Vihara, home to the largest seated Buddha statue in Sri Lanka.  The statue rose around 50 meters, dominating the skyline of an otherwise low, palm-covered landscape. The temple complex itself is older and more layered than the giant statue suggests at first glance.  Parts of it date back to the 18th century, built during the reign of King Rajadhi Rajasinha, with a smaller, more traditional Buddha image worked into the original structure. Walking through the complex, I passed from that older, quieter section into the base of the giant statue.  Along the way, most visitors passed through a strange, slightly unsettling tunnel of painted dioramas depicting Buddhist concepts of karma and consequence.  Where To Stay In Dikwella?  You can decide where to stay in Dikwella based on the experience you want.  Close to the town center and the Budget, there is a good mix of budget guesthouses and a couple of larger beachfront resorts. While the budget guesthouses were more suitable for me, the larger beachfront resorts were for travelers who wanted easy beach access without the buzz. However, if you want a little buzz and the pulse of the area, Hiriketiya will be a more suitable choice.  The prices of guest houses here are higher. Also, the energy shifts toward boutique guesthouses, surf hostels, and design-forward small hotels aimed at the surf-and-yoga crowd. I split my stay between the two, a couple of nights in a simple guesthouse near Blue Beach for the quiet mornings, then a night in Hiriketiya just to experience the contrast. The stays near Blue Beach cost me LKR 1800 per night, and in Hiriketiya, it was around LKR 6000 per night. What To Eat In Dikwella?  Dikwella does not promise a huge restaurant scene. It has not come out of its shell of a working fishing town yet.  The daily catch showed up on almost every dish I had.  Some of my best meals were the simplest, including grilled fish, coconut sambal, and rice and curry from small local spots along the main road. Furthermore, the cost of food in Dikwella was a fraction of similar meals' cost in Mirissa or Unawatuna. For a livelier and more elaborate food scene, you can visit Hiriketiya. It has cafés and restaurants aimed squarely at the international crowd. So, there you will find smoothie bowls, wood-fired pizza, and fresh pasta alongside Sri Lankan staples. Overall, I cherished the contrast of eating a rustic curry in Dikwella town one night and a plate of pasta overlooking the surf in Hiriketiya the next. Things To Remember If You Are Visiting Dikwella  December to April, or the dry season, is the best time to visit Dikwella.  You will enjoy the calmest ambiance and nature for swimming in these months.  However, if you specifically want to see the Hoo-maniya blowhole at its most dramatic, aim for the southwest monsoon months instead, around May to September. Also, two to three days are enough if you want to experience the best of Dikwella. You can visit the Blue Beach and the Vihara in one day.  On the next day, you can visit Hiriketiya and the blowhole and try surfing. Then, leave a spare day if you just want to do nothing. So, Is Dikwella Worth Visiting? During my trip to Sri Lanka, especially when exploring the southern coast, Dikwella was my favorite spot as it allowed me to slow down and be myself.  Dikwella does not have an ancient fortress or a famous surf competition. It does not have a five-star strip or a world-class resort.  In fact, it is still very much a working fishing town that has not been built around tourism.  Dickwella Beach is beautiful because it is not overrun. Also, the nearby attractions such as the booming blowhole and a giant Buddha allow you to spend a couple of unhurried days. So, if your south coast itinerary has room for one detour off the Mirissa–Tangalle highlight reel, make it this one.

BY  Sibashree Apr 27, 2026

Dalawella Beach is the best beach for families in Sri Lanka in 2026.  It’s not me, and Lonely Planet has conferred this title to Dalawella Beach, which is just south of the Unawatuna resort town.  Furthermore, it is just 20 km from Galle and less than 8 km from Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  On the same list, the Hiriketiya Beach has become the best beach for amenities, the Mirissa Beach has been chosen as the best beach for whale watching, and Unawatuna Beach has been selected as the best beach overall.  You can take a tuk-tuk from Unawatuna and reach this beautiful beach within 10 minutes. Furthermore, it is a 2-hour journey by road.  Taxis to Dalawella Beach are also available from Galle.  While easy accessibility remains a plus for the beach on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, it stands out because of its rope swing attached to a leaning palm tree. This swing is also called the Dalawella Swing.  Moreover, Dalawella Beach or Wijaya Beach has a sheltered natural pool, formed by a reef and adorable turtles.  So, what are the things to do and the top attractions at this beach? Let’s discuss this in detail in this blog.  How To Reach Dalawella Beach?  As I have said already, you can easily take a tuk-tuk from Unawatuna and reach Dalawella Beach within 10 minutes.  I paid LKR 200 as the tuk-tuk price and got off at the Dream Cabana Hotel. Here, you will find the palm tree that has the famous Dalawella Swing.  You will also get buses from Unawatuna to Dalawella every 15-20 minutes, and the ticket price is LKR 50.  Why Is Dalawella Beach A Must-Visit? (Things To Do In Dalawella Beach) Sri Lanka has the best of many things. It has the famous Buddhist sites, such as the Dambulla Royal Cave Temple, or the Sacred City of Anuradhapura.  These are high-energy places and are soaked in spiritual fervor.  On the other hand, the coastal gateways such as the Uppuveli Beach in Trincomalee or Ahangama Beach Town, offer you the ideal places to relax and unwind.  The Dalawella Beach near Unawatuna is, of course, a nice addition to this list of beaches in Sri Lanka.  While relaxing and enjoying a laid-back vibe is the best thing to do when you are at Dalawella Beach, here are some other activities you must try.  1. Swing Over The Water  The palm tree swing is the top attraction at Dalawella Beach. This swing is attached to the leaning palm tree in front of the Dream Cabana hotel.  You can enjoy this swing ride over the water and have the most amazing experience. A hit on Instragram, this is the perfect spot for photography or making reels at Dalawella Beach.  The cost of taking this swing is LKR 500, which I have seen many travel guides mentioning as the entry fee.  However, entry to Dalawella Beach is free.  2. Watch The Sunset From The Wijaya Rock You will find the Wijaya Rock if you walk a few hundred meters from the Wijaya Rock. The standalone rock comes out of the sand and reaches out into the ocean.  There is a palm tree right beside the rock. So, the overall setup is very Insta-worthy, especially during the hours of sunrise and sunset.  3. Swim With Turtles  Turtles are a major attraction on the Sri Lankan beaches.  Be it the beaches in Jaffna or the Sea Turtles Conservation Centre near Mount Lavinia Beach, these adorable creatures add more delight to the beach experience.  At Dalawella Beach also, I spotted some turtles, and swimming by them in the lagoon was relaxing.  So, you don’t need to snorkel to meet them.  Furthermore, if you don’t want to swim in the water, you can watch them from the top of the Wijiya Rock or use a drone camera to capture their beauty.  4. Surfing Near The Frog Rock  Dalawella Beach is not the best option if you want to enjoy surfing in Sri Lanka. However, it is not the worst either.  You will find the iconic Frog Rock at the end of Dalawella Beach. The natural formation of this boulder makes it look like a frog.  However, the water here is quite shallow, and the reef is a major challenge. So, you will mostly find locals surfing in this area.  Moreover, Dalawella Beach has some delightful cafes and restaurants. You can enjoy seafood and chilled beer here and enjoy amazing sunset views.  What Are The Other Beaches To Visit Near The Dalawella Beach?  As I have mentioned, Dalawella Beach is not that great as a surfing destination, and it does not have a surfing break.  So, you can try nearby beach options such as Ahangama, Kabalana, or Koggala.  The best among them is, of course, Ahangama, and you can easily reach this beach town by a tuk-tuk, and it takes just 20 minutes.  Ahangama is the best because it has around fifteen surf breaks along a few kilometers of the coast.  The Kabalana Beach, around 15 km away from Dalawella Beach, is also a popular surfing destination and has the best A-frame in Sri Lanka.  However, if you want a more peaceful experience at a remote place, you can try Koggala. It is just 10 minutes away, but it can be a little dumpy.  Where To Stay If You Want To Surf At Dalawella Beach?  You will find many hotels to stay at Dalawella dotting the beach. However, it is always better to take a tuk-tuk ride or a short walk to find better options.  For example, the Rockside Cabanas Hotel is the most popular accommodation, and it is within walking distance of the beach. It is also very close to the turtle lagoon.  You can also plan a stay at the Horizon Hill Top Villa. Take a tuk-tuk to reach this hotel in two minutes from the beach.  It serves an amazing breakfast, and it has a lovely pool in the jungle.  What Is The Best Time To Visit Dalawella Beach?  Dalawella Beach remains open 24x7. However, 6 AM to 7 PM is the best time to visit the beach in a day.  Season-wise, December to March or the dry season, is the best time to visit Dalwella Beach.  Moderate temperature with an average of 31-32 degrees Celsius, long sunshine hours, and calm waves make this season ideal for regular tourists and surfers.  Moreover, these months are the best for spotting turtles here.