Hikkaduwa
The word Hikkaduwa could only mean one thing
sun sand and sea. Mostly associated with coconuts,
rice and cinnamon, plumbago mining, and the
manufacture of lace and drum frames, Hikkaduwa
has now emerged as a modern destination for
sun-seekers and wave-worshippers. Situated 99
kilometers from Colombo this destination could
be reached in 3hours by train, 2hours by bus
and almost half an hour less by hired transport.
The town by the sea boasts of some of the best
surfing waves in Sri Lanka, a long stretch of
beach packed with restaurants serving deliciously
fresh seafood, an equally long stretch of souvenir
shops for the serious shopper, and guesthouses
and hotels galore, from the cheap and cheerful
to star-class. It is a haven in heaven.
The main town features a bus stand, train station
and police station with a line of boutiques
that sell some of the most colorful clothing
that shine bright in the sunlight and lure many
tourists coupled with a range of hotels some
offering a very exotic stay and dive stations
for coral viewing. Wewala area is full of guesthouses
and small restaurants, internet cafés
and bars whilst Narigama, a little further South
is a little quieter and laid down.
The main attraction to this island beauty is
the bright sun, the white sand and of the great
white waves that guarantee excellent surfing
waters. It is best for diving and snorkelling
from November to March when the visibility is
generally good. The Coral Sanctuary at Hikkaduwa,
established in 1988, ensures the underwater
world is accessible to all whether they can
dive or not. Snorkelling in the shallow waters
only 200m off shore is possible, and although
the corals are dead in some places you can still
come across a number of brightly-coloured fish
as you float a few metres above. Then comes
surfing. Hikkaduwa is thought to be second best
next to that at Arugam Bay on the east coast
which is no more accessible for tourist as it
falls under the restricted areas of travel.
Jewellery is not of the gaudy golden type, but
the more understated silver type with beautiful
semi-precious stones. There are dozens of souvenir
shops with items from masks and puppets, to
shells and corals, and from musical instruments
to batiks and paintings. By night this town
is an all night party place. There are many
restaurants offering the best of seafood from
juicy prawns to sumptuous lobsters available
mostly
Turning right at the main Hikkaduwa junction
walking towards the north out of the town, past
houses flattened by last year’s tsunami,
you will arrive at Peraliya. Although it may
seem morbid, the infamous train that proved
to be the most deadly rail accident in history
has been placed on some tracks to serve as a
memorial to those who perished that day. A trip
further north of Hikkaduwa to the town is Meetiyagoda
better known as Moonstone town. Sri Lanka is
the international home of the moonstone –
a gem that, when at its best, glows with a blue
sheen as the moon on a clear night. At Meetiyagoda
you can visit a working moonstone mine and see
the miners descending to the pits below. The
pits are lined with wood, and the material containing
the gems is hauled up in large buckets. Next
they pan for the stones in wicker baskets, before
sending the raw product to be polished and finished
by skilled craftsmen. If your thirst for seeing
Sri Lanka at work has not been quenched you
can also pop into the nearby Cinnamon Plantation,
where the aromatic bark is harvested and processed
before it makes its way to kitchen cupboards
all over the world.
Down south of this beach town a little inland
is the Telwatte bird sanctuary which will give
you the chance to watch the varied birdlife
of the south-west coast on and around a picturesque
lake. South of Hikkaduwa is the town of Dodanduwa,
which is the starting point for discovering
the Dodanduwa Lagoon where you can truly enjoy
catching glimpses of the lagoon creatures that
inhabit this hot and steamy tropical world.
Make a quick stop at the renovated Morakolla
temple and untouched Degalla temple and follow
these trails to the mysterious Polgasduwa Island
Hermitage where you will find the birds around
the island are so striking. The hermitage that
only allows males must be seek prior access
for a visit.
Hikkaduwa has played host to innumerable surfers
and budget travellers over the years, so there
is plentiful accommodation of the right type
and price for such clients. It is one of the
coastal places where you feel an instant connection
to the sea, which is literally a few steps away
from the road. This stretch of the coastline
has long been a favourite haunt of travelers
and is best from mid November to April. In conclusion,
Hikkaduwa is the kind of laid-back place that
tourists tend to fall in love with. It has all
the amenities, no serious hassles, and can offer
the perfect beach experience for those who just
want to laze, swim, surf and shop through their
holiday.
