Feeding turtles in Sri Lanka. Hikkaduwa - resort beaches, swimming with turtles, snorkeling, surfing, Sri Lanka. Water sports in Hikkaduwa

As everyone knows, there are 5 species of sea turtles. These giant animals can be found off the coast of Sri Lanka. We went this morning to look at their habitat in nature. At the Hikkaduwa resort you can see them every morning (from 7am to 10am) near the Citrus Hotel, behind the pier. One man has been feeding these turtles for 8 years. These huge animals, similar to stones, climb ashore to eat algae from the hands of the owner, and in the morning people gather to see, stroke and even feed the turtles.

There are no barriers or nets in the ocean. They really live on their own. And the man earns money on this, so to speak.

I think they were olive turtles. The olive turtle is a preserved species of sea turtle with a shell length in adults of 60-70 cm. Weight up to 45 kg. At the beginning of the day, turtles feed, and during the rest of the day they rest on the surface of the ocean. But to avoid hypothermia, animals gather in large groups. Olive turtles tend to swim away from shore when a predator appears. On land, their enemies are opossums, wild pigs and snakes that destroy masonry. Olive turtles are predatory animals that hunt in shallow water areas with muddy or sandy bottoms on a variety of invertebrates: jellyfish, snails, shrimp and crabs, although in the absence of other food they can switch to feeding on algae.

We were surprised when 3 large turtles swam to the smell of algae. I'm sure no one can resist touching and petting a turtle! Even we couldn't resist :)

But you need to be careful when being around a turtle. When caught by a wave, the turtle is unable to control its movement and may hit your legs. They say the blow is like being hit by a stone, its shell is hard. It’s good that we didn’t try this on ourselves, we were extremely careful. When feeding the turtle, do not expose your fingers, it can easily bite you or break them.

In water these creatures are very nimble. It’s impossible to keep up with them, but on land they are ugly - they move with difficulty and from the outside it looks funny.

A turtle's shell feels like a stone slab, and its flippers, which it does not hide, are like linoleum with different layers - some are soft, some are hard. This turtle doesn’t hide its head either; it has a beak like a parrot’s. Her neck is soft, even a little pleasant.

One of the turtles had an iron tag attached to its flipper. I asked: “What is this?” The male breadwinner replied that this turtle used to be blind and that a doctor came and gave her some injections, and this tag is an identification mark to understand who to give the injection. That's it!

Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka: map, photo, weather, how to get there

The city of Hikkaduwa is located on west coast, 128 km from international airport Colombo (CMB). Belongs to the administrative region of Galle Southern Province Sri Lanka. The territory of the city of Hikkaduwa is located on the ocean coast, on a peninsula formed by the bend of the river flowing into the lake of the same name (Hikkaduwa Lake).

For lovers of calm and uncrowded holiday It is worth noting that the number of permanent residents in Hikkaduwa is several times less than the number of visiting tourists. It is here that package tourism from Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus is widely developed, with all the ensuing consequences of a popular resort, such as the presence of beach vendors and a certain amount of garbage on the beach.

Map of Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka

• to the north - Telwatta, Kahawa, Madampagama, Ambalangoda, Balapitiya;
• to the south - Tiranagama, Kumarakanda, Dodanduwa, Rajgama, Bussa, Gintota, Velawatta, Galle.

Hikkaduwa Resort - comfortable place for recreation, with a relatively developed infrastructure, it is located two hours drive from the largest city of Sri Lanka, Colombo. Two national highways pass through the village: A2 and E01, which provides the opportunity to quickly get to any point on the island.

How to get to Hikkaduwa from Colombo Airport

Travel from Sri Lanka International Airport, located in Negombo, to Hikkaduwa by south coast Islands are not difficult at all. To do this, you can use the official taxi service; the Colombo Airport prepaid taxi counter with fixed prices is located at the exit from the arrivals hall.

The taxi counter is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and on holidays. The cost of an official taxi from Sri Lanka Airport to Hikkaduwa in a car with AC is about 8,500 rupees. There is no need to book an airport taxi transfer in advance; the journey will take about 1.5-2 hours if you drive along the highway.

You can also use public transport services, for example, bus No. 187, in order to first get to Colombo, and then transfer to shuttle bus or train to Hikkaduwa. Bus number 187 between the airport and Colombo railway station. Bus No. 187, depending on the type, arrives at the Central Bus Station or Pettah Bus Station. Colombo Fort Station and Pettah Bus Station are located within a 10-minute walk from each other.

Travel time from Colombo by train is about 2 hours, by bus - about 4 hours, as there are usually traffic jams at the exit from Colombo. And also because the buses suburban destinations towards Matara they go along the coast along Galle Street, and not along the highway, which significantly increases travel time.

Buses connecting Matara and Colombo run 24 hours a day, with an interval of about 20 minutes during the day and about 1 hour at night. Cost of travel to public transport in Hikkaduwa the total will be about 200-400 rupees.

Hikkaduwa beaches: Narigama and Hikkaduwa

Hikkaduwa is remarkable for its lake of the same name, surrounded by magnificent tropical nature and wonderful beach Narigama. Visiting tourists, for the most part, rarely visit the city in order to explore ancient cultural monuments and local attractions, preferring beach and sports types recreation. There are two beaches in the city - Hikkaduwa beach(Hikkaduwa Beach) and Narigama(Narigama beach).

Hikkaduwa Beach is a narrow strip of sandy beach, densely built up with hotels, bars and shops. The bottom of the beach in most of the territory is rocky, which is why the waves rolling onto the shore contain almost no sand and have a crystal-transparent blue color. The area near the Hikka Trans hotel is used for swimming; there are almost no waves there.

Hikkaduwa Narigama Beach - wide sand beach, the entrance to the water is quite shallow, there is no immediate transition to depth. There are waves, since Hikkaduwa is not located in a closed bay, but due to the presence of coral reefs, the waves are not very strong. The beach infrastructure is very developed.

Hikkaduwa Photos

Water sports in Hikkaduwa

A beach holiday gives you the opportunity not only to relax in the warm Indian Ocean under the tropical sun, but also to start practicing various water sports: diving, snorkeling, surfing in all its varieties and many other ways active rest on the coast.

There are several surf schools on the beach in Hikkaduwa, providing surfing lessons for children and adults. A lesson with a local instructor costs about 2000 rupees.

There you can easily find several diving centers providing the services of dive instructors. All water sports centers operate during the dry season - from October to April.

Feeding turtles on Hikkaduwa beach

In Hikkaduwa, huge turtles swim to the beach in the lagoon located opposite the Red Lobster restaurant, not far from the Hikka Trans hotel. Moreover, they do this on a daily basis, which attracts many tourists there. You can observe sea turtles in the lagoon from early morning until 3-4 pm.

Tourists have the opportunity not only to photograph huge turtles, but also to carefully feed them, sometimes even pet them. The key word here is "careful" - sea turtles have teeth and use them. The approach to the lagoon, photos with turtles and feeding of the turtles are FREE, even if there are local businessmen who claim otherwise. Enterprising Sri Lankans even manage to make a living by selling turtle food - algae - to white tourists.

Sights of Hikkaduwa

Lake Hikkaduwa
(Hikkaduwa Lake)

The second most popular place in the city after the beach is Lake Hikkaduwa, which attracts many tourists with walks along the calm surface of the water, as well as the opportunity to observe the leisurely Sri Lankan life.

On numerous islands located throughout the lake, locals grow coconut, cinnamon, ginger, bananas, etc.

Nets are installed in the dams on the channels of the lake; river shrimp grow in them. On one of the islands of Lake Hikkaduwa there is a museum that displays exhibits of the art of the local population to tourists. The lake itself is a bird sanctuary.

Coral reef in Hikkaduwa
(Coral reef)

There is a large coral reef along the coast of the city. This place is historically called the “Coral Gardens” because previously, not far from the shore, there were countless corals surrounded by bright tropical fish, starfish, urchins and other oceanic life.

Previously, the Hikkaduwa reef could easily compete with the beauty of the Red Sea with its natural resources. Unfortunately, all this splendor could not survive the notorious tsunami of 2004, and what can now be seen are only remnants of its former splendor, mercilessly exploited by tourist businessmen.

Sinigama Muhudu Viharaya Temple
(Seenigama Muhudu Viharaya)

At the entrance to Hikkaduwa, in the village of Sinigama, there is a temple, the Sinigama Temple (Seenigama Muhudu Viharaya or Seenigama Devol Devalaya), in honor of the deity Devol Deviyo. Sinigama - translated from Sinhala as “sugar village” (“sini” - sugar, “gama” - village).

The temple attracts not only tourists, but also local residents, it is believed that Devol Deviyo, or god Deviyo, is the protector of the southwestern province and all fishermen and drivers. Every month, the offering site on Galle Road at the entrance of the temple collects about 50 kg of coins, and a puja, a worship ceremony, is also held at the temple every month.

According to local beliefs, the Shinigama Temple is a place where an unjustly injured person can ask for retribution for their offenders, and they will certainly be punished. Some people use this place to cast curses. In order to ask Devol Deviyo for retribution for the offenders, you need to reach the island on foot and turn to the deity there. It is believed that in this way, the territory in which the act of cursing is performed is outside the Buddhist world, without denigrating it. After the petition, it is necessary to carry out a certain ritual, which consists of grinding chili pepper on a special stone.

Honganji Vihara Tsunami Monument
(Honganji Vihara)

Not far from the Shinigama Shrine is located memorial Complex Tsunami Honganji Vihara, which was built after the tsunami in December 2004, which killed about 35,000 people in Sri Lanka.

The location of the monument was chosen in connection with the tragedy that occurred a few meters from it on December 26, 2004. At this point, a train was washed away from the railway tracks by a tsunami wave; there were 1,700 passengers in the carriages, including tourists from different countries peace.

The statue of Buddha, 18.5 meters high, looking into the ocean, was donated to Sri Lanka by Japan. In the neighboring village of Tellwatta there is a Tsunami Museum with a voluminous photographic exhibition. This museum is not recommended for visiting by impressionable people, as the photographs of the museum evoke strong emotions.

Nightlife in Hikkaduwa

Due to the developed package tourism, nightlife, by Sri Lankan standards, is present at the resort. However, when going to Hikkaduwa, lovers of nightlife must remember that you should not expect the scale of Pattaya there. The city has several nightclubs with different reputations: “Mambo”s”, “Blue Moon”, “Funky de Bar”, “The Vibration Music Bar”, open until one in the morning.

We strongly advise young travelers not to fall into a tourist trance and periodically subject the surrounding reality to critical reflection - just as if the scene were an unfamiliar night club V hometown, since conflict situations with the local population in such establishments are not at all uncommon.

Weather in Hikkaduwa

The climate in Hikkaduwa is very humid, but warm: the average annual temperature practically does not change its values ​​throughout the year and fluctuates in the range of +28C - +31C. The water temperature in the ocean also changes slightly throughout the year, within the range of +27C - +29C.

The tourist season in Hikkaduwa lasts from November to April. best time To visit the city, during this period the coolest weather sets in, the average daily air temperature drops to +28C, and the amount of precipitation decreases significantly.

The rainy season in Hikkaduwa lasts from May to October inclusive, during these months there is a large amount of rainfall, mainly in the form of tropical thunderstorms. May and October are the wettest months, precipitation at this time can fall in the afternoon, in the remaining summer months the amount of precipitation is less, rains begin in the afternoon.

Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka: map, photo, weather, how to get there

The city of Hikkaduwa is located on the west coast, 128 km from Colombo International Airport (CMB). Belongs to the administrative district of Galle in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. The territory of the city of Hikkaduwa is located on the ocean coast, on a peninsula formed by the bend of the river flowing into the lake of the same name (Hikkaduwa Lake).

For lovers of a quiet and uncrowded holiday, it is worth noting that the number of permanent residents in Hikkaduwa is several times less than the number of visiting tourists. It is here that package tourism from Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus is widely developed, with all the ensuing consequences of a popular resort, such as the presence of beach vendors and a certain amount of garbage on the beach.

Map of Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka

• to the north - Telwatta, Kahawa, Madampagama, Ambalangoda, Balapitiya;
• to the south - Tiranagama, Kumarakanda, Dodanduwa, Rajgama, Bussa, Gintota, Velawatta, Galle.

The resort of Hikkaduwa is a comfortable place to relax, with a relatively developed infrastructure, located two hours drive from the largest city of Sri Lanka, Colombo. Two national highways pass through the village: A2 and E01, which provides the opportunity to quickly get to any point on the island.

How to get to Hikkaduwa from Colombo Airport

Getting from Sri Lanka International Airport, located in Negombo, to Hikkaduwa on the southern coast of the island is not at all difficult. To do this, you can use the official taxi service; the Colombo Airport prepaid taxi counter with fixed prices is located at the exit from the arrivals hall.

The taxi counter is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and on holidays. The cost of an official taxi from Sri Lanka Airport to Hikkaduwa in a car with AC is about 8,500 rupees. There is no need to book an airport taxi transfer in advance; the journey will take about 1.5-2 hours if you drive along the highway.

You can also use public transport services, for example, bus number 187, in order to first get to Colombo, and then transfer to a local bus or train to Hikkaduwa. Bus number 187 between the airport and Colombo railway station. Bus No. 187, depending on the type, arrives at the Central Bus Station or Pettah Bus Station. Colombo Fort Station and Pettah Bus Station are located within a 10-minute walk from each other.

Travel time from Colombo by train is about 2 hours, by bus - about 4 hours, as there are usually traffic jams at the exit from Colombo. And also because commuter buses towards Matara go along the coast along Galle Street, and not along the highway, which significantly increases travel time.

Buses connecting Matara and Colombo run 24 hours a day, with an interval of about 20 minutes during the day and about 1 hour at night. The total cost of a trip by public transport to Hikkaduwa will be about 200-400 rupees.

Hikkaduwa beaches: Narigama and Hikkaduwa

Hikkaduwa is remarkable for its lake of the same name, surrounded by magnificent tropical nature and the wonderful Narigama Beach. The majority of visiting tourists rarely visit the city to explore ancient cultural monuments and local attractions, preferring beach and sports activities to these destinations. There are two beaches in the city - Hikkaduwa beach(Hikkaduwa Beach) and Narigama(Narigama beach).

Hikkaduwa Beach is a narrow strip of sandy beach, densely built up with hotels, bars and shops. The bottom of the beach in most of the territory is rocky, which is why the waves rolling onto the shore contain almost no sand and have a crystal-transparent blue color. The area near the Hikka Trans hotel is used for swimming; there are almost no waves there.

Hikkaduwa Narigama Beach is a wide sandy beach, the entrance to the water is quite flat, there is no immediate transition to depth. There are waves, since Hikkaduwa is not located in a closed bay, but due to the presence of coral reefs, the waves are not very strong. The beach infrastructure is very developed.

Hikkaduwa Photos

Water sports in Hikkaduwa

A beach holiday gives you the opportunity not only to relax in the warm Indian Ocean under the tropical sun, but also to start practicing various water sports: diving, snorkeling, surfing in all its varieties and many other forms of active recreation on the coast.

There are several surf schools on the beach in Hikkaduwa, providing surfing lessons for children and adults. A lesson with a local instructor costs about 2000 rupees.

There you can easily find several diving centers providing the services of dive instructors. All water sports centers operate during the dry season - from October to April.

Feeding turtles on Hikkaduwa beach

In Hikkaduwa, huge turtles swim to the beach in the lagoon located opposite the Red Lobster restaurant, not far from the Hikka Trans hotel. Moreover, they do this on a daily basis, which attracts many tourists there. You can observe sea turtles in the lagoon from early morning until 3-4 pm.

Tourists have the opportunity not only to photograph huge turtles, but also to carefully feed them, sometimes even pet them. The key word here is "careful" - sea turtles have teeth and use them. The approach to the lagoon, photos with turtles and feeding of the turtles are FREE, even if there are local businessmen who claim otherwise. Enterprising Sri Lankans even manage to make a living by selling turtle food - algae - to white tourists.

Sights of Hikkaduwa

Lake Hikkaduwa
(Hikkaduwa Lake)

The second most popular place in the city after the beach is Lake Hikkaduwa, which attracts many tourists with walks along the calm surface of the water, as well as the opportunity to observe the leisurely Sri Lankan life.

On numerous islands located throughout the lake, locals grow coconut, cinnamon, ginger, bananas, etc.

Nets are installed in the dams on the channels of the lake; river shrimp grow in them. On one of the islands of Lake Hikkaduwa there is a museum that displays exhibits of the art of the local population to tourists. The lake itself is a bird sanctuary.

Coral reef in Hikkaduwa
(Coral reef)

There is a large coral reef along the coast of the city. This place is historically called the “Coral Gardens” because previously, not far from the shore, there were countless corals surrounded by bright tropical fish, starfish, urchins and other oceanic life.

Previously, the Hikkaduwa reef could easily compete with the beauty of the Red Sea with its natural resources. Unfortunately, all this splendor could not survive the notorious tsunami of 2004, and what can now be seen are only remnants of its former splendor, mercilessly exploited by tourist businessmen.

Sinigama Muhudu Viharaya Temple
(Seenigama Muhudu Viharaya)

At the entrance to Hikkaduwa, in the village of Sinigama, there is a temple, the Sinigama Temple (Seenigama Muhudu Viharaya or Seenigama Devol Devalaya), in honor of the deity Devol Deviyo. Sinigama - translated from Sinhala as “sugar village” (“sini” - sugar, “gama” - village).

The temple attracts not only tourists but also local residents; it is believed that Devol Deviyo, or god Deviyo, is the protector of the southwestern province and all fishermen and drivers. Every month, the offering site on Galle Road at the entrance of the temple collects about 50 kg of coins, and a puja, a worship ceremony, is also held at the temple every month.

According to local beliefs, the Shinigama Temple is a place where an unjustly injured person can ask for retribution for their offenders, and they will certainly be punished. Some people use this place to cast curses. In order to ask Devol Deviyo for retribution for the offenders, you need to reach the island on foot and turn to the deity there. It is believed that in this way, the territory in which the act of cursing is performed is outside the Buddhist world, without denigrating it. After the petition, it is necessary to carry out a certain ritual, which consists of grinding chili pepper on a special stone.

Honganji Vihara Tsunami Monument
(Honganji Vihara)

Not far from the Shinigama Temple is the Tsunami Honganji Vihara memorial complex, which was erected after the tsunami in December 2004, when about 35,000 people died in Sri Lanka.

The location of the monument was chosen in connection with the tragedy that occurred a few meters from it on December 26, 2004. At this point, a train was washed away from the railway tracks by a tsunami wave; there were 1,700 passengers in the carriages, including tourists from around the world.

The statue of Buddha, 18.5 meters high, looking into the ocean, was donated to Sri Lanka by Japan. In the neighboring village of Tellwatta there is a Tsunami Museum with a voluminous photographic exhibition. This museum is not recommended for visiting by impressionable people, as the photographs of the museum evoke strong emotions.

Nightlife in Hikkaduwa

Due to the developed package tourism, nightlife, by Sri Lankan standards, is present at the resort. However, when going to Hikkaduwa, lovers of nightlife must remember that you should not expect the scale of Pattaya there. The city has several nightclubs with different reputations: “Mambo”s”, “Blue Moon”, “Funky de Bar”, “The Vibration Music Bar”, open until one in the morning.

We strongly advise young travelers not to fall into a tourist trance and periodically subject the surrounding reality to critical reflection - just as if the scene were an unfamiliar nightclub in their hometown, since conflict situations with the local population in such establishments are not at all uncommon.

Weather in Hikkaduwa

The climate in Hikkaduwa is very humid, but warm: the average annual temperature practically does not change its values ​​throughout the year and fluctuates in the range of +28C - +31C. The water temperature in the ocean also changes slightly throughout the year, within the range of +27C - +29C.

The tourist season in Hikkaduwa lasts from November to April - this is the best time to visit the city; during this period the weather is coolest, the average daily temperature drops to +28C, and the amount of precipitation is significantly reduced.

The rainy season in Hikkaduwa lasts from May to October inclusive, during these months there is a large amount of rainfall, mainly in the form of tropical thunderstorms. May and October are the wettest months, precipitation at this time can fall in the afternoon, in the remaining summer months the amount of precipitation is less, rains begin in the afternoon.

Hikkaduwa is a small town in the south of Sri Lanka, whose beaches have long been one of the most popular on the island. The fact that Hikkaduwa is only 98 kilometers from Colombo can be useful in some situations. Many tourists coming to Sri Lanka want to relax and enjoy their time on the beach as soon as possible after arrival. If you're looking for water sports, you'll also have a great time in Hikkaduwa, which has beautiful coral reefs and shipwrecks that attract diving and snorkeling enthusiasts, as well as good conditions for surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing.
Not long ago, Hikkaduwa was a sleepy fishing village on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, but in the last few years, thanks to its clean beaches and a large selection of services and entertainment, this village has turned into a large resort. Hikkaduwa's nightlife has also played a big role in the growing popularity of this resort.
The coastal section of Hikkaduwa is a four-kilometer strip, the main artery of which is Galle Road, connecting Colombo and Galle. The traffic on this road is quite heavy, so walking along it is not always a pleasure. Near this road one can find the Gangarama Maha Vihara Buddhist temple, which displays the various stations of the Buddha's life, painted by one person over a period of ten years. In addition, you can also order wonderful clothes here. After the 2004 tsunami, in order to provide livelihoods for the affected people, sewing machines were provided to them as part of relief and reconstruction efforts. Today tourists can order clothes here for little money.

Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka: video

Hikkaduwa on the map of Sri Lanka

The resort of Hikkaduwa is located 98 km south of Colombo. This fascinating coastal town, located 14 km from Galle, was the first place to be discovered by tourists.
Due to its proximity to the capital, Hikkaduwa can be easily reached by bus, train or taxi. There are regular air-conditioned buses from Colombo to this resort. The journey takes between two and three hours, depending on traffic. In addition, Hikkaduwa is also well integrated into the Sri Lankan railway network. From here you can easily reach Colombo (two to three hours) or Galle (30 minutes) and Kandy (about 6 hours). However, we advise you to take express trains as regular trains are very slow due to long stops at each station.
As for a taxi, the cost of a trip to Hikkaduwa from Colombo Airport is usually $70-80.

Weather in Hikkaduwa by month

The best time to visit Hikkaduwa, like many other resorts on the west coast of Sri Lanka, is from December to April. At this time of year the ocean is very calm and offers ideal conditions for swimming, diving or snorkeling. In general, we can say that the diving and surfing season here lasts from November to April. Of course, the weather during this period is also quite good, it is sunny and quite dry (the amount of precipitation is much less than during the monsoon season).
Since the southwest monsoon dominates in Hikkaduwa from May to October, most shops and cafes close at this time of year. The ocean can be very rough, so swimming is not recommended at this time. Only sometimes weather and ocean conditions allow you to swim in warm water and go diving or snorkeling.

Sights of Hikkaduwa

Tourists who head to the resort area of ​​Hikkaduwa on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka do not come here for the attractions, because there are only a few minor places in Hikkaduwa. This resort is distinguished by its exotic beaches, unspoilt jungle scenery in the hinterland and the charm of an old fishing village. However, you can still see some interesting things in Hikkaduwa. Below we will tell you about what to see in Hikkaduwa.

Turtles in Hikkaduwa

You probably think that the sights of Hikkaduwa should only include some buildings or Beautiful places, but in fact one of the main attractions of this resort area is... turtles.
A few kilometers from Hikkaduwa towards Galle, right on the beach there is an interesting turtle breeding station. This is certainly one of the most interesting attractions in the area. The workers at this station do everything to preserve rare turtles. At dusk they collect newly laid eggs on the beach and then bury them back at the breeding station. Newly hatched turtles spend several days at the station before being released into the open ocean. In addition, the station is home to many old and crippled turtles, whose survival in the ocean is no longer possible. They were often rescued from fishing nets or bought from locals, and now reproduce in the breeding area.
A visit to the turtle farm is a great experience, especially for families with children, as the baby turtles can be seen at very close range.

Sinigama Muduhu Viharaya

This is a Buddhist temple in the vicinity of Hikkaduwa, completely surrounded by water. You can only reach it by boat. Based on records, the temple is approximately 300 years old, but according to the believing population, its age is up to 1000 years. The temple, dedicated to the local god Devol Devi, is not very large. Due to its unique location, the shrine exudes a calm and solemn atmosphere. The dress code for foreign tourists here is not as strict as in other places. A sarong or a scarf on the shoulders is enough to visit the temple.

Tsunami Memorial in Hikkaduwa

Right in the center of Hikkaduwa is the Tsunami Monument, a huge Buddhist temple with a plaque and countless photographs. When the devastating tsunami hit the coast of Sri Lanka on December 26, 2004, Hikkaduwa was hit the hardest. The small village was almost completely destroyed. More than 1,700 people died when the wave hit Hikkaduwa. The resort was almost completely rebuilt with the help of numerous international aid organizations. However, many traces of the incredible natural disaster can still be seen here.

Moonstone of Mityagoda

An interesting moon rock lies about eight kilometers from Hikkaduwa. Here, a rare blue moonstone is dismantled and used exclusively as a gemstone. Next to the mine there is a small shop that sells moonstone jewelry. You have to visit this place yourself if you want to buy something, because if someone brings you, you will pay double the price (the store offers a large commission to taxi drivers and other "agents").

Alut Vihara (Telvat Monastery)

The monastery at Telwatta, 2 km north of Hikkaduwa, was a famous center of learning back in the fifteenth century. The original monastery and temple complex was destroyed by the Portuguese, and the present buildings date back to 1805. It is an atmospheric complex with particularly impressive well-preserved frescoes, statues of a reclining Buddha and beautiful makaras of the toran (Dragon Arch).
One of the island's most famous Buddhist monks, Sri Rahula Maha Thera, is commemorated here with a striking modern copper statue. The monk, a renowned poet, was noted for his exorcism powers as well as his literary works.

Ratgama Lagoon in Dodanduwa

The picturesque Rathgama Lagoon is home to many species of birds and a large number of aquatic animals. There are three islands in the lagoon. One of the islands, Polgasduva (Coconut Island), is home to a forest hermitage founded by a German monk. Walks around the lagoon are made on primitive wooden catamarans. It is better to go for a walk in the late hours, as you can see many birds and other representatives wildlife, including monkeys.

Coral reefs of Hikkaduwa

Although Hikkaduwa is quite a good place for diving and snorkeling, unfortunately, coral reefs in last years were seriously damaged. Boats carrying tourists move too close to the corals, causing them to break. Air and sea pollution are also negatively affecting the corals in the Hikkaduwa area. As a result, half of the reef has been affected by so-called coral bleaching since 1998. In addition, the tsunami in 2004 resulted in huge amounts of rubble being deposited on the corals after the waters receded.

Diving in Hikkaduwa

Although the coral reefs in the Hikkaduwa area are no longer as beautiful as a couple of decades ago, Hikkaduwa is still considered one of best places for diving in Sri Lanka. In general, diving is the most environmentally friendly way to see the colorful fish that live in the waters around Hikkaduwa. The coral sanctuary, which can be found off the coast of Hikkaduwa, is a large shallow pool surrounded by a reef and decorated with layers of colorful corals. It is home to countless colorful fish. The beach has a collection of small islets surrounded by beautiful coral formations. Many species of fish and large turtles are found here. In addition, diving enthusiasts should know that there are four shipwrecks in the Hikkaduwa area.
For diving enthusiasts, Hikkaduwa has many dive centers and shops offering PADI diving equipment and courses. Moreover, some diving centers are located in local hotels.

Surfing in Hikkaduwa

Hikkaduwa Beach is one of the most popular surfing spots in Sri Lanka. Here you can enjoy surfing to its fullest between November and March when the waves are suitable. During this period of the year, numerous international surfing competitions are held in Hikkaduwa.
In our opinion, Hikkaduwa Beach is still better suited for beginners as the waves here are not very high and most of them break on the reefs rather than on the beach. The focus is on the gap known as "A-Frame", which is closer to Vivale.
Narigama and Thirangama, located south of Hikkaduwa, are more suitable spots for experienced surfers as the waves are higher than in Hikkaduwa.
As befits a popular tourist resort considered a paradise for surfers, Hikkaduwa offers a large number of surf schools and places where you can rent a board and other surfing equipment for little money.

Hikkaduwa Beach

Hikkaduwa beach itself is quite wide and long. The color of the sand here is light yellow. In cloudy weather, the color of the sand is closer to brown. The beach itself is not the cleanest in Sri Lanka, but hotels, restaurants and other establishments located near the beach try to clean “their” area so as not to scare away customers with garbage. So they still keep order on most of the beach.
The entrance to the ocean near Hikkaduwa beach is flat and gentle, so the beach is suitable for swimming. Just remember that the waves are sometimes strong, so families with children should think twice about visiting this beach, especially between May and October, when the southwest monsoon dominates here.
Most of the famous hotels and other establishments are located either on the beach or close to it, so you won't have to walk much. In general, the entire Hikkaduwa resort has an area of ​​about 4 square kilometers (4 km long and 1 km wide), so in most cases you will not need transport to get around.

Hikkaduwa Resort

The actual center of Hikkaduwa is clustered around the bus station. Here you can also find railway station, post offices, banks, hairdressers, various shops and many restaurants and cafes. Since there are many local residents in this area, prices for food in cafes and prices for goods in stores are quite reasonable. Here you can still order a delicious dish for only 100-150 rupees.
In the resort area of ​​Hikkaduwa in Sri Lanka you can find fish market and a wonderful fishing harbour. Every Sunday morning from 6 am to 1 pm there is a large market with fruits, vegetables and household items to the east of the train station. Even if you don’t find interesting goods here, this market is worth visiting at least for the sake of interest and beautiful photographs.
The Hikkaduwa resort area extends to the south and includes the villages of Wewala and Narigama, which are located approximately 2 km along the very busy coastal road. These villages have many small hotels, guest houses and restaurants of all classes, as well as many clothing and jewelry stores, kiosks, motorbike rentals, small supermarkets and travel agencies. Unlike Hikkaduwa, all the shops here are aimed at tourists, so their prices are inflated. However, some items, such as masks and leather goods, are sold quite cheaply. And here gems and jewelry as well as household items are expensive. It is better to buy these goods in Galle.
It really runs parallel to the main road. beautiful beach Hikkaduwa. Here you can see many hotels, beach restaurants and surfboard rentals. This is a rather noisy beach. If you like more quiet places, then just head towards Dodanduwa. You can go to the Dodanduwa resort, located 5 km from Hikkaduwa, by bicycle. Before the bridge on the right is a small idyllic natural harbor where you can watch the fishermen in the morning and evening as they go out to the ocean and come back with their catch and head straight to the fish market.

Excursions from Hikkaduwa to Sri Lanka

Although Hikkaduwa is an amazing resort for... beach holiday, many travelers come here not only to lie on the beach and enjoy delicious dishes in local restaurants and cafes. Often tourists want not only to spend time on the beach, but also to see something interesting. There are several in Hikkaduwa and the surrounding area interesting places, but by their nature these are small local attractions. If you want to see something truly amazing, then you need to go on excursions from Hikkaduwa. Excursions in Hikkaduwa are sold on almost every corner, but we advise you not to chase the price, but to look at the excursion program. Still, in this case, the rule “The lower the price, the lower the quality of the excursion” almost always applies.
Below we will tell you about the most interesting and most popular excursions from Hikkaduwa.

Excursion to Galle from Hikkaduwa

We advise you to visit the city of Galle on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, as it is major port and the island's shopping center. The Dutch built a fortress here in the 17th century, which perfectly combines European and Asian architecture. The fortress is well preserved and belongs to the world cultural heritage UNESCO. Typically, a Galle excursion also includes a stop at a sea turtle farm, a boat ride on the Madu River and a visit to the island temple or moon rock. So look carefully at the excursion program before purchasing it.

Excursions to Kandy from Hikkaduwa

Kandy is a must-visit destination for any traveler visiting Sri Lanka for the first time. Although there is day trips from Hikkaduwa to Kandy, such excursions are very strenuous. Therefore, we advise you to pay attention to two-day excursions, during which you can explore the main attractions of the ancient city at a normal pace.
Kandy means "Kingdom on the Mountain". The last capital of the kingdom, Sinhala, is located just below 500 meters above sea level, so the temperatures here are lower than in Hikkaduwa and the air is fresher.

Excursion to the elephant nursery from Hikkaduwa

Pinnawala is a famous elephant nursery in Sri Lanka that attracts many travelers. As a rule, the excursion to the nursery begins at five o'clock in the morning. During your first stop you will be able to enjoy Ceylon tea and delicious pineapple for breakfast. Only at nine o'clock in the morning you will arrive at the elephant shelter, where you can watch the feeding of little elephants. On the way back you will visit a spice plantation and a tea factory. As a rule, almost all excursions to the elephant nursery from Hikkaduwa have the same program, but it is still better to familiarize yourself with the excursion program before purchasing it.

Excursion to Colombo from Hikkaduwa

Colombo is the vibrant capital of Sri Lanka with an interesting past. The city is located on the shore Indian Ocean, between the Kenaly River and Mount Lavinia. The main attractions of this city are the Independence Hall, the old town hall, Buddhist temples, Galle Park, Petta Traditional Market and the old Colombo Fort Railway Station. We recommend that all or at least most of these places be included in the excursion program that you want to buy.

Whale watching

If you want to see blue whales, then this excursion is for you. You will depart Hikkaduwa early in the morning for Mirissa on the southern coast of Sri Lanka. Here you will board a boat and head out into the open ocean for whale watching. Typically, the boat ride starts at 06:30 am and lasts 3 to 4 hours. Depending on the season, you may see different whales and dolphins. Often this excursion includes a visit to Galle Fort on the way back.

Excursion from Hikkaduwa to Sigiriya

Sigiriya - a large stone and ancient fortress in central region Matale of Sri Lanka, surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of gardens, ponds and other structures. Sigiriya is also famous for its ancient paintings (frescoes), which are reminiscent of the paintings in the Ajanta Caves in India. It is one of the eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka and is even named the Eighth Wonder of the World by UNESCO.
Sigiriya may have been inhabited in prehistoric times. According to the chronicles, the entire complex was built by King Kashyapa (477-495 AD), and after the death of the king it was used as Buddhist monastery until the 14th century. The Sigiri inscriptions were deciphered by archaeologist Senarath Paranavitana in his famous two-volume work published by Cambridge.

Shops and supermarkets in Hikkaduwa

Hikkaduwa has many shops to suit every taste, but mostly they are very small shops. Large shopping centers not in this resort area. Souvenir and food shops are scattered throughout the resort area of ​​Hikkaduwa, but, of course, the largest number of shops is on the main street, Galle Road.
As for supermarkets in Hikkaduwa, there are several of them. There are Lal Food City, Nilu Food Shop, Ranjith Super Market, Sampath Grocery and Sathosa Shop supermarkets. All of them are located on Galle Road. But still, Sandagiri is considered the main supermarket of Hikkaduwa. Sandagiri Supermarket, located in the heart of the Hikkaduwa tourist area among best hotels and guest houses, offers thousands of local and international products, wines and spirits, as well as baked goods, beach items and many other items. In fact, it is the premier shopping destination in Hikkaduwa.

Food prices in Hikkaduwa 2017-2018

Of course, many tourists are interested in the prices of food in Hikkaduwa, since not everyone plans to stay in hotels with an all-inclusive food concept. If you plan to eat at local cafes and restaurants, you can be sure that you won't spend a lot of money on food unless you want to.
There are many places to eat cheaply in Hikkaduwa, but if you want, you can go to a decent restaurant or cafe. The cost of meals in such places can be 2-3 times higher than in simple cafes, but the conditions for eating here are better.
In a decent restaurant and cafe, the cost of fruit juice, for example, is about 350 rupees, while in a simple cafe it will cost no more than 150 rupees. In general, most dishes in simple cafes cost between 2 and 7 dollars, although there are also more expensive dishes (mostly seafood dishes). In Hikkaduwa you can have a very good meal for 7-10 dollars per person, but if you want, you can even spend less than 5 dollars. Of course, if you eat in expensive restaurants, your food costs will be noticeably higher. It's easy to spend $30 for 2 dishes and a drink at these places.

Nightlife in Hikkaduwa

Hikkaduwa Resort offers the wildest nightlife among all the resorts in Sri Lanka. Although this is not Phuket or Pattaya, it is still a great place to spend an evening and night. There are many bars in Hikkaduwa that are open until late at night, but for a party it is better to choose one of the establishments suggested below.

Funky de Bar

A good option for gatherings during and after sunset. The bar has a nice atmosphere, good music and really tasty food. One of the best weekly beach parties in Hikkaduwa is held at this place.

Mambo's Hikkaduwa

Mambo's Hikkaduwa Beach Bar hosts a famous party every Saturday. Since the bar is located right on the beach, it offers a pleasant view of the ocean. On the first and second floors there is a restaurant, bar, billiards, table tennis and a recreation area.

Vibration

This is a disco bar that is famous for its Friday night party. Essentially this is best club in Hikkaduwa. In my opinion, Vibration has the best DJs who play great electro music.

Long Beach Lounge

Every Monday there is a beach party at the bar Long Beach Lounge + Bar. This bar has a unique atmosphere and offers a variety of music and the opportunity to sip your favorite drink while enjoying beautiful views of the ocean.

Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka: photos