Kelinton Felder
Tangalle is a self-contained small city that lies on the southern coast of Sri Lanka. Home to one of the best-preserved beaches in the country, Tangalle still remain pristine and less crowded.
Located in the Hambantota district on the southern tip of the country, Tangalle has pleasing weather throughout the year and a gorgeous stretch of sandy beaches. It's still a very quiet city that has managed to avoid the masses of tourists locally and internationally, however in the main town, you can find plenty of supermarkets, pharmacies, and shops that sell the usual amenities.
Common to most coastal towns of southern Sri Lanka, Tangalle too serves as a place for exciting water activities including surfing, snorkeling, diving as well as whale watching. Of course carelessly lounging on the beach for days is another great thing to enjoy!
To the west of Tangalle, a series of magnificent natural bays lie between vivid rocky headlands and some of these are ideal for a swim or bathing. Further to the east of the town, you find two long sandy beaches including the Medaketiya and Media, which are best for sun bathing and water sports. The idyllic beaches at Rekawa and Kahandamodera can be found further east of Tangalle, this is where you find a handful of Sri Lanka luxury resorts including the latest Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort.
The beaches are at their finest during November to April and this when it becomes a bit crowded. May to October is considered the off-peak however some might find this to be the best times since the city becomes quiet but the sea is a bit rough.
From the Katunayake airport, it will take approximately four hours to reach Tangalle however if you are travelling from Colombo via the Southern expressway the ride will be shorter.
The advantage of staying in Tangalle is that you can travel with great ease to several key attractions of Sri Lanka. If you enjoy the wildlife a 1.5-hour drive will take you to the Yala National Park, which is one of the top sites in the world for leopard watching. If you are not so much a wildlife junkie but want something less wild, then Udawalawe National Park is just an hour away. Udawalawe is home to a large concentration of wild elephants; you can also make way to the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home.
Turtle watching at the Rekawa beach located 10km east of Tangalle is another popular excursion. During January to July, you get to see giant sea turtles coming ashore at night to lay their eggs. It is a common occurrence at Rekawa and Kahandamodara beaches. You will need to venture out in the middle of the night under torchlight and take your chance. It's an experience of a lifetime so staying up all night is worth it!
A visit to the ancient rock temple Mulkirigala is also another list topper in Tangalle. You only need to travel 30 minutes inland from the town and you are there!
