Places to visit in East Coast of Sri Lanka -Golden Beaches & Historical Ruins

For three decades the Eastern Coast of Sri Lanka was somewhat restricted to tourists to the raging civil war. But now, after 8 years of freedom, it manages to captivate both local and foreign tourists who flock in great numbers to experience its wonderful beauty. To cater to the rising demand of tourists many luxury hotels in Sri Lanka such as the Jetwing Hotels have branched out here. Trincomalee is one such place that attracts hundreds of tourists with its abundance of attractions that range from one of the world's largest natural harbour to hot well promising various health benefits and last but not least, a collection of beautiful beaches.

As of recent times, Arugam Bay has become one of the best-surfing destinations in the world attracting surfers from all corners of the globe from the professional to the amateurs. The reason why it is so famous for surfing is because Arugam Bay features many great surf breaks such as Main Point, Peanut Farm, Elephant Rock and Pottuvil Point. Even if you have never gone surfing, there's no need to worry as there are plenty of surf centers scattered along the shores, teaching the art of surfing.

If you're a history buff, then this the place to go when on the East Coast. Located very close to the little village of Maligawila in the Moneragala District, the statue is surrounded by a forest, so travelling to the statue will be an adventure in itself. The origin of the statue is said to date as far back as the 7th Century, and it reconstructed to its former glory in 1980. The statue, which has been carved out of a large limestone rock depicts the Gautama Buddha in a standing position. This is said to be the tallest free-standing ancient statue of the Buddha found in Sri Lanka.

Called Madakalapuwa (මඩකලපුව) in Sinhalese, Batticaloa is a charming coastal city about 7 hours away from Colombo, the commercial capital of the country. The city portrays the remnants of a colonial past as it features a Dutch Fort lying next to a lagoon with solid coral walls, a moat and most interestingly- a Hindu temple right in the middle. Batticaloa is also famous for the legendary Singing Fish, which is said to be found in the lagoon.

Located about an hour's distance away from Trincomalee, the Pigeon Island National Park is one of the two marine national parks in the country. Covering an area of 471.429 hectares, the island is named after the rock pigeon which has highly populated it. The Pigeon Island National Park is famous for its pristine, beautiful corals which are said to be the best remaining coral reefs of Sri Lanka. Because of this, it is one of the best snorkelling destinations in the nation.