Joanna James
With plenty of sun, sand, sea around the coastal town of Hikkaduwa , here are the top things you can do in the town.
This is a no brainer, really, but the beach has to be added on this list of things to do in Hikkaduwa. The Hikkaduwa beach is ideal for snorkelling, swimming, surfing or just chilling! Some parts of the beach are thriving with lively and colourful coral gardens which house an abundant variety of marine creatures, which makes it ideal for snorkelling!
If you’re the more adventurous type, try diving in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean and get ready to see some spectacular sights of the treasures underwater. As there are plenty of hotels and villas in Hikkaduwa, especially around the beach, such as Yoho Bed, rest assured you’ll be able to wake up with views of the Big Blue! 🌅
The waters of Sri Lanka have been blessed with exotic and countless varieties of wildlife. The golden sandy beaches around the island have been known to be nesting grounds for sea turtles, including the Loggerhead turtle, Hawksbill turtle, Green turtle, Leatherback turtle and the Olive Ridley turtle.
With many of these beautiful creatures nesting on the golden beaches, there have been quite a number of turtle farms along Hikkaduwa – most of which aim at conserving these marine creatures, as most of the time, the eggs are eaten by predators; including fisherman who sell the eggs for consumption.
Some turtle conservation farms collect these eggs and provide a safe haven till they’re hatched and later release them back to the big blue. However, there are quite a few places that have been known to capture wild turtles and imprison them in their turtle farms just to make a quick buck with tourists. Always be informed of which turtle farms are legit!
Following the destruction of the 2004 tsunami that wrecked most of South Asia, including this beach town of Hikkaduwa, a tsunami museum was constructed to honour the lives of those that were taken by the sea.
You’ll be able to find newspaper clippings, photographs and other items that were collected from the nearby houses after the tsunami washed away its occupants and the destroyed the houses.
Make it a point to visit this museum though when you’re in Hikkaduwa – which is open every day from 9 am to 6 pm. There is no entrance fee to the museum but you are encourage to make a small donation before leaving. 🌊
The Seenigama Vihara is a temple that’s about 300 years old and is devoted to God Devol. This diety is known to be worshipped by those who seek revenge when an unfortunate circumstance befalls them, for example, someone who is a victim of theft might journey to this temple and offer prayers to the Devol deiyo to seek revenge on the thief! The temple can be accessed via a short boat trip. The temple attracts visitors from around the country and is considered to be extremely sacred.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
