Joanna James
Nestled along the eastern coast of Sri Lankan Batticaloa has much to offer. Explore culture, take on a bicycle tour, go fishing and sink your teeth into the flesh of fresh juicy lagoon crabs.
Head over to Puliyanthivu district of the town and you will have loads of places to explore. The area is home to the public library, government offices and main post office. It is also rife with plenty of historical monuments such as the Batticaloa Gate, St Mary's Cathedral, Weber Stadium, Jami Us Salam Jummah Masjid and much more. The 17th century Old Dutch Fort is a must explore while Puliyanthivu and Koddamunai are excellent shopping districts if you are after rustic local handicrafts and souvenirs. Do visit the Government Handloom and Handicraft Centre there. Amongst attractions are the religious monuments such as Hindu kovils, Catholic churches and Buddhist temples to explore.
The flat roads along the Batticaloa Lagoon stretch endlessly under sunny skies. There is no better place therefore for a rustic bicycle tour. From your Batticaloa accommodation you will be able to contact a cycle tour provider offering the skills of expert guides who conduct these sojourns into the outback - off the beaten track. The experience will turn out to be anything but enchanting; make sure you take along plenty of hydration and those cameras for clicking the stunning environs.
Batticaloa is best known for its three beautiful lagoons. The largest is Batticaloa Lagoon which is over 50kms long and flows to the sea at Palameenmadu which is close to the Batticaloa Lighthouse. Exploring the area around the lagoon offers a wealth of experiences as you discover exotic wildlife, foliage, fisher communities and birds. Rent a boat at Batti Lagoon Park and enjoy exploring the surroundings including Sinna Upodai Lagoon. A yet rustic location Batticaloa offers limited but good budget friendly accommodation in prominent areas that make sightseeing easy and similar to Yoho Bed collection, there are plenty of accommodation providers offering safe and clean lodging for you to choose.
The summit of the Batticaloa Lighthouse offers one a bird's eye view of the surrounding lagoon and estuary. Heading over there is the perfect excuse for exploring the romantic environs surrounding the lighthouse. Head over to Kallady Bridge on a full moon night and listen to the singing fish under the light of the silvery moon while the edge of the lagoon close to dusk will reveal the most stunning sunset you will witness in the area.
Home to over 120kms of sandy shore facing the Indian Ocean Batticaloa is for sun worshipers. Utterly romantic the place is home to sleepy fisher villages and picturesque beaches. Unspoilt Kallady Beach is ideal for an early morning stroll while not too far off are Passikudah and Kalkudah beaches where one can look forward to snorkelling, diving and simply chilling amongst the beautiful scenery.
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