Attractions in Dickwella – Things to Do in the Iconic Coastal Town

This is one of the main things the coastal town is known for and you should definitely take a stroll here if you're in town to experience the fascinating stalls the market has to offer. Since many people rely on the market for their daily necessities you will find a smorgasbord of local fruits and vegetables to be found, arranged into organised piles. If souvenirs are on your mind, there are many to choose from, ranging from locally made handbags, traditional clothing, and various toys. You can also find many Sri Lankan delicacies to take home with you as well as traditional spices and medicines. If you're a foodie, then you will be overjoyed to discover a range of eateries to choose from, serving everything from street food to traditional meals such as rice and curry. Be mindful however that the market is on full swing only on Saturdays.

Since Dickwella is a fairly religious site as well, you will find that this is the place to be when many of the island's renowned festivals start taking place. These festivals usually take place during the months of May through till July. Wesak, which takes place in May, is one of the best festivals to experience because of the traditional lanterns that are a hallmark of the celebration. In addition to these, you will discover what are known as 'dansals' which are make-shift stalls that distribute various kinds of food for free to the public, ranging from ice cream, to fruit juices to even full meals of rice and curries. The Esala Procession, which takes place in July, is another great celebration to experience decorated elephants, dancers and musicians take to the streets.

This temple is one of the most famous in all of Sri Lanka for its massive Buddha statue which measures fifty metres in height. The statue depicts the Lord Buddha in a seated meditative position. The temple as a whole however showcases some brutal depictions of hell so visitors should definitely be mindful of this, especially if there are children involved. There are many dioramas of sorts involving punishments in hell, and one of these include a man being sawn in half downwards vertically, starting from their nether regions.

Since this is a coastal town there's a beautiful stretch of beach to explore, along with many choices of accommodation along the coast, such as Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort if you happen to be in search of a Tangalle hotel. The waters off these beaches are perfect for swimming since they are protected by reefs and rocks which lessen the tides. Snorkelling is one of the best activities to undertake here since visitors can witness a wide range of colourful fish. At certain times, you can even see the town's fishermen with their distinctively colourful boats venture into the ocean to carry out their livelihood.