List of Things to do Near Pasikudah – Pas-I-Kudan't the opportunity!

Pasikuda beach is famous among locals and tourists alike for its gorgeous blue waters and soft, white-gold sands. You can do numerous, exciting water sports activities like jet skiing, surfing, banana boat rides, sea kayaking, doughnut boat rides, as well as, diving and snorkelling! Scuba diving and snorkelling are especially rewarding here; Pasikudah bay has one of eastern Sri Lanka's best-known reef systems which provides an unforgettable snorkelling experience and there are truly spectacular dive sites for Scuba divers, including several magnificent shipwrecks! You can get up close and personal with massive schools of groupers, hunting giant trevally, batfish, oriental sweetlips, sting rays, napoleon wrasse and beautiful, vibrantly coloured corals and anemones! The Eel Garden dive site is especially surreal and features, garden eels!

Nothing will allow you to learn about the unique eastern Sri Lankan culture and peoples more intimately than cycling around the idyllic coastal village of Pasikudah! Many Pasikuda hotels have bicycles freely available to their customers, you can simply grab one and set out exploring the quaint town and its many hidden, picturesque nooks and crannies overflowing with beautiful greenery and charming wildlife. The best time to go cycling is during the morning hours when the sun is softer, the fishing village is lazily stirring awake and the fishermen are hauling in their morning catch.

Batticaloa town is about a half hours drive from Pasikudah. The vibrant town is chock full of fascinating sights, culture and people. Some of the must-see highlights include the Old Dutch Fort, built by the Portuguese in 1628 and later occupied by the Dutch and the Batticaloa Bazaar, which is a riot of colours, sounds and people and offers a truly immersive cultural experience! You can buy some delicious fresh vegetables, aromatic spices and exquisite handicrafts at the Bazaar. Also check out the iconic, Batticaloa Gate, the beautiful St. Mary's Cathedral and the magnificent Jami-Us-Salam mosque, which are all located in the Puliyanthivu area. You can also explore the gorgeous, 56km long Batticaloa lagoon by hiring a kayak, paddle boat or even a swan boat. See if you can hear the lagoon's legendary 'singing fish'!

Polonnaruwa is located about an hour and a quarter away from Pasikuda. The city is the second most ancient of Sri Lanka's kingdoms and is a declared UNESCO World Heritage site. The ancient city has a fascinating ensemble of grandiose ruins and ancient structures dating as far back as 1070 AD when it was declared the new capital of Sri Lanka by King Vijayabahu I. The city is one of the best planned archaeological relic cities in the country. The best way to see all the numerous points of interest is to get yourself a map from the tourist centre and hire a bicycle from the multitude of bicycle hire shops available close by. You're guaranteed to feel like Indiana Jones as you cycle through the isolated, near-empty cobbled pathways, snaking through thick, verdant forest trees that shroud the hauntingly beautiful ancient structures.

If you can spare 2 hours travel time, especially if visiting Pasikudah from July to October try and visit Minneriya National Park, where the world famous phenomenon, known as the 'Elephant Gathering', takes place. During the dry season (July to October), the waters of an ancient reservoir built more than 1,700 years ago recede, allowing lush, green grasses to grow in its place. Wild elephants from all around Sri Lanka migrate to the shores of this reservoir, in Minneriya Park, to feast on the new shoots, bathe, socialize and find new mates. No experience will equal witnessing more than 300 elephants gathered together, eating and playing, as the sun sets behind mountains of green. If interested, Pasikudah's Maalu Maalu Resorts & Spa provides excursions to Minneriya as well as Polonnaruwa and Batticaloa.