Joanna James
Mirissa serves well for beach lovers as well as seafood lovers with a spectacular beach stretch and seafood joints throughout the coastal line offering the freshest catch of the day.
Sri Lanka is one of the favourite beach holiday destinations for tourists with its wonderful beaches and peaceful surroundings. The Mirissa beach stands out with a long unspoiled stretch of sand and calm blue waters. You can either enjoy the gentle strokes of the sea waves while swimming or surfing or feel the warmth of the sun while lying on the beach. You can grab a drink for yourself from the little beach bar on the main beach. There is also a secret beach lying next to the main beach, which is more secluded and hidden away by a thick green cover on one end. Your beach holiday will be made perfect staying at one of the Mirissa beach hotels that are famous for their seafood specialties such as the Esprit D'Ici.
The season for whale watching in Mirissa is from November to April. Although you do come across whales from May to October as well the sea is rough during these times, which makes the journey very uncomfortable. The whale watching tour takes three to five hours and you come across Blue Whales, Sperm Whales and Spinner Dolphins also on rare occasions even the famous killer whales could be sighted. Whale watching here in Mirissa is done in an eco friendly way and is not harmful to the whales or dolphins in any way. Also, much care is taken not to interfere with the marine life.
Famously known as the Virgin white tea, where the tea produced is untouched by human hands and is plucked through a one hundred and fifty acre tea plantation. The estate has won many international awards for its world-renowned tea and is produced through machines originally built by the British during the colonial period. Merely a 40-minute drive from Mirissa the tour of the tea factory takes you through the process of producing the tea and is completed with a complimentary cup of the finest tea. One could also taste different varieties and flavours of tea produced and you could buy any flavour that leaves a mark on you.
Sri Lanka had been the target for foreign invasions several times during its history and this has left some landmarks in the country, which can still be seen in different areas. The Dutch Fort Matara is one of the existing establishments reminding of the era of Dutch ruling in Sri Lanka. The initial fortification of the Fort Matara had been built by the Portuguese and had been rebuilt by the Dutch in 1640. It had also undergone many structural changes during the British era. The Fort is a unique structure due to its unusual shape resembling a star.
The Wevurukannala Vihara Temple in Dikwella is an interesting stop where you will find the largest seated Buddha statue in Sri Lanka. It also has a special area depicting an image of the hell where the demons and sinners are modelled with life-size statues. The temple museum displays a large ancient clock built by the famous local craftsman W. Elaris De Silva.
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.
