Joanna James
Pasikuda sits along the beautiful eastern coast of Sri Lanka; the place offers one, not just gorgeous settings to enjoy, but a chance to surf, snorkel and dive while planning excursions into the wilds.
The perfect venue for not just the beach bum, but avid nature lover, the bay of Pasikuda is made up of a shallow fringing coral spread towards the outer bay, while inside are more scattered communities of coral. It is considered one of the best discovered reef-systems in the world and is not to be missed for its fabulous snorkelling allures. Close to the bay are many hotels like Uga Bay, providing one the perfect sanctuary from which to explore this stunning region; after all, amongst the favoured Pasikuda things to do, one must not forget to indulge in long days, chilling on and exploring the wild beaches.
Batticaloa Lagoon is just 34.2kms from Pasikuda, a mere 32 minutes' drive from your Pasikuda hotel. The lagoon is not to be missed for its rustic charms. On it, you will see a number of islands, such as Buffalo Island, Puliyantheevu and Bone Island. There a number of bridges built across the lagoon, which interconnects the little islands. On Kallady Lagoon, you will find the biggest bridge of all, the Lady Manning Bridge. On moonlit nights in the months of April and September, you can witness the famous 'singing fish' of Kallady Lagoon. The musical vibrations can be heard from the water and are best heard when heading out into the lagoon on a boat and placing your ear to the oar.
Polonnaruwa is an hour away from your resort in Pasikuda, at a distance of 72.9kms. The ancient city was once a former kingdom and is a cherished heritage site dating back 2,500 years. Part of the cultural triangle, Polonnaruwa has much to offer, in terms of ancient Buddha statues, remains of palaces, places of worship, ancient artefacts and huge lakes built by past kings. The city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and well worth the trip from your hotel in Pasikuda.
Trincomalee is further north from Pasikuda and is home to one of the few utterly stunning natural harbours in the world. Off the coast of Trincomalee, one can spot a number of whale species and dolphins. March to August is high season for the sport when you are treated to sights of sperm whales, blue whales and spinner dolphins. Besides the thrills of whale and dolphin watching, one must not forget the azure blue seas of Trincomalee.
Minneriya National Park located in the dry zone, is 85 plus kilometres from Pasikuda. It is an hour and nineteen minute journey which will reward you with sights of majestic elephants. Take a jeep safari in to the rustic park and you will be treated to sights of hundreds of migrating elephants. High season for this phenomenon is August.
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