Joanna James
Weligama is a little beach town located around 2.5 hours to the south of Colombo. If you’re looking for a memorable holiday, here are some interesting things to do in Weligama!
Weligama forms part of the picture-perfect western coastline of Sri Lanka and is home to a gorgeous beach. To get the best out of the beach stay, ensure you make a booking at Weligama Bay hotels with great views. Parangi Weligama Bay is among the top choices.
Weligama is one of the best surfing locations on the West Coast. Regardless of whether you are a beginner or an expert, Weligama Bay is the ideal spot. Surf lessons will cost you less than $5 per hour while you can rent a board for anywhere between $15 and $25. Windsurfing is very popular in the region.
If you're looking for a great beach village, Mirissa is just a few minutes' drive away. You can go on a guided boat tour early in the morning and witness the incredible sight of Blue, Sperm and Humpback whales jumping out of the water and doing amazing belly flops. Don't forget to bring your camera! The best time to go whale watching is between December and April, so plan your holiday accordingly if this is something you're interested in. Additionally, Dondra Head, which is Sri Lanka's southernmost point, is also a great place to go whale watching.
Head further south from Weligama, passing the town of Tangalle, to visit a fascinating turtle hatchery. Of the seven major sea turtle species, five of them, namely Green, Leatherback, Olive Ridley, Loggerhead and Hawksbill turtles come to this area in the night to lay eggs. You can join hands with the Turtle Watch Programme here to explore the turtles’ behaviour at night and also release baby turtles back into the ocean.
The best season to go diving in Weligama is between October and May. Many divers have reported having seen whale sharks and manta rays during their dive expeditions. Most of the dive sites in the region vary between 15m and 30m, where you can witness spectacular rock formations and many types of molluscs. The shoreline in Weligama is shallow, thus setting the stage for snorkelling from the shore. Your safety is of paramount importance and all diving and snorkelling expeditions are conducted by highly trained, PADI-qualified instructors.
Located just a few miles from Weligama is Sri Lanka’s only known blowhole, Hummanaya. It is also considered to be the second largest in the world! The water fountain shoots up every ten minutes or so and reaches heights of up to 25m.
This larger than life-sized statue is believed to be one of the best representing Mahayana Buddhism in Sri Lanka and dates back to the period between the 7th and 9th centuries. Folklore states that a foreign king washed ashore in Weligama suffering from an incurable disease. A local doctor had cured him and it is in his honour that the statue was built.
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.
