Places to visit in Arugam Bay
One of Sri Lanka’s top beaches is Arugam Bay, which is regarded as a surfer’s paradise. It is located 342 km to the east of Colombo. Arugam Bay is a 3-km-long stretch of sandy coastline that is populated with tiny fishing communities. With the growth of tourism in Arugam Bay, the region now offers both luxury resorts and affordable lodging options. The monsoon season, which lasts from May to September, is the ideal time to go. Arugam Bay can be a lovely spot for a tropical vacation even if you are not an avid surfer because of the stunning environment and the surrounding natural beauties. If you manage to stroll further down the shoreline in the evenings, you might even be fortunate enough to encounter herds of wild elephants. Discover the 10 Best places to visit in Arugam Bay by continuing to read.
1. Elephant Rock
One of Arugam Bay’s most beautiful landscapes is Elephant Rock. It gets its name from both the elephants that wander around the rock in the morning and the evening as well as from the fact that it resembles an elephant in shape. About 7km down the coast from Arugam Bay Beach, it is situated on a headland. Due to its remote location from major cities and the sandy trail that leads there, the beach doesn’t get extremely crowded. The area is perfect for novices who are trying to master the art of surfing because the nearby seas are a well-known surf site and because they bring in small breaks from the oceans. So, Elephant Rock is one of the best places to visit in Arugam bay for surfing. A wonderful lagoon with murky, darker waters may be found at the back of Elephant Rock. It is bordered by a little mangrove forest. When the tide is high, the sea floods the lagoon and overwhelms the sandbank that connects it, making it necessary to wade through water to reach the beach.
2. Muhudu Maha Viharaya
Buddhist temple Muhudu Maha Viharaya is located in Ampara’s Pottuvil region, only 2km from Arugam Bay. The temple is located on the sand dunes and the stunning white stupa can be seen from Arugam Bay beach. King Kavan Tissa, the king of Ruhuna at the time in Sri Lanka, constructed the temple about 2000 years ago. Princess Devi, from the Kelaniya kingdom, is thought to have arrived at the site of the temple when her father was compelled to sacrifice her to satisfy the gods following a tsunami. During British administration, the temple had roughly 264 acres of property, which were gazetted in 1965. currently constrained to a tiny region as a result of the villages’ property acquisition. At this time, the location still has antique statues, Seema Malaka, Avasa Geya, and stupa ruins visible. Stone statues of Lord Buddha and two statues of ancient monarchs or gods are among the significant ruins on the temple grounds. Nevertheless, a large portion of the artefacts and ruins are buried in the sand.
3. Pottuvil Lagoon
Nearly 500 acres in size, Pottuvil Lagoon is a wetland environment with islands, mangroves, and canals. It is only 4km away from the laid-back beach town of Arugam Bay on the East Coast. Green trees and wild grass are abundant along the banks of the marsh and in the water close to the banks. The Lagoon Safari, which includes a canoe trip along the lagoon, is a well-liked excursion in this area. If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of an elephant wandering around or a crocodile relaxing. The chirping of the birds will serve as the tour’s soundtrack and keep you delighted the entire time. Sea eagles, kingfishers, pelicans, herons, Jacanas, common coots, and darters are just a few of the species that call Pottuvil Lagoon home. If you are a nature lover, the Pottuvil lagoon is a must visit place in Arugam bay.
4. Peanut Farm Beach
Arugam Bay lies a few kilometres south of Peanut Farm Beach. The Peanut Farm got its name since there used to be peanut plants nearby that were tragically devastated by the tsunami of 2004. It is a well-known surfing location that attracts both locals and tourists to the region. There are two beach breaks with sand bottoms: the first one is directly on the sand and is ideal for beginning surfers, while the second break is to the right of the first break point and takes a lot more skill because it can be difficult. From June to October is prime surfing season at Peanut Farm Point and the wave height varies from 3 to 6 feet. There are other activities you can do besides swimming and sunbathing. Therefore, One of the coolest places to visit in Arugam bay is Peanut farm beach.
5. Kudumbigala Monastery
One of Sri Lanka’s oldest cave temples, the Kudumbigala Monastery, was constructed in 246 BC by King Devanampiyatissa. This complex was used by monks, according to stone inscriptions in Brahmi script discovered at one of these caves called the Maha Sudharshana Lena. According to earlier records, the building was built as a home for monks and a school for samaneras who sought a quiet location to study, teach, and meditate far from the Anuradhapura Kingdom’s inhabited areas. Nowadays, almost 200 separate caves utilised by ancient monks for habitation have been discovered by archaeologists. The only hermitage in Sri Lanka with a cylindrical dagoba is the Kudumbigala Monastery. The Kudumbigala monastery is close to Kumana National Park, which is abounding with wildlife and plants. You will have a unique experience at this monastery, which is close to enormous rock mountains. A spectacular panorama of the surroundings, including the Okanda beach on the horizon, is seen after you reach the summit. Because of these reasons, Kudumbigala is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Arugam Bay.
6. Whiskey Point
Beginner to intermediate waves is available at Whiskey Point, which is a highly surfer-friendly location. Conditions for surfing are ideal because the waves break off a rocky outcrop close to the shore. As the waves carry you towards the beach and you feel the adrenaline pumping through your veins, this is where surfers may test their abilities. The exact reason why it is called Whiskey Point seems to be unknown to most people. Some claim that the word “whisky,” which means “to swirl,” is where the name came from. People who want to unwind away from the bustle of the city can use this spot. There are lodging options here for every price range that is close to the surf place. Amazing sunrises occur here, waking up the entire region as it basks in the warmth of the golden sun rays.
7. Kumana National Park
For birdwatchers, Kumana National Park is one of the greatest places to visit in Arugam bay. Yala National Park’s eastern section is where it is. The Kudumbigala sanctuary serves as the park’s entry, and it is reachable via Beragala and Koslanda as well as the Uduwalawe – Tanamalvilla road. The park’s 35,665 hectares of vegetation are primarily tropical dry zone forests. Mangrove trees, kumbuk trees, karan ferns, and the open marsh area make up the majority of the park’s vegetation. Tens of thousands of birds migrate to the Kumana marsh region from April to July, representing an astounding 255 species of birds that have been observed here. Pelicans, Eurasian spoonbills, Lesser adjunts, Black-necked storks, and other bird species can be spotted at Kumana. Elephants, European Otters, fishing cats, wild boars, and golden jackals are among the species that can be found here. The park is home to about a dozen bears, but they are rarely seen. The experience is in Kumana immensely improved by a set of binoculars and a field guide to birds.
8. Crocodile Rock
One of Arugam Bay’s well-liked attractions is the Crocodile Rock. The name “Crocodile Rock” refers to both the rock’s appearance as a crocodile and the abundance of crocodiles that may be found nearby. For the greatest perspective of the tiny lagoon, rice fields, and ocean, climb a few steps to the summit of the Rock. Before sunset, during the golden hour, it’s extremely pleasant. A strong probability exists of seeing an elephant in the lagoon as well. Lagoons in this region are home to crocodiles, thus you should never swim in them. Also, this is a top-notch surfing location. Though less congested than the other locations in Arugam Bay, Crocodile Rock is nevertheless a popular tourist destination.
9. Lahuagala National Park
Despite being one of the smallest national parks in Sri Lanka, Lahuagala National Park is one of the most wildlife-rich. On July 1st, 1966, it was declared as a wildlife sanctuary, and on October 31st, 1980, the protected area was upgraded to become a national park. Lahugala, Kitulana, and Sengamuwa are the three tanks that make up its 1,554-hectare total area. The vegetation of the national park is categorised as Sri Lanka dry-zone dry evergreen forests. Elephants primarily eat Sacciolepis interrupta, a dominant grass species. They are known to be seen in herds of up to 150 between June and August. Other species found in the park include the endangered toque macaque, tufted grey langur, sloth bear, golden jackal, rusty-spotted cat, fishing cat, Sri Lankan leopard, and wild boar. There are many different species of waterfowl, raptors, and common dry zone woodland birds among the rich biodiversity. The historic site of Magulmahavihara, constructed for King Kavantissa’s marriage to Viharamaha Devi, lies close by Lahugala. Neelagiri Maha Seya, a massive, ancient stupa from the first century, is also located inside the park. So, Lahuagala National Park is one of the most iconic places to visit in Arugam bay.
10. Panama Tank
Arugam Bay is 12km south of where the Panama Tank is travelling when you see the coastal community of Panama. Its location next to Helava Wekanda provides visitors with a beautiful view of the neighbourhood. It will only take you 20 minutes to travel from Arugam Bay to Panama Tank, but during that brief drive, you will pass through several picturesque locations. The epic crocodile, one of the planet’s most deadly monsters, is found here. Keep a safe distance because there are a dozen crocodiles you may spot in this location. Panama Tank is also known as Crocodile Point and is one of the best places to visit in Arugam bay. Additionally, Panama Tank is a fantastic location to see several unusual birds, probably as a result of the nearby bird sanctuary. They frequently circle the trees, but they typically roost in the clumps of greenery that rise from the tank.
Places to visit in Arugam Bay
