A virtual tour of some of the finest beaches Asia can be proud of.
Sri Lanka is an island country and a home to many beaches. One can drive all along the coast from Colombo to the South and I promise you will get more than blue skies, golden sands and pristine water(If that is not enough)
Mirrisa Beach
It was love at first sight, my first beach - stay in Sri Lanka and my most favourite beach. It is a crescent shaped beach with palm trees outlining its boundary. The beach makes you feel cosy unlike some other long beaches whose end points can't be seen. The sand here is so soft that it slips from your feet when you walk on it. There are restaurants all along displaying the produces from the sea and promising to convert them into delectable dishes. The evening colours from the sky give way to blinking lights from candles and lamps , that night's full moon pulled all their energies for its glow. Indeed the marriage between the sky water and land looked spectacular.
Where to stay?
I stayed at Paradise Beach Resort and I highly recommend it as it is right on the beach. They extend their services to the beach, providing free deck chairs and towels for the residents. Drinks are also served and after a drink or two you can swing yourself to sleep in the hammocks hanging between the trees.
Mirrisa is also the port from which whale- watching trips are conducted. My family and I did go for this early morning trip, about which I shall write separately.
Unawatuna Beach
Unawatuna is a coastal town in the Galle District. Unawatuna is to Sri Lanka what Las Vegas is to USA. It is one of the most popular tourist destination, flanked by beaches and resorts. The colonial city of Galle is about 5 km from here, making it a point of interest for all tourists. Some of the beaches in this region got destroyed due to some work carried by the government leading to sand getting washed away. Artificial sand has taken its place, may be that is the reason I liked Mirissa Beach more.
Unawatuna is like a vibrant clothes line from which hangs resorts, lodges, shops and restaurants of different size, theme and style, some of them distinctly European. This is a large beach with a lot of hustle bustle from the locals, entrepreneurs selling local produce and masseurs working magically with their hands and weaving stories which are as moist as the air around.
Snorkeling trips to close by beaches and islands can be bought here. Also good equipment is available for snorkeling on rent from the many stalls parked at the beach.
Where to stay?
I stayed at The Calamander Unawatuna Beach. It was right on the beach, wherever you stood you had sand underneath your feet and sea water visible. The service, food and rooms were quite satisfactory.
Jungle Beach
Its about 15- 20 minutes from Unawatuna Beach, like the name suggests it can be reached through a walk in the woods. This is a small beach, more secluded than the above too but supposedly is a great spot for partying. At the Jungle Beach, boats are available that takes you closer to the reef for a snorkelling trip. One can also swim around the rocks from the beach to see the marine life below. That particular day the water was murky but we still managed to see some corals and fishes.
Hikkaduwa Beach
I loved this beach as much as I loved Mirissa Beach. Golden Sands, blue-green waters and it is one of the best beaches for surfing in Sri Lanka. There was lot of activity happening in the water, while the surfers rode the waves the snorkelers went about looking for marine life. It is about 17km away from Galle Town implying you can lounge at the beach all day and in the evening head towards Galle for gastronomic and shopping delight.
Where to stay?
I did not stay a night here, it was more of flying visit for me but there are some beach properties which one can explore like Coral Sands Hotel, Villa Darshana and a few more. The properties here may not be as exotic as Welligama but they have the trump card which is a beautiful sandy beach.
Bentota Beach
We drove about 60 Km northward from Galle to reach Bentota. It is a large coastal town with a long sandy shore. It is well connected to other parts of the country through air and train transport. Many of the older luxury properties are situated here, the beach is also popular for water sports. Since the properties are sparingly situated and some away from the beach, the beach looks far quiter than Unawatuna, probably more suited for honeymoon goers.
Bentota can also be the centre for tourist attractions close by. The Turtle Hatchery, Ambalangoda Mask Factory and Balpitya back water cruise are accessible from here.
Where to stay?
Vivanta by Taj is close to the sea and their hospitality is great. The food is also delectable here.