Tangalle

When you are reaching Tangalle, the first aspect to attract you is the intensely blue bays, which once harboured Dutch and British ships. There are not many places along the western and southern coasts of Sri Lanka where you will be able to walk along fabulous sandy shores for kilometres without seeing another soul. So, if you are looking for a low-key beach destination that is both peaceful and hidden, the town of Tangalle in the deep south is the place to go.

 
In the centre of the town are a clock tower, a bridge accessing eastbound routes over the canal that runs through the town. There is little to see, or shop for in town, though there are a few Dutch buildings that display characteristics of Dutch architecture such as the courthouse, the old rest-house and the residence of the district judge. The Dutch also built a fort, though it has now been transformed into a prison.
 

The safest place for swimming in Tangalle is Medaketiya, where there are accommodation to fit your budget, along a beach road lined with guesthouses. While resting on the beach, you can also see the harbour and the many fishing boats and gaze out over the shimmering sea. Visitors usually stay around their guesthouses at night and enjoy delicious seafood dinners under the stars. Snorkelling gear can be rented from beachside establishments, and diving can also be arranged by request. Ten kilometres to the east of Tangalle at Rekawa, is an important turtle nesting site set up by the Turtle Conservation Project (TCP).
 

Tangalle is also a good place from which to visit surrounding attractions. The Hoo-maniya blowhole, seven kilometres west of Tangalle in the fishing village of Kudawela, is where jets of water are sprayed 15m into the air through a long crevice in the rock. In addition to the magnificent rock temple of Mulgirigala, you can visit the Wewurukannala Temple a few kilometres beyond Hoo-maniya, which is home to the largest Buddha statue in the country, 50m in height. With all these attractions, it is a city you should not miss for a holiday on a weekend.
 
(Content Source : Travel Sri Lanka Magazine)
(Image Source   : trekearth.com)