Hikkaduwa
Hikkaduwa is a small town in extreme south of Sri Lanka. This is a place with a great beach, perhaps the second best in Sri Lanka. If you love surfing, Hikkaduwa is your paradise. This small town was hit by tsunami in 2004 and was totally destroyed, killing a lot of locals and tourists. There is a tsunami photo museum too which you must visit to see the damages that Hikkaduwa suffered. Since then, it’s re-growing from scratch.
There are a lot of tourist spots in Hikkaduwa. The beach is the prime attraction. Apart from the sea, there are national parks, Buddhist monasteries, really good restaurants, and many more places to pay a visit. In short, Hikkaduwa is a complete tour package.
The food in Hikkaduwa is mouth-watering. As it is situated near the sea, you will get great sea-foods in the beach side shacks and restaurants including shrimps, clams, oysters, crabs, octopuses, etc. There are tasty options for the vegetarians too like tropical fruits.
The nightlife in Hikkaduwa is not much famous. You will get some night clubs and bars in the town but they aren’t that much known. There are a lot of hotels and resorts facing the sea, you can choose one of them for your stay. Your hotel or resort might organise a whole night party on weekends.
Hikkaduwa FAQ's
Travel advice
Avoid swimming in the Hikkaduwa beaches if you are not a good swimmer as the water current is pretty high.
Manage your luggage and other belongings as Sri Lanka is a place with a high crime record.
Don’t showcase much cash in public, especially at the busy beaches.
Avoid over-friendly unknown people. They might not be as nice as they pretend to be.
Don’t wear or carry precious jewelleries in any of your tours.
Make a little travel kit for all your sight-seeing which should include binoculars, camera, a pair of extra clothing, a towel for the beach, shades, required medicines, etc. so that you don’t have to waste your time there to pack all.
You might get drug offers on the beach. Just avoid them with no argument.
You might end up meeting some local guys on the beach who try to get the money out from you either by being nice to you or harming you. Avoid them tactfully.
Drinking laws
The minimum age for drinking in Sri Lanka is 21 years. You cannot buy and consume liquor if you are younger.
Our recommendations- things you can’t afford to miss?
What you will like there?
The sea- dolphin and whale watching
Hikkaduwa is a small town by the sea. Hence, the main attraction of this place is the sea. You will love the beach and the marine ecosystem with amazing coral reefs. You will encounter dolphins and whales in the sea from the beach.
Adventure
The adventure quotient in Hikkaduwa is high. You can enjoy a lot of water sports like scuba diving, snorkelling, surfing and kayaking. Also, you have a lot of adventure places to visit there like the Hikkaduwa National Park.
Heritage sites
There old Buddhist temples are a must visit for all as they are beautifully constructed and very quiet, giving a relaxation to your ears. The interior designs are very colourful and meaningful as well, portraying the education system of the monks.
The nearby places
Apart from Hikkaduwa, there are a lot of tourist spots in the southern Sri Lanka such as Hambantota and Unawatuna with great beaches. Plan a long holiday to Sri Lanka to get make lifetime memories you would love to cherish.
