Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 492 1455;Regal Junction;internet per hr Rs 50; 8.30am-6.30pm Sun-Fri)
Has reasonably fast internet connections.
Getting There & Away
Ampara's bus stand has CTB and private services. For Arugam Bay you can also take a
bus to Siyambulanduwa (Rs 78, three hours, 10 daily) and change there, or minibus-hop
via Akkaraipattu (Rs 50, hourly) to Pottuvil. For Batticaloa, you can minibus-hop via
Kalmunai (Rs 48, frequent). Other useful services:
Batticaloa
Rs 90, three hours, four daily
Colombo
ordinary/semi-luxury Rs 385/525, 10 hours, nine/four daily
Kandy
ordinary/air-con Rs 240/420, 5½ hours, hourly
Nuwara Eliya
Rs 298, eight hours, 6.30am
Pottuvil (for Arugam Bay)
Rs 121, three hours, 2pm
Around Ampara
Buddhangala Rock Hermitage
BUDDHIST
(donations accepted; 6am-8pm)
Rising above the forest north of Ampara, this 150m-high hill offers panoramic views from
its rocky summit (including, occasionally, wild elephants at dusk). The site is said to be
1800 years old, and when the old temple, whose remains are to the left of the main shrine,
was excavated in 1964, a gold casket containing a tooth of the Buddha was discovered. It's
now housed inside the dagoba and is on view every June for three days around
poya
day.
Within an ancient cave overhang, interesting museum-style treasures include a human
skeleton, used in meditation. The site is beautiful, but without a guide or English signage,
its spiritual relevance is somewhat lost; English-speaking monks may be around to chat.
Three-wheelers from Ampara, 7km away, cost Rs 800 return including waiting time.
Deegawapi
RUIN
(Dighavapi Cetiya)
