Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
At the end of a sandbar, surrounded by lagoons and mangroves, this lighthouse dates from
1913. The coastline around here is a popular family excursion (avoid weekends) and
there's a play area for kids. Swimming in the calm water, surrounded by islands and inlets,
is the main draw, though
boat trips
can be good for bird- and crocodile-watching.
Three-wheelers charge Rs 350 from Batticaloa.
Kalkudah & Passekudah Beaches
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These spectacular back-to-back beaches, 34km north of Batticaloa, present as stark a jux-
taposition as you could imagine.
On one side of a narrow peninsula, the breathtaking white sands of sickle-shaped
Passekudah beach
are being developed as a kind of mini-Cancun, a government-driven
'Special Economic Zone' with 14 luxury hotels ultimately planned to ring the bay. Fisher-
men have also been ordered to move their boats away from the main beach. Sure, it's a
glorious stretch of sand, but for the next few years the immediate surrounds are a mess, re-
sembling a building site, as edifices in various stages of construction emerge from scrub-
land.
Passekudah's extremely shallow water heats up to bathtub temperatures on sunny days
(you'll have to wade out some distance for a good swim). There's also lots of sharp coral
mixed in with the sand, so take care if barefoot. You'll often find busloads of Sinhalese
tourists here; try walking north along the shore to avoid the crowds.
In contrast,
Kalkudah beach
, 2km away over the headland to the south, is deserted -
save the odd fisherman and his boat. This fabulous stretch of golden sand
was
once lined
with hotels, but these were destroyed in the civil war and 2004 tsunami. There's little
shade, but it's a delight to explore; just wander along the shore until you find your own
private patch of sand.
Coconut Cultural Park
PARK
(Beach Rd, Passekudah;Rs 250; 8am-5pm)
Just behind the hotels, this impressive new attraction is dedicated to the coconut, surely the
world's most remarkable plant, and inexorably linked with the Sri Lankan nation (their cul-
