Things to do in Hikkaduwa | Sri Lanka

Hikkaduwa has one of the best beaches in Sri Lanka and is a popular spot for surfers, whether you’re a beginner or advanced, the coral reef allows all levels to enjoy the waves. Near the bottom end of the beach, the gentle waves are ideal for swimming or to try a surfing lesson or two. Prices per one hour lesson are approximately US$20 and you are also able to hire boards for US$2 per hour.

Along the far end of the beach, the real action happens. Best left to the pros, the huge waves generated by the "main reef" has "A" frame waves which you can ride in both directions.

 

A nearby popular tourist attraction is the turtle hatchery. Here you can see turtles waiting to hatch from their eggs, baby turtles merely days old, and adult turtles waiting to be released into the sea. A guide will show you round and explain the different types of turtle in the hatchery, why they’re in there, and the timeframe for them to be released. Very interesting place to spend an hour, and the entry fee of LK 500 per person is well worth paying when you see the incredible work the hatchery does.

Close to the hatchery is the moonstone mine where rare blue moonstone are found. A guide will show you how the moonstone are dug from the ground, polished and made into jewellery. Although entry is free, they will try to get you to buy some jewellery from the shop you evidently end up in. They will also try and get a tip for the ‘interesting tour’, which personally feels like a giant tourist trap. Stay strong and don’t feel forced into buying something you don’t want or handing over any money.

Another tourist attraction nearby is the herbal spice gardens. Again, entry is free, but after handing you a cup of tea, teaching you about the plants used and giving you a (very nice!) massage, they will be looking for a tip. There is no obligation for you to hand over any money, but we did give them LK 200 as the tea and massage were good. Beware of the products they try to sell you at the end of the tour though as you can find all of them for a quarter of the price in local shops. We were disappointed we wasted money buying a coconut hair oil for LK 1,000 that we later saw in a couple of shops for only LK 350.

If you want to avoid the ‘tourist traps’ and soak up some real culture, there is a particularly lovely Buddhist temple in Hikkaduwa that’s worth a visit. Read my detailed blog post on the Thotagamuwa Rajamaha Viharaya.

As beautiful as Hikkaduwa is, you cannot miss the ever present devastation from the Tsunami that happened ten years ago. Hitting Hikkaduwa particularly badly in 2004, there are many memorials to view, including an emotional journey round the Tsunami photo exhibition and a boat trip to the Seenigama Vihara Temple. Read my detailed Tsunami blog for the full list of things to see.

 

We spent four days enjoying the beach bars and soaking up the party atmosphere. Great place for the 18-40 age group, especially young couples. Families with children would be better off in Unawatuna where the sea is safe to swim in and the area is better catered for kids.

Remembering the tsunami | Hikkaduwa

A popular tourist destination in Sri Lanka is the coastal town of Hikkaduwa. Valued for its glorious golden beach, aquamarine waters, incredible waves and party atmosphere, Hikkaduwa appears to be the tropical paradise every traveller is looking for.

Though behind the bliss lies the stark reminder of the devastation that hit Sri Lanka ten years ago. When lying on the beach with a cocktail in hand it is difficult to imagine what it must have been like when the sea began to disappear before the giant waves of the tsunami hit.

Although the majority of the wreckage has been long restored, there are still traces of the damage left. Whether it be the high water marks on the beachfront guesthouse or the buildings still abandoned, it’s clear to see that Hikkaduwa is still physically and emotionally recovering.

When we arrived, it was one week after the ten year anniversary and so it only felt right to visit the heartfelt memorials.

 

First we headed to the 174ft tall Buddha statue built to commemorate the lives lost in the tsunami. Built on its own little island surrounded by water, we crossed the bridge for a closer look. Towering above us, the statue was powerful yet somehow delicate, reminding us of the simultaneous strength and beauty of nature.

With its protective gaze watching over the town, the statue seems to provide great comfort to the locals.

Another memorial  can be found just outside Hikkaduwa that depicts the terror of the tsunami in a bronze cast mural. Highlighting the destruction of the town and deaths of their people, the mural is a striking reminder of how much devastation occurred on that day. The artwork was beautifully haunting and gave a real sense of how frightening it must have been for the locals who had never even heard of the word ‘tsunami’.

Nearby is the tsunami photo exhibition where you can see photographs taken on the day, as well as photos taken of the wreckage left behind, and the enormous clean-up operation that followed. Seeing the graphic photographs of recovered bodies of men, women and children, and reading the survivors’ stories was heart-breaking and made me feel so grateful for what I have. I suppose it was a bit of a wakeup call as it certainly put things in perspective.

From the orphaned children’s artwork showing the terror of that day through their eyes, to the tragic tales of parents whose children had still not been found, the whole exhibition brought tears to my eyes. This piece in particular really touched me.

After the sombre experience of the exhibition, we ended the sad day with a positive spin when we took a boat out to Seenigama Muhudu Viharaya. Situated on an island off the coast, the temple is the only building in the area to have survived the tsunami and is considered a miracle by the locals. The journey to the island was short and the boys who took us across were all very friendly and quick to offer a strong hand to help me on and off the boat. It was a real glimmer of hope to Sri Lanka and one I was glad to see up close.

I would wholeheartedly recommended visiting these four sights if you’re in the area to not only help you understand the history of Sri Lanka, but also to remind yourself of how lucky you are to have been spared from witnessing first-hand the tragedy of a tsunami.

Thotagamuwa Rajamaha Viharaya | Hikkaduwa

I’m probably biased in my review of this ancient Buddhist temple because it was the first I went to in Sri Lanka. I’d never been inside a Buddhist temple before so I was mesmerized by the sheer beauty of this serene place. As you enter, you’ll be met with well-preserved murals lining the walls from floor to ceiling, crumbling, but still beautiful, Makara toranas and a huge reclining Buddha.

Several hundred years old, the Thotagamuwa Rajamaha Viharaya is located in the little village of Thelwatta and it is regularly visited by locals and tourists alike. If you go on Poya day (full moon of the month) you’ll find many locals dressed in white offering blessings of rice and flowers to the statues.

Outside the temple there is a sacred Bodhi tree that is said to have been planted from a branch of the very tree the Buddha sat under.

Beautiful and serene, this temple remains one of the few in Sri Lanka that hasn’t been made into a tourist attraction charging a ridiculous entrance fee. Go and see it if you can.