How to Plan a Visit to Ahungalla, Sri Lanka – Experience an Enthralling Getaway by the Sea

The enchanting coastal town of Ahungalla in Sri Lanka is the kind of place where you can get away from it all. This charming locality is noted for its unsullied beaches, fascinating culture and rewarding excursions. You will find that Ahungalla is actually perfect for those who seek a combination of adventure and relaxation. Here's more on how you can plan an unforgettable holiday to this destination, which offers an ideal base for exploration, too. 

Spend time at the beaches  

Ahungalla is rightfully renowned for its outstanding beaches, including those that are considered some of the finest in all of Sri Lanka. At these beautiful shorelines, you will encounter golden, inviting sands and gleaming turquoise waters. As you might expect, these marvellous beaches are wonderful places for activities like swimming, sunbathing and water sports. You would find that places like Ahungalla Beach are appealing spots for enjoying leisure, typically without large crowds of fellow tourists. This beach is also noted for its marvellous views at the time of sunset, so make sure you go there at that time. 

Select ideal accommodation  

Naturally, for a satisfying sojourn in this locality, you must select a quality accommodation. Of the various options available, a fine choice is a luxurious resort featuring tasteful tropical modernist architecture. A stay will undoubtedly be a pleasure in elegant rooms and suites featuring beautiful colour tones and stunning views of the ocean. Discerning guests will be pleased by great dining options, including a fine restaurant, coffee shop, bars and private dining choices. Outstanding spa services and leisure experiences would be the final touches to make your stay more memorable. A hotel in Ahungalla to consider that offers the abovementioned attributes is Heritance Ahungalla. 

Explore the Brief Garden 

In the course of your stay in this area, you may take the opportunity to go on an excursion to the Brief Garden, which was created by Bevis Bawa, brother of the renowned architect Geoffrey Bawa. Bevis Bawa transformed this erstwhile rubber estate, in Beruwala, within reach of Ahungalla, into a marvellous collection of exquisitely landscaped gardens. As you explore this distinctive creation, you will encounter an enthralling selection of tableaux, bowers and nooks. You will also notice numerous statues and other artworks scattered throughout the garden. 

Labeet, Lunuganga, Bentota, Sri Lanka., CC BY-SA 3.0

Take a river safari 

During your holiday in Ahungalla, you will have the chance to undertake an absorbing boat safari on the picturesque Madu Ganga (Madu River). On your excursion, you may explore lush mangrove forests featuring many interesting kinds of flora and fauna. You may have the opportunity to spot monkeys feasting on fruit on the trees, kingfishers, egrets and cormorants waiting for their prey and monitor lizards gliding across the waters. On the way, you will also encounter scenic islands of varied sizes. 

Tour a mask museum  

In proximity to Ahungalla, you could find the village of Ambalangoda, which happens to be renowned as a hub for the making of traditional masks and other antiques. If you pay a visit to the fascinating Mask Museum, you will have the opportunity to observe an entrancing collection of diverse and distinctive masks. You will find that most of them are crafted from a pliable, light variety of wood known as "kaduru". In the culture of Sri Lanka, masks are used for numerous functions, including being featured in traditional dance and drama as well as various processions and pageants. Interestingly, they are used in certain rituals to cure illnesses, too. 

Go whale watching 

If you have an interest in marine mammals, you may choose to make your way to the town of Mirissa, which is noted for its whale watching excursions. If you join a whale watching trip which sets off from this area, you will have the opportunity to spot blue whales, the largest creatures on the globe. Additionally, if you are lucky, you may also encounter killer whales and dolphins in the course of your trip. Naturally, you shouldn’t forget to take along sun cream and a hat as well as binoculars and a camera, because sighting these gentle giants of the ocean is a truly magical experience.