Ahungalla Hotels

For being such a small island, Sri Lanka has many nicknames including Ceylon, Serendib, Teardrop of India, Island of Dharma, Resplendent Isle and the Pearl of the Orient. The colourful collection above gives you a glimpse of its beauty and richness, as well as the strength of affection it awakens in its visitors. The whole island is filled with bird life, and exotic animals, such as leopards and tigers, are not uncommon. On top of it all, the food is incredible, the people are friendly, and the costs are economical. With hundreds of miles of palm-lined beaches and seven UNESCO World Heritage sites including palaces, sacred cities, colonial strongholds and cliff-top citadels, almost 3,000 years of history are covered.

Tucked away on a pristine coastline on the southwest coast is the small beach town of Ahungalla. Just 79 km (49 miles) south of the capital of Colombo, Ahungalla is on a flat, narrow strip along the coastline surrounded by paddy fields and arable farmland. The setting is heavenly with a long palm-lined stretch of unspoiled beach located next to the Indian Ocean. Ahungalla is the perfect place to step into another world. One of the places to stop during your visit is the Sri Lankan Handicraft Centre, where you can watch the basket weavers ply their trade. The Victor Hasselblad Turtle Hatchery is Sri Lanka’s first and original turtle hatchery. The Ambagahapityia Welitara is a Buddhist temple with unique architecture strongly influenced by Dutch architecture during the time the Dutch were in the region. There is also the Ariyapala Mask Museum located in Ambalangoda just 10 km (6.2 miles) down the coast. At the museum, you can watch craftsmen as they make their famous masks.

When To Go

Located on the coast, Ahungalla has a warm, tropical climate pretty much all year round with few changes. Daytime temperatures highs will generally run between 29 and 31°C (84-88°F). The cooler months are July through October and the hotter months are March and April.

Nighttime temperature lows are generally between 22 and 24°C (72-75°F), with the cooler months being from December to February and the hotter months being May and June. There is rain all year round, with the most rainfall between the months of April to December.

• Cooler months July-October

• Year-round tropical climate

• Most rainfall from April to December

Getting There

The closest airport to Ahungalla is Sri Lanka’s international airport, Bandaranaike International, located close to Negombo at Katunayake, on the coast north of Colombo. The taxi ride from the airport into Colombo will take you about an hour and then from there to Ahungalla is a little less than 50 km (31.1 miles). Taxi service is available at the airport as well as in the town of Ahungalla. Car rental agencies are also available for your time and stay. You can make an online reservation ahead of time or rent one at the airport on arrival. Auto rickshaws (also known as tuk tuks) are also available locally for a very small fee and are an easy way to get around. If you are staying on one of the beachfront resorts and will spend most of your time on the beach, well, you are just a few paces away!

• Air: Bandaranaike International Airport

• Car: Rentals are available

• Taxis: Can be gotten at the airport or in Ahungalla