Hikkaduwa Sri Lanka
Information About Hikkaduwa
Hikkaduwa is a small town on the south coast of Sri Lanka located in the Southern Province, about 17 km (11 mi) north-west of Galle and 98 km (61 mi) south of Colombo.
Hikkaduwa appears to have been an early tourist destination in Ceylon, for J. W. Bennett reported in 1843 that it “is most pleasantly situated, and a great resort of picnic parties from Galle”.
Traditionally associated with the cultivation of coconuts, rice and cinnamon, plumbago mining, and the manufacture of lace and drum frames, Hikkaduwa has emerged as a modern destination for sun-seekers and wave-worshippers.
There is only one town by the sea that can boast of some of the best surfing waves in Sri Lanka, a long stretch of beach packed with restaurants serving deliciously fresh seafood, an equally long stretch of souvenir shops for the serious shopper, and guesthouses and hotels galore, from the cheap and cheerful to star-class.
Lying 98km south of Colombo on the west coast, Hikkaduwa comprises a number of different areas stretching from north to south. The main town of Hikkaduwa is the most ‘Sri Lankan’ of all areas and features the bus stand, train station and police station at one end, and the dive stations and big hotels at the other end, further south.
Next is the Wewala area packed full of guesthouses and small restaurants, internet cafés and bars. Finally, a little further to the south is Narigama, which is a little quieter but has numerous guesthouses, plus the closest thing to a night club – Top Secret.
What makes Hikkaduwa stand out from other resorts is the range of accommodation and shopping and dining options, unlike Bentota and Beruwala, which feature only big star-class hotels.See The Accommodation Guide for a review of Hikkaduwa budget accommodation)
Many who visit Hikkaduwa are just sun worshippers, sea worshippers or wave worshippers. It is not the most cultural or historical of places, as I found out when asking about its history, for it resulted in much head scratching and glazed looks from local tour guides.
However, with a long stretch of sand for soaking up the sun, a number of wrecks and coral reefs underwater for divers, and impressive waves for surfers to catch, who needs ruins to attract tourists?