Unawatuna – a Beach Holiday and an ideal Winter Getaway

Sri Lanka is popular for palm fringed sandy golden beaches. And as it rests in the tropics the island is often a top pick as a winter getaway. Most beaches are attached to traditional fishing villages and so the tourists have a rare chance of witnessing even stilt fishing. Sri Lankan beaches host a wide variety of water sports and beach games to make your beach holiday more exciting than ever before.

Beneath the turquoise ocean you will discover an exotic world of psychedelic hues teeming with vibrant corals and marine life. Scuba diving and snorkelling will take you to its doorstep where can observe elusive and mysterious marine life of all sizes, colours and shapes. Best of all some of the beaches in Sri Lanka are located right next to famous national parks, while another snuggles a colonial fortress of grandeur.

There are many renowned beaches in Sri Lanka such as Unawatuna, Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Nilaweli and Arugam Bay to name but a few. Among these Unawatuna Beach is said to be one of the safest and beautiful beaches in Sri Lanka. This beach is tucked away in the southern coast of the isle in the seaside village called Unawatuna, just five kilometres south of Galle.

The name Unawatuna has been derived from the words 'here it fell' in other words, Una-watuna. The name is entwined with the world famous epic Ramayana, especially with the battle between Prince Rama and King Ravana in Sri Lanka.

When Rama's brother Lakshman receives an injury Rama orders Hanuman, the monkey warrior, to bring some herbs from the Indian mountain Himalaya. Hanuman forgets the names en route so he with his superhuman powers pulls a whole chunk off the range and brings it back. But it breaks into portions and falls into the sea. Today the area called Rumassala Mountain is said to be one of these fallen chunks as it boasts an exotic ecology and an unusually high magnetic and gravitational anomaly.

For those who visit Unawatuna can see Rumassala not far from the Galle harbour. It is a place packed with coral reefs and you can go on jungle trekking here. Conversely Unawatuna Beach has a rich biodiversity where you can see mangroves and marshlands. It is also a birder's paradise as you can find more than 60 native birds.

If you enjoy snorkelling and diving, then you can rent the necessary equipments from the beachside outlets. And then brace yourself to discover ancient ship wrecks on the seabed where diverse types of fish swim about. The sea in Unawatuna is ideal for surfers too as they can ride the waves like the wind and feel a real adrenaline rush.

Unawatuna Beach is much favoured not only by tourists and locals but even by the turtle mothers as they choose there to lay their eggs. If you need refreshments the beach has plenty of beachside restaurants and food outlets to savour a variety of local delicacies and beverages. Book one of the cosy Sri Lanka hotels preferably belonging to the John Keells Hotels Group for a well pampered stay in Sri Lanka. And make your travel to Sri Lanka an unforgettable one so that you can fondly talk about your adventures, even after so many years.