Travel Hikkaduwa

Sri Lanka is located to the south of India in the Indian Ocean and the largest island in South Asia, has been known to the world under many names. The Aryan Prince Vijaya called it Tambapanni as he saw the soil of the west coast a copper color. The Graceco-Romans mariners called it taprobane as it was difficult for them to pronounce tambapanni. The geographer Ptolemy called it Taprobanam on his map. it is also called Serendib, Rathnadvipa (Isle of gems), Zeilan and Ceylon, among others :all of which echo its paradisiacal qualities and character .the island figures as the focal point in the Ramayanaya legend of Rama & Sita ,and is said to have been blessed by three separate visits of the Buddha Kelaniya, Nagadeepaya, and Mahiyanganaya. The island impressed by travelers from the Chinese monk Fa Hsien (5th century AD)to Marco Polo(crica1293);and still charms tourists of varied pursuits, persuasions and pleasures to this day with its myriad magical mysteries; and-not least of all-continues to enamor its people with fresh facets of what was long considered the “crowning jewel” of British Empire. 

Resembling a teardrop-shaped, gold-fringed emerald set on the blue bosom of Indian Ocean, it lies pendent from the southern most tip of the subcontinent between 5˚ 55΄-9˚ 50΄ north and 79˚ 42΄-81˚ 52΄ east. A mere 435 km north-south from Point Pedro to Dondra Head and 225km across at its widest contain within its compact 65,610sq.km (25332 sq. miles) an unparalleled diversity of scenic sights, sounds and scents: colorful ceremonies and quaint customs, culture and crafts ; monolithic ruins and titanic monuments of a civilization both ancient and advanced ; a multitude of climes and ecosystems from tropical rain forest to subalpine evergreen ,rich farm lands to arid scrub jungle ;extravagant fauna and flora, wonderful wilderness and wild life; plus over 1225 km of pristine palm fringed shoreline where one can swim ,surf, snorkel, sail or simply soak up the sun…All within a short 6 hour drive at most ,one from another. Truly making Sri Lanka a microcosm of the world.

In 2004, a very powerful earthquake erupted in The Indian Ocean near Sumatra on 26th December. it caused deadly tidal waves  in a dozen countries, killing tens of thousands of people living in coastal areas. A long stretch of Sri Lanka’s Eastern and Southern coast was devastated by these waves , leaving in its wake more than 60,000 dead and displacing 2.5 million peoples. Waves as high as six meters crashed into coastal villages, swept away people, buildings, cars and even a train (Thelwatta-near Hikkaduwa) with 1700 passengers. It was the worst human disaster in Sri Lanka history.

Climate & seasons

Sri Lanka enjoys a tropical climate without extreme of temperature: which averages 80 F (27 C) in Colombo and its suburbs, rising to as much as 100 F (38C) in the semi-arid northwest and cooling off to 61 F(16C) at higher elevations of the central hill country. Tropical monsoons means rains at a stretch for some months. Sri Lanka certainly has no dearth of monsoon rains as it has two monsoons and two inter monsoon periods. Sri Lanka climate has wide influence on both the coastal plains and other low lying area as well as the high mountainous regions. The southwest monsoon which mainly effect the southern, western and central regions during May to July ;while northeast monsoon bring th rain to the north and east from November to January. The Indian ocean ‘s warm tropical embrace seems to linger in a caress at this, the very edge of Eden, spear heading the subcontinent’s plunge south to seas that lie unbroken by any other landmass until they shift and shape the icy shores of mighty Antarctica.

Temperature Chart

 

Surfing Conditions in Sri Lanka