Ahungalla Things to do

Beaches
Situated just 50 miles south of Colombo along the west Sri Lankan coast, Ahungalla is a picturesque resort town flanked by over 15 acres of beaches. The nearest village, Bentota, is just twenty minutes away by car or tuk tuk, and offers a bank plus various local craft shops and small restaurants. Ahungalla itself is ideal for getting away from it all and enjoying tropical heat, white sand beaches and sapphire-blue seas. But that’s not all there is to this exotic locale.

Water Sports
Sri Lanka’s beaches are among the finest in the region, and the secluded resort of Ahungalla is no exception. Fine white sand fringed with palms stretches the length of the town, and crystal-clear blue waters lap gently at the shore. Enjoying time at the beach is a centrepoint of a holiday in Ahungalla so ensure you take advantage of the opportunity to relax in true luxury! On the seas themselves, visitors can enjoy organised boat trips around the coast, try snorkelling and scuba diving to witness the resplendent local sea life, try their hand at windsurfing and plenty more.

Local cuisine and nightlife
Nightlife in the town of Ahungalla itself is minimal, and mostly limited to the restaurants and bars in the hotels themselves. However, beach barbeques and parties regularly go on into the evening, and the hotels work hard to ensure their guests are entertained and happy with a variety of events. The nearby town of Bentata also has a few small eateries. Boiled or steamed rice and spicy curries containing meat, fish, vegetables or fruit are staples of the Sri Lankan diet. Side dishes include chutneys, pickles and sambols – ground pastes containing ingredients such as coconut, chillies, lime juice and dried fish. Trying a variety of eateries is also recommended as most chefs in Sri Lanka don’t follow an exact recipe regarding the use of ingredients, so subtle and substantial differences in flavour are common.

Excursions
Families visiting Ahungalla may wish to visit two nearby animal sanctuaries that are sure to be a hit with kids. At the Pinnawela Orphanage baby elephants that have lost their mothers are cared for by dedicated staff on a 25 acre coconut plantation. Visitors can meet the elephants and watch them being fed or at play in the river.

Turtles
Between Ahungalla and Bentota the hamlet of Kosgoda can be found, a small settlement famous for its turtle hatchery. Established to protect turtles from the pressures placed on their natural environment, the hatchery now purchases turtle eggs from fishermen and nurtures them until the hatchlings are born. Visitors can see the hatcheries and the young turtles – a rare sight indeed, especially close up.

Day Trips
A variety of guided tours are available from Ahungalla which extend over several days. These include visits to the Pinawela Elephant Orphanage, the beautiful city of Kandy - which circles a man-made lake and is itself ringed by hills – and the Royal Botanical Gardens, which were the headquarters of Lord Mountbatten during WWII. The breathtaking Sri Lankan scenery can be enjoyed throughout along with various ancient temples, shrines and remnants of the island’s colonial past. Those willing to travel further afield can also visit the southern port of Galle which also exhibits its colonial past with examples of Dutch and Portuguese architecture, including a huge Dutch fort.