SurfGirl Magazine 149Downtime in Sri Lanka:
FOR SPIRITUALISM: Head to Kandy,
the last capital of the ancient kings’ era of
Sri Lanka and home to The Temple of the
Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) – one of
the most sacred places of worship in the
Buddhist world. The Kandy to Ella train ride
is hailed as one of the most beautiful train
journeys in the world.
FOR CULTURE: Visit Nuwara Eliya, known
for its impressive and lush tea plantations,
to learn about Sri Lanka’s 150-year-old tea
industry. Home to the famous Lipton Tea
and also known as Little England for it’s
colonial architecture.
FOR ANIMALS: Book a safari in one of
Sri Lanka’s seven National Parks to spot
elephants, leopards, buffalos, monkeys,
sloth bears, flamingos, crocodiles and
various bird species.
Surf Spots:
HIKKADUWA: A popular surfing town for locals
and tourists, with the main reef break being
hailed as the best spot in the area.
AHANGAMA: A range of A-frame reef breaks,
and the beginner-friendly Kabalana beach break.
MIDIGAMA: The popular longboarding spots
of Lazy Left and Lazy Right, as well as the more
challenging Rams, which is a short, powerful
right that breaks over a shallow reef.
WELIGAMA: A great wave for beginners. The
beach break can be surfed even when small,
and the waves work here even when the rest of
the south coast is affected by tropical winds.
ARUGAM BAY: Home to a superb right-hand
point, this is one of several user-friendly points
on the east coast.
HIRIKETIYA: A hidden bay of turquoise blue
ocean with perfect waves, including a long left
hand point reef break for the more intermediate
and a gentle beach break for beginners.