Wanderlust - 04.2020

96 wanderlust.co.uk April 2020

DIDYOUKNOW?

Localrestaurants,called

hotels,areoftenidentiied

bytheirluorescentlighting

andboxwindows.

They’reagoodplaceto

tryauthenticdishes

suchasstringhoppers.

Kahandamodera–arelargely

undeveloped and fringed by

shallow lagoons.

Inland, Mulkirigala, a 
ive-

tiered rock temple with seven

muralled caves, resembles

Dambulla’s cave temples on

a much smaller scale. Yala,

bird-hotspot Bundala and

Udawalawe national parks are

also achievable day trips.

Galle is buzzier and best for

eating out and shopping.

Explore the city’s 17th-century

fort, a UNESCO World Heritage

site. Its staunch, well-preserved

coral-and-lime ramparts

encircle an old town rich in

churches and decorative

Dutch- and British-era

mansions, many of which are

now desirable galleries,

boutique hotels and gelatarias.

You’re never too far from

a beach either, and many take

on their own 
lavour – Weligama

for sur
ing, Mirissa for whale-

watching, Dalawella for turtles,

and Habaraduwa for long

evening strolls.

Galle’s rice- and coconut-rich

hinterland feels like another

world. Explore the area by

bicycle, where king
ishers,

peacocks, herons, monkeys,

monitor lizards and mongoose

thrive. Also in the vicinity are

cinnamon estates and spice

gardens, and even a small

lowland tea estate.

⊳

DURATION 7‘10 days

ROUTE Tangalle • Galle

WHY DO IT? To slowly explore

southern Sri Lanka at your own

leisurely pace.

The south coast is its own mini

destination with enough

diversity to 
ill a two-week trip.

Tangalle tends to be quieter

than Galle, and its further-
lung

beaches – Rekawa, Mawella and

The southern

loop

Best for: Gastronomy, beaches, marinelife,

shopping & wildlife

YalaNP

BundalaNP

Udawalawe

National

NP

Sinharaja

Forest

DondraHead

Mawella

Mirissa Beach

Beach

Dalawella

Beach RekawaKahandamodaraBeach Beach

Galle

Mirissa

Weligama

Habaraduwa Tangalle

COLOMBO

0 40 km

Sun trap

Tangalle is blessed

with several tropical

beaches; (below)

a purple-faced langur