A one-of-a-kind experience highly recommended for reconnecting with the nature
Not all destinations create a hype, some create memories. Not all travellers travel for the pictures, some travel for the experiences. We all must have seen uncountable Instagram pictures of Malaysia, Bali, and Seychelles. But, away from the hustle of travellers, there is a destination on the silent shores of Sri Lanka, which is quaint, romantic, and flabbergasting for nature lovers.
Nine years after college, five college buddies managed to plan a get-away from the hustle of life and landed in a place so surreal that all seemed like a wonderland. It was a week where time slowed down for us. It gives me immense joy to pin down the story of my visit to Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka is a beautiful country for a poetic mind. As you move away from the metropolitan buzz of Colombo, there are a plethora of green lands, hills, and seaside places to relax. One such beautiful destination is Hikkaduwa.
Hikkaduwa is a small beach town situated in between Colombo and Galle, around 120 kms from Colombo. It is a smooth ride by road and takes approx 1.5 hours to reach. When you reach there, you can chill by the beach on the shacks, engage in snorkeling, scuba, or surfing. Neat sand-beaches with crystal clear water are the main highlights of the place. It is amazing how you find strong tall waves and silent snorkeling shores, all in the same region.
When we visited the place, we decided to rent snorkeling equipment from the rent centers at the beach and walked into the waters. Just ten meters into the sea and you start seeing rows of fishes moving in the waters. Different colors, different sizes, swimming in line formations at high speeds; it’s like you are watching ocean currents just by the beach. All you need to do is to dip your head into the ocean of magnificence.
Adding to the beauty is the coral views that you see all along. If you get lucky, you also get to see a turtle swimming by. It’s like scenes from finding Nemo coming to life. If you miss the turtle view, you can take the glass boat ride as well. We went for it, and it was half an hour well spent after an hour of snorkeling. You get small to large boat options which take you a bit deeper into the waters.
Be ready to hear a lot of Wows and OMGs as you hop on to the boat and wander into the deep blue wonders of the world. After the beach fun, we went to a turtle conservation centre in Bentota, a serene seaside town 30 minutes from Hikkaduwa. We spent the next part of the tour visiting Elephant sanctuaries, coconut groves and mesmerizing coast lines. It was a journey full of memories, full of life!
If you ever feel like getting lost in nature, if you ever wish to lose track of time, if you feel like taking a break from the hustle in your lives, keep Sri Lanka in mind.
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