Arugam Bay
Arugam Bay is a bay on the Indian Ocean in the Southeast Coast of Sri Lanka. About 6-8 hours from Colombo, accessible easily by bus or car. It is known to the locals as “Arugam Kudah”. Arugam Bay is in the dry zone of Sri Lanka, it is imbued both with natural beauty, a diversity of things to do as well as an unmatched living historical heritage.
Arugam Bay’s beauty is exemplified by its moon shaped crescent of soft sand which is home to a point break so famous that it is known as the best surfing spot in Sri Lanka and one of the best in the world. It is a rather small town with a population of a few thousand, a very multicultural city in which locals of all races, religions and background mingle with people from all over the world. Everything is located along a single road that runs parallel to the coast, making it a typically laid back island beach town.
What is special about Arugam Bay in Sri Lanka,a side from the surfing of course, is themultiple options you have in terms of things to do here. There are many lovely bays here. Elephant Point is a famous example. Elephant Rock, located here, is a great way to exercise your climbing skills and and to also enjoy some unparalleled views of your surroundings.
Be warned that it is dangerous to be here alone in the early hours of the morning or as it becomes dark as there are many elephants and crocodiles that pass this stretch in those times. You can also see the famous and tranquil Muhudu Maha Viharaya in Arugam Bay, beautifully located amidst the sand dunes in Pottuvil. A lagoon safari is also something popular to do in Arugam Bay, and a great way to see wildlife like crocodiles and elephants from a safe remove.
The dry season and the best time to surf in Arugam Bay is from May to September. If you are traveling in low season, i.e. in the months inbetween, you can do almost all of these things except for surfing regularly, and enjoy Arugam Bay prices that are comparatively very low. The locals are very friendly and a large number of them are fishermen, see them at work and help then bring their boats in, during the lovely dawn and piercingly beautiful Arugam Bay dusk alike.
Other attractions include many wildlife parks such as the Kumana National Park and the Yala National Park. There is also the Kudumbigala sanctuary, with its equisite views accessible by climbing up its freak mountain ranges, high up above the brush forest leading into the lush jungle to the South.
Great places to stay in Arugam Bay include the Dream Garden Resort Elephant Road Resort, Shell Resort, the Blue Wave Hotel and the beautifully landscaped Spice Trail. Arugam Bay also has many cafes and restaurants which offer a delectable variety of local and international foods for all tastes.