Unawatuna is a nice holiday resort near Galle on Sri Lanka’s southern coast. It is around 94 miles (151 km) southeast of Colombo and 3 miles (5 km) southeast of Galle. Unawatuna Beach is regarded as one of the world’s top 12 beaches. The pleasant, peaceful surroundings, as well as the adjacent Dutch architecture, add to the town’s allure. The town has a fascinating history, making it an excellent site to visit.
According to legend, Lord Rama despatched the monkey-warrior Hanuman to India to bring some medicinal herbs from the Himalaya. Lakshman was injured in a battle with Ravana, and these plants were used to treat him. When Hanuman landed in Himalaya, he couldn’t tell the herbs apart, so he uprooted the entire mountain and returned to the battleground. A section of mountain fell on his way, forming the Rumassala Hillock. Unawatuna’s surrounding area got its name from the word ‘Unna-watuna,’ which means ‘fallen down.’
Unawatuna, unlike other northern locations, remains a peaceful and tranquil place with an excellent location. Unawatuna Beach is considered one of the best beaches in the planet. The beautiful beach in a sheltered cove is better for swimming and snorkelling than most of Sri Lanka’s other beach locations. In Koggala, the Martin Wickramasinghe Traditional Art Museum contains a wonderful collection of regional folk objects.
Unawatuna is a fantastic site to start your holiday, with activities such as swimming in the warm, inviting water, playing volleyball, reading in a beach chair, snorkelling with wonderful seafood, and much more. On weekends, the beach attracts a large number of local visitors.
Tourist Attractions – Unawatuna
Unawatuna Beach
Unawatuna Beach is one of the top twelve beaches on the planet. The beautiful beach in a sheltered cove is better for swimming and snorkelling than most of Sri Lanka’s other beach locations. It’s also a great area to learn how to surf. Snorkeling equipment can be rented to explore the reef near the beach’s west end. You can also go for a stroll around Rumassala. A Buddhist temple atop a hill and the Jungle beach, both worth visiting, are both close by.
Martin Wickramasinghe Folk Art Museum in Koggala
Unawatuna is close to Koggala. Martin Wickramasinghe, a well-known novelist, was born there. At his old home, the Folk Art Museum was founded. The museum includes a wonderful collection of local folk art. Traditional clothing, sporting equipment, musical instruments, masks, and a variety of other things depicting early twentieth-century folk life can be found here.
Koggala Lake
Koggala Lake includes a lot of islets and is home to a variety of species. Visitors can take a boat ride on the lake to see the little islands. Cinnamon plantations can be found on one of the islands. On full moon days, people go to a Buddhist shrine on a different scenic island.
Kataluwa Purwarama Temple
Kataluwa Purwarama Temple is 13th-century temple located about 3 miles (4 km) east of Koggala. Wall paintings of various designs can be found here. Some of these works are from the Kandyan period. Some of the paintings depicting Buddha’s life are thought to be around 200 years old.
