Koggala

Koggala is a coastal town in the southern region of Sri Lanka. A relatively offbeat destination which is famous for its namesake Koggala Beach and Koggala Lake. Surfing is a favourite activity amongst visitors to Koggala Beach.

The lake, a freshwater lagoon, is dotted with small but scenic islands. With names such as the Cinnamon Island and Spice Island, they are indeed as appealing as they sound. A tour of Koggala is incomplete without a visit to the Martin Wickramasinghe Folk Museum Complex, which has many instruments, puppets and costumes on display.

There are many turtle hatcheries at Koggala which are home to species such as the leathery turtle and loggerhead turtle. Tea connoisseurs would be delighted by a visit to the Handunugoda Tea Estate, renowned for the Virgin White Tea, which is untouched by hand from the tea bush to the consumer. The Kathaluwa Purwarama Maha Viharaya is a Buddhist shrine that houses 200-year-old paintings, some of them depicting the Jataka tales. Amid the pristine beach and beautiful lake, a trip to Koggala is perfect for a peaceful and relaxing vacation.