Koggala

With clear blue skies and the beautiful sea, Koggala is essentially a small coastal town located at the edge of a lagoon in the Southern coast of Sri Lanka. Popular for having one of the longest stretches of beaches on the island, this quaint town is bounded on one side by the reef, and on the other side by the Koggala Lake; which has over the years attracted many nature lovers.

What’s there to see in Koggala?

The Beach – While the beach is relatively untouched by the thriving tourism industry in Sri Lanka, Koggala still offers some of the best surf spots on the island. In addition to having countless beach stalls and restaurants serving fresh seafood dishes, Koggala also has a strip of holiday resorts that overlook the picturesque bay, making it one of the best places for a quiet beach getaway.

The Martin Wickramasinghe Folk Art Museum – One of the greatest Sri Lankan writers ever, the home of Martin Wickramasinghe (1890–1976) has today been converted into a culturally interesting museum giving an insight into his life and exhibiting some Sri Lanka’s best folk art appropriations. The museum also has a small bookshop dedicated for Wickramasinghe’s work.

The Lake – Alive with a birdlife that can make any bird-lover charmed, the Koggala Lake is one of the must see places in Sri Lanka. Dotted with a couple of islets that can be reached by a pleasant boat safari around the beautiful lake, Koggala also houses an interesting cinnamon plantation and a number of Buddhist hermitages on these very islets.

The Turtle Hatchery – First established in 1966 to help promote responsible tourism, the Koggala Turtle Hatchery aids in conservation by purchasing turtle eggs from fisherman. Here, these aquatic creatures are nurtured and kept safe until they are ready to be released. This act goes a long way in discouraging the fisherman from selling eggs for food or poaching, and a visit to this turtle hatchery is often times rewarded with the joy of releasing these baby turtles into the ocean.




Written By: Kavisha Perera