Must-Do Things in Ahangama, Sri Lanka
The island country of Sri Lanka is one of the best tourist locations in the Southeast Asia region. Sri Lanka has a rich culture filled with religious sites and monuments along with a diverse natural habitat and diverse landscapes. The country has several popular places for tourists to enjoy like Colombo, Kandy, Polonnaruwa, and several others.
However, one of the places that gets overlooked by many tourists is the town of Ahangama. Ahangama is a town located on the South Coast region of Sri Lanka and has recently become a hub for professional surfers from all across the world. Ahangama has a lot of things for its visitors to do and engage in several activities to enjoy themselves.
Let's take a look at the 8 must-do things in Ahangama in Sri Lanka
Enjoy a Quality Beachtime
Due to its close distance to the sea, Ahangama has a lot of beaches for people to enjoy themselves. Take a casual stroll through the place where the water meets the land, have fun beach volleyball matches, lay down on the soft crystal sand of the beach, or sunbathe. When it comes to beach activities, you are only limited by your imagination.
While Ahangama is not in discussions for top beaches in Sri Lanka today, its growing popularity means that it will not take very long before it starts competing with Sri Lanka's current top beaches like Hiriketiya and Unawatuna.
Kabalana
Among the beaches in Ahangama, the Kabalana beach is a great choice for some fun beach time. This beach has a beautiful scenery of the golden sand kissing the waters of the ocean along with several beach bars that offer tasty drinks like Kottu. There is no shortage of beach beds around this place for you to relax, and there are even surfing schools nearby for those who wish to become the master of the waves.
The large open area of this beach is also well suited for younger members of the family to have a fun time as well.
Ahangama Beach
The Ahangama Beach is the main beach of the town of Ahangama. It is shorter than 200m and is not a very wide beach. However, don’t let this dissuade you from visiting here as this beach is the home of the best beach bars and cafes in all of Sri Lanka. The reefs located closeby to this beach also make it a perfect beach for those who wish to have a casual beach day.
These reefs protect this beach from the waves of the Indian Ocean and the west side of this beach is ideal for those looking for an open and less crowded area.
Surfing On the Waves
It was the waves of the Ahangama that brought it to the spotlight as one of Sri Lanka's hidden gems. The waves that each of Ahangama’s beaches gets to experience are an excellent opportunity for professional surfers to showcase their skills. This influence from the surfing community has also prompted the establishment of several surfing schools around the town.
The breaks that appear on the beaches of Ahangama are capable of satiating the hunger of every type of surfer that comes to Ahangama:
- Insight Breaks
- Rock
- Stick
- Gas Station
Surfing on any of these breaks is a major part of Ahangama's tourism.
Having Some Tasty Treats
When it comes to the best parts of Ahangama's tourism, the beaches and surfing are not the only activities you can do. This town is home to some of the best cafes and brunch spots that Sri Lanka has to offer. Enjoy a nice brunch with avo toast, smoothie bowls, and coffee at the many beach cafes around Ahangama.
There are a ton of excellent choices for cafes in Ahangama some of which are mentioned below:
The Kip - This is the oldest cafe in the town and offers exceptionally delicious coffee, smoothie, and tea along with up to 5 pieces of bread, sweets, and spreads. The Kip offers some of the most delicious vegetarian food in the town and you can visit here between the hours of 8 AM to 3 PM.
Cactus - If you are looking for an excellent beach cafe in Ahangama, the Cactus is a great choice. Located on the Ahangama beach, you can start your day by enjoying their tasty sweets and excellent coffee. There are a ton of choices for you to dine on, but the shroom bagel and chocolate pancakes of this cafe are its biggest highlights.
Palm Hotel - For tourists looking to dine in peace and serenity, the Palm Hotel is an excellent choice. This place is located on the outskirts of the town and serves many traditional Sri Lankan dishes like coconut milk rice with pomegranate, dal, and coconut sambar. As an icing on the cake, the iced milo and coffee served here are also excellent.
Explore the Markets
Sri Lanka has an excellent handicraft and fruit market that is a showcase of the traditional life of Sri Lankan locals. The town of Ahangama is not lacking in these areas and offers some pretty excellent marketplaces to explore. You can expect to find jewelry, paintings, pottery, and other types of souvenirs.
Ahangama's marketplace also serves as an excellent spot to get your hands on surfing essentials which is handy to engage in the most popular activity of the town.
Watch the Sunset With a Touch of Cocktail
A sunset is a beautiful sight to behold especially from a beach. Seeing the red sun slowly sinking into the water with its beautiful rays being reflected by the water is one of the most calming sights of nature. The town of Ahangama has a way of making that sight even more enjoyable with a touch of their famous cocktails sold across the many beach bars discussed previously.
Relax at the Palm Hotel
We discussed the many delicacies of the Palm Hotel before; however, the excellent food of this place is not the only thing it has to offer. Its unique location gives it one of the most picturesque views in the entire town of Ahangana. A day spent here will leave you mesmerized by the sights that surround you. So, make sure to leave a day for this place as it will be a day well spent.
Take a Ride on the South Coast Train
If you are looking to enjoy the entire south coast of Sri Lanka, you cannot go wrong by boarding the South Coast Train. Whether you wish to visit one of the other beaches of Sri Lanka or return to Ahangama, the views of the breezy palm trees, golden sand, and the ocean will make this one of the best parts of your trip to Sri Lanka.
Visit the Colonial Galle Fort
Tourists who are looking to delve deeper into the colonial history of Sri Lanka or those who want a break from beach life will find this place very enjoyable. The entire area around this place has colonial architecture and style that displays the colonial rulers of the past that once held a dominant position in Sri Lanka. There are also a lot of shops here for those looking to purchase some memorabilia of this place.
Sri Lanka is one of the best tourist destinations in the Southeast Asia region with places like Colombo, Kandy, and Polonnaruwa attracting thousands of tourists each year. However, the southern coast of Sri Lanka is a very special tourist destination that not many tourists visit. Among these is the town of Ahangama.
While it may take some time, there is no doubt that Ahangama will become one of the top places to visit in Sri Lanka. So, if you are looking to visit Ahangama, start applying for your Sri Lankan tourist e-visa and book your itineraries early to avoid any issues on arrival.
Check Eligibility for Sri Lanka eTA and apply for Sri Lanka eTA 72 hours in advance of your flight. Citizens of many countries including Australian citizens, Brazilian citizens, Hungarian citizens, Irish citizens and Bolivian citizens can apply online for Sri Lanka eTA.