Step-by-Step Guide

Knowledge shared from a guideline by Ruchika Anand

Arugam Bay is a hidden gem located on the east coast of Sri Lanka. As it’s located far from the capital and other tourist attractions, it is not really popular among tourists. Thus, it has managed to retain its small-town charm while gaining popularity among travelers looking to explore some offbeat destinations in Sri Lanka. Known to be a surfers paradise, Arugam Bay in Sri Lanka has some of the best beaches in the country. For those who are planning to give it a visit, here is our detailed guide to Arugam Bay:

How To Get To Arugam Bay?

Since Sri Lanka is a tropical country, the weather of Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka is mostly pleasant, except during the monsoon season.
The best time to visit would be during the months of May to September when the monsoons have descended.

Best Time To Visit Arugam Bay In Sri Lanka

The closest airport to Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka, is the Batticaloa Airport.
By Bus: You can travel by bus from Colombo to Arugam Bay and the journey would take about 9 hours.
By Road: You can hire a taxi or rent a car and drive to Pottuvil from any part of Sri Lanka. From Colombo, the journey takes 8 hours.

Places To Visit In Arugam Bay

There are many places to visit in Sri Lanka, but Arugam Bay takes the cake.
Here is a list of the top tourist places that you need to visit on your trip to this bay:
Muhudu Maha Vihara:
This Buddhist Temple is ancient and has quite a rich history.
Constructed around 2,000 years ago, by a king named Kavan Tissa of Ruhuna, this temple located right next to a beach is a must visit for all tourists, even if you are not a spiritual person.
Distance from Arugam Bay: 4.5 km
How to get there: Car/Scooter
Kudumbigala Monastery:
This monastery is about an hour’s drive from Arugam Bay but is definitely worth the drive.
This sacred place was built in 246 BC and was constructed in order to provide shelter to the monks who wanted to escape the hustle bustle of the city.
Distance from Arugam Bay: 30 km
How to get there: Car/Scooter
Elephant Rock:
There are some amazing viewpoints in Arugam Bay from where you can admire the long stretch of the sea and watch the sunset.
The best one among these is the Elephant Rock, which offers the best panoramic views of the beach, and has some splendid sunset views.
Distance from Arugam Bay: Located in Arugam Bay
How to get there: Car/Scooter

Things To Do In Arugam Bay

There are many things that you can try your hand at when in Arugam Bay.
Here are some adventurous things one can do in Arugam Bay:
Go surfing:
The most popular tourist activity in Arugam Bay is surfing and you should not leave without trying your hand at it, even if you haven’t surfed before.
There are trainers who will guide you, and the waves are pleasant enough for all types of surfers, whether you’re a beginner or a pro.
So, make sure you don’t leave this place without a surf session.
Take a Lagoon safari:
Lagoon safaris are some of the most popular tourist attractions in Arugam Bay and if you have two hours to spare, you must make time for this interesting activity.
Visit the lesser explored lagoons like Kottukal and Urani, which are home to many creatures like elephants and crocodiles.
This will definitely be an activity you’ll remember for a long time.
Unwind at the Pottuvil Beach:
On a vacation, the best thing to do is relax and have fun, and Pottuvil Beach in Arugam Bay is the perfect place to do that.
Sunbathe on the beach and watch the waves gently touch the shore, all the while munching on some delicious seafood.
Remember to pack your-sunscreen to save yourself from the intense heat.

Discovering Arugambay...

Knowledge shared from Arugambay on wikipedia

A Tourist Destination for Surf Tourism and Natural Attractions in Sri Lanka's Southeast Coast.

The bay is located 117 kilometres (73 mi) south of Batticaloa, 320 kilometres (200 mi) due east of Colombo, and approximately 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) south of the market town of Pottuvil.
The main settlement in the area, known locally as Ullae, is predominantly Muslim, however there is a significant Sri Lankan Tamil and Sinhala population to the south of the village, as well as a number of international expatriates, largely from Europe and Australia.
While traditionally fishing has dominated the local economy, tourism has grown rapidly in the area in recent years.
Arugam Kudah's literal Tamil translation is "Bay of Cynodon dactylon".
Tourism in Arugam Bay is dominated by surf tourism, thanks to several quality breaks in the area, however tourists are also attracted by the local beaches, lagoons, historic temples and the nearby Kumana National Park.

Conflict between fishing and tourism

During the period of fighting between the central government and Tamil separatists tourism was fairly low key and the hotels often bought the catch of the fishermen.
As a result of the peace, tourism expanded and many fishing people who had moved to areas less touched by the conflict returned.
Hotel owners began to complain about the smell of drying fish and how the fishing huts blocked their view.
In the aftermath of the Tsunami fishing people were forbidden to return, officially on the grounds of safety but allegedly as a result of pressure from the hotel owners.

Surrounding areas

The nearby (4 kilometres (2.5 mi)) Muslim village of Pottuvil is the center of commerce and transportation while tourist accommodations lie along the beach to the south of Pottuvil Arugam Bay (4 kilometres (2.5 mi)) is also the gateway and the only road access to the Yala East National Park.
In 2.2 kilometres (1.4 mi) distance there is Pasarichenai Beach.
This area is known as Kumana (44 kilometres (27 mi)), to be reached via the Tamil/Sinhalese settlement of Panama (Sri Lanka) (17 kilometres (11 mi)) and the Tamil shires at Okanda (32 kilometres (20 mi)).
The local area is home to a number of elephants, often travelling between Lahugala and Kumana national parks.

Surfing

Arugam Bay is the most popular surf spot and is also the only international surf competition venue in Sri Lanka.
It is also rated as one of the top ten surf destinations in the world.
It has also hosted most of the international surfing competitions in Sri Lanka since 2004.
It also hosted the So Sri Lanka Pro 2019.