Experience the best of Batticaloa
Batticaloa, on Sri Lanka's east coast, is a lagoon town with an old Dutch fort, palm-lined shores and long sandy beaches a short way up the coast.
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Batticaloa lies on a narrow strip of land between the Indian Ocean and a long lagoon on the east coast of Sri Lanka. The Portuguese built a fort here in 1628, and the Dutch took it ten years later; its stone walls still stand beside the lagoon, and bridges and islands break up the waterfront. The lagoon is lined with mangroves and fishing boats, and a humming sound said to rise from the water on still nights is known locally as the singing fish.
North of town, Pasikudah has a shallow, gently shelving bay of clear water, with the beach of Kalkudah beside it. Hindu kovils, mosques and churches reflect the area's Tamil, Muslim and Christian communities. Inland lie the paddy fields of the eastern plains, and much further south, Arugam Bay is known for its surf.
Buffalo curd served with palm treacle is Batticaloa's famous dessert, and crab and prawn curries, string hoppers and pittu fill the tables. The east coast has its best weather from about May to September, while the north-east monsoon brings rain from October to January.
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Top experiences in Batticaloa
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