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Where it's at
Arugam Bay is situated in the Ampara district on
the south east coast of Sri Lanka. It's an attractive spot
with fascinating bird and wildlife, and the waves of the Indian
Ocean are well known in surfing circles as some of the finest
on the planet.
Because of Tamil fighting in the area, tourist boards
have advised against visiting this part of Sri Lanka. However
there hasn't been any trouble since the early 1990s, and visitors
have reported that these days Arugam Bay a very peaceful place.
If in doubt, check with the tourist board before you go.
Climate
The east coast of Sri Lanka enjoys it's own distinct climate,
with a good deal less rain than the rest of the island. It
is warm all year round but the best time to visit is between
April to September, when the surfing season is at it's height.
Highlights
- Arugam Bay is renowned for it's fantastic waves, which
attract surfers from all over the world. Although you can
surf here all year round, the season starts in earnest in
April.
- The first fishing boats go out to sea at around 4 o'clock
each morning. Travellers can arrange to accompany the locals
on these trips.
- The best time to catch a glimpse of the wildlife of Sri
Lanka is before dawn or at sunset. Amongst the most frequent
visitors to the lagoon are elephants, wild boar, deer and
crocodiles. Birdwatchers will be over-awed by the flocks
which migrate to the Arugam Bay area in the months of November
and December.
- If you venture into the jungle, you may stumble across
the remains of the ancient Buddhist culture which thrived
in this region. The 2000 year-old Buddhist temple of Modu
Maha Vihare has been recently excavated just outside Pottuvil.
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