Historical Background

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Unawatuna traces its roots to the great epic Ramayana. In the epic, the monkey-warrior Hanuman was sent back to India to fetch the four medicinal herbs by Jambavan namely, mritasanjeevani, vishalyakarani, suvarnakarani, and sandhani from the Himalayas in order to heal Lakshman who was wounded trying to save the abducted Princess Sita from the demon king Ravana. Hanuman failed to identify these herbs, so he lifted the entire mountain and carried it to the battlefield to try to save Lakshman, but in the process, a chunk of it "fell-down" in the location of the present day Unawatuna, the name of the village derives from "Una-watuna" meaning "fell down".

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Shopping

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Unawatuna isn't particularly great for shopping; you'll have far more choices in nearby Galle. The beach access road hosts numerous souvenir shops selling wooden masks, handicrafts, and jewelry shops selling locally mined moonstone items.

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Eating

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Upon first discovery, the choices for fresh seafood on the beach at Unawatuna will make your head spin. But there are some caveats. Although big restaurants proudly display their catches and compete to lure customers in, that doesn't guarantee that seafood is fresh and did not come out of the freezer. You'll need to choose your own fish from the ice to be sure about what you are eating. Even then, the fish you chose may get swapped for an older one once out of eyesight. No one wants to throw a fish out.

Delicious Tuna is ridiculously cheap, as is barracuda. You can hit your annual mercury intake in a week. A tuna steak, fries, and simple salad cost around US $6. Many restaurants add on a 10 percent service charge.

The Kingfisher restaurant — get there by walking southwest on the access road — has consistently earned inclusion on top-restaurants-in-Asia lists for many years. Enjoy your food right on the sand, but reservations are a must during high season.

For cheaper fare in a simpler environment, Jina's Vegetarian Restaurant on the access road is run by a friendly Buddhist chef who cooked in the UK. She puts plenty of love into each offering delivered to your table with a smile.

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Climate

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Traditionally, the best time to visit the Galle coast is from mid-November to April, with similar weather patterns to the west coast. Between May and September, travel east beyond Galle along the south coast and more settled weather can often result. October can see heavy rain, although by November good weather is expected till May. Sri Lanka is affected by two monsoons which generally means that there is good weather somewhere. The main south-west (“yala”) monsoon brings rain to the west and south-west coasts and hills largely between May and July. The north-east (“maha”) monsoon hits the east coast predominantly from November to January. There is also an inter-monsoonal period of unsettled weather in October.

 

Sights

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Galle Fort: This UNESCO World Heritage Site, originally built by the Portuguese and then further developed by the Dutch and the British, is one of Sri Lanka's most-loved areas. It covers nearly four sq kms, and is protected by 12 bastions and connecting ramparts. A maze of narrow roads lined with small houses and shops with Dutch names still remain. Recently, a spate of old colonial houses within the Fort have been intelligently renovated and made into exquisite boutique villas and hotels retaining the colonial architectural features including arches and columned courtyards, verandas, and high ceilings. A collection of arts and craft shops make this one of Sri Lanka's most vibrant quarters. Galle National Museum and Galle Maritime Museum are housed in the heart of the Fort.

Galle International Cricket Stadium: Galle Stadium is one of cricket's most-loved venues. The simple ground is flanked by the Indian Ocean and with the impressive 17C Galle Fort behind the bowlers at one end, you could barely imagine a more stunning environment in which to enjoy a cricket match. After the 2004 tsunami, it was thought that international cricket would never return to Galle. But thanks to the global cricket community, among them Shane Warne who took his 500th wicket at the ground, the ground has been restored.

Koggala Folk Museum: The late Martin Wickramasinghe, one of Sri Lanka’s most loved authors, grew up in the fishing village of Koggala. The Folk Museum that was the author’s dream was made a reality by the Martin Wickramasinge Trust and opened in 1981. Objects of folk culture acquired during his lifetime have been the starting point of the collection, which is growing annually.

Koggala Lake: scattered with 16 small islands, is a peaceful setting. Fish eagles to monitor lizards share this habitat along with generations of villagers. Boating, kayaking, canoeing in a traditional 'oru' and fishing and trolling on the lake are possible.

Yatagala Temple: Inland from Galle, this temple is built around and within giant boulder-like rock formations. Quiet and little visited, the temple looks out over paddy fields and small hamlets.