Koggala is one of the most interesting, but also the most mysterious resorts in Sri Lanka. And this despite the fact that several five-star hotels have recently been built here, the resort is still very poorly visited by tourists. And therefore, the beach, which has quite a decent length here, can be quite deserted, even during the peak tourist season in Sri Lanka, that is, in February and March. Here you can essentially walk alone along an almost deserted beach.
The resort is located in the southern part of the country, almost along the A2 coastal highway, which connects the capital of the state with another Sri Lankan city - Matara. In 2011, a completely new highway was built in the country - E01, along which you can get from Colombo airport to the Koggala resort in literally 1.5 hours. Only when you get into a taxi at the airport, be sure to tell the driver to take you along this particular route. In principle, it is paid, but the fare costs only 6 dollars, but you will quickly get there in a comfortable environment. Many drivers, trying to save money, take passengers along the old, clogged highway, and then the travel time is at least 4 hours.
In addition to the beautiful and wonderful beach, Koggala also has a beautiful and picturesque lake. Almost all tourists vacationing at the resort definitely take a walk to this lake. The beach here is really excellent, it is long and quite wide in places. However, there are places near the coast with fairly strong currents. Therefore, it is very convenient to surf here. In general, Koggala Beach is considered the most beautiful place for surfing and windsurfing on the entire coast of Sri Lanka. However, you shouldn't be upset, you can always find a place to swim here. 
In Koggala, as in almost all Sri Lankan resorts, there is a chain of restaurants along the entire beach edge. There is quite serious competition between them in the fight for visitors. Of course, tourists vacationing in hotels only benefit from this. The fact is that in Lanka there is no such service as “all inclusive” in hotels. Therefore, tourists very quickly become convinced that having lunch and dinner in hotel restaurants is very expensive. And here beach restaurants come to the rescue, where tables are located right on the sand; everything here is very tasty and completely inexpensive.
The largest natural attraction in the resort is Lake Koggala. It is simply immense in size and is considered the largest on the island. You can take a fascinating boat tour on the lake, just take your camera with you to capture the stunningly beautiful views.
In the resort village itself there is a museum of folk art; in principle, there is nothing particularly interesting there, but you can visit it for a change. You can go fishing at sea; local residents claim that the bite here is very good. In addition, the fish you catch will be cooked with great pleasure in one of the coastal restaurants. 
Since Koggala is located very close to the Sri Lankan fort city of Galle, you should definitely take an excursion there. You can do this yourself. To do this, you will need to go out onto the highway and stop any bus with the inscription “Colombo” or “Galle”, they run here very often. You will spend literally 20 minutes on the way, and the fare will be very cheap - 40 Sri Lankan rupees.
You can also go to Mattara and look at the very beautiful Buddhist temple that is located on the island. Inspecting the temple along with the way there and back will take you about 3-4 hours. You will find the temple easily, since it is located opposite the bus station, where you will actually arrive.
Hello everyone:) We returned from Sri Lanka two weeks ago. Since before the trip, trying to learn more about this country, reviews from other tourists helped me a lot, I decided not to be lazy and write my review :)
We rested at the Koggala resort, Koggala Beach Hotel. I must say, we hit the nail on the head! The hotel is cool, everything is clean, tidy, the beach is simply amazing, wide, beautiful, just like in the pictures. I want to say, for those who will choose hotels in Koggala, even the 5-star Fortress hotel does not have such a beach nearby, moreover, they do not have a beach at all :) Where the hotel territory ends, there is a small cliff and that’s it. There is no beach :) The situation is approximately the same in Koggala Village, but it’s better, closer to the normal beach.
But, most importantly, this is the OCEAN. Many have already written, but I repeat – this is Something. As we joked towards the end of the trip: the sea is a big puddle compared to the ocean. This is simply unrealistic power and beauty. There is nothing like it on planet Earth!
By the way, what they say is true: you have to be careful with the ocean. His traction is enormous. The guys swam longer, but I couldn’t do it for more than 10 minutes, you get tired, as if swimming in a pool, you do about 15 swims back and forth :) We usually came out exhausted :) But there was a lot of pleasure. The waves on the sea are not even close.
And in general, not only the ocean, but also the nature of the country amazed us, it was incredible. And the climate, by the way, is quite pleasant, there is no strong stuffiness and the humidity is not felt as much as in other countries of the Asian region, so it is very comfortable to relax.
Regarding the transfer. Everything was great. Thank God the Sri Lankans started building highways. A highway has already been built from Colombo (the capital) along the entire southwest coast. So we got to the hotel quite quickly, about 3 hours, of which 1 hour we drove around the outskirts of Colombo and, since the traffic there is terrible, it was a very long time :) But when we got onto the highway, the speed of movement increased significantly :)
By the way, at the airport the most favorable rate was 130 rupees for 1 dollar in mid-September, and 123 rupees at the hotel. At the airport on your return flight, using the receipt that you were given upon exchange upon arrival, you can exchange unspent rupees for dollars at the same rate. When exchanging, immediately ask to exchange several large bills into small ones (50-100 rupees each), also at the hotel you can come up to the reception and ask to exchange for small ones, but this does not always happen. It is simply necessary to always have small bills with you, at least because giving change is not part of the Sri Lankan mentality; and also for tips.
It is also very profitable and inexpensive to buy a SIM card for a mobile phone at the airport. It's better to take Mobitel, the connection is better. Costs 1000 rupees (approx. 7.5 bucks), of which 850 rupees are credited to the account. There are operator booths almost just before the exit from the airport on the left. Communication is very cheap, we talked to Chisinau, Kiev, Moscow, even at the end of the vacation we were racking our brains about who else to call to chat, to blurt out the money, so that it wouldn’t go to waste :) In Koggala they charge several times more for a SIM card, something like 700-800 rupees only for the SIM card, empty.
We arrived at the hotel at about 8 am, we were immediately checked in, which was just wonderful, considering the difficult road.
We took All Inclusive and did not regret it. Guys, there is nowhere to eat outside the hotel. There are two cafes, one right next to the hotel, the other a little further. Or buy something dry from the shops. It is expensive to take lunch or dinner separately from the hotel itself. They sell alcohol only in certain shops in Galle (about half an hour by tuk-tuk). All Inclusive, according to our calculations, cost us an order of magnitude cheaper than we would have eaten and bought drinks and alcohol ourselves. By the way, who will try their famous red rum: the hotel's red rum sucks. If you want really tasty local red rum, buy Calypso rum in their liquor stores, this is the best Sri Lankan red rum, verified :) A small 375 ml bottle costs about 700 rupees (approx. 5-6 dollars), a large liter bottle costs about 1400 rupees (10-11 bucks).
Ah, I would like to warn you right away. Everyone there wants tips. Hotel staff (all of them, not just maids), bus drivers, salespeople, just passers-by. At the tea plantation, women workers immediately ran up to us to take pictures and then asked for money. At the elephant nursery, the workers bring the elephants closer to the tourist so that he can take a photo, then ask for money. Even in the free toilet in a restaurant in Kandy, on our way out we came across an aunty cleaning lady who was trying to ask for money. Everything is clear, the country is poor, much poorer than ours, but... Of course, you have to give sometimes, but here 100 rupees, there 100 rupees (about 1 dollar), and if you don’t hold back, you can end up without money :) We gave away in the first days, and then we began to slow down in order to avoid bankruptcy :)
More. For those who smoke, stock up on plenty of cigarettes, as there are no normal cigarettes in Sri Lanka. This is a problem. There are only lousy Dunhill (500 rupees - 4 bucks) and Marlboro smuggled from Vietnam on the beach from the locals, very strong, for 400 rupees (about 3 bucks), and they sell only 10 packs. For me, who smokes light thin cigarettes, this is a disaster. In addition, everyone is shooting cigarettes, again because they don’t sell good cigarettes, and they apparently want to smoke normal tobacco. That’s why everyone is asking: beachboys, security guards, lifeguards, etc. :) Again, maybe it’s only here, maybe not, but we smoked there much easier than at home, maybe because of the climate, but we consumed twice as many cigarettes per day as in our homeland.
Excursions should definitely be taken locally from local guys. They have everything already set up there, they have their own tuk-tuks, buses, guides, etc. And much cheaper.
By the way, I would like to mention two guys: Gemini and Nimal, especially Gemini, he helped us a lot, we went on two excursions with him, ordered delicious ready-made shrimp from him (I’ll write about this later), brought us coconuts, took us to small places Galle, to the shops in his tuk-tuk, if necessary, found us more tuk-tuks, if we had company and needed more tuk-tuks, treated us to local fruits, sweets, sometimes advised us where to go, where it was cheaper. He brought us the durian fruit for free (we really wanted to try it, since we had heard a lot about this fruit, Gemini brought us one to try, why only one - it just stinks sooo much, like rotten onions, and tastes sweet. Overall, the impression is still the same The guys ate, but I couldn’t swallow because of the smell :) As Gemini said, this fruit greatly increases potency in men :)
Gemini and I went on two excursions. I would like to note that he worked well, he watched everything in time so that we could be on time everywhere. For example, you had to be on time to get to the elephant nursery in such a way as to catch the elephants first from the nursery itself, and then they are taken to bathe; if you are late, you will miss all the fun. He stopped us in different beautiful places so that we could take photographs, and drew our attention to some things that we ourselves would not have noticed. If there were requests to stop and buy something, I told the driver to stop when we reached the place where it could be purchased. It was clear that he was trying to do a good job. If anyone needs contacts, please use for your health: Gemini: 0094726539424, Nimal: 00940777889065. Both speak Russian quite well, you can understand. If you call, just tell which hotel you are in, they will come to the beach in the reception area or to the hotel gate from the road. When meeting, it is much easier and clearer to talk to them than on the phone :) They are not allowed to enter the hotel premises, just like the rest of the local population.
Our first excursion: the Pinavella elephant nursery + ride on the elephants (the fee for riding is not included in the price, a little expensive, about 12 bucks per person, you can ride only two at a time) + see how the elephants bathe in the river, then the spice garden, then Kandy and the temple Buddhas, then waterfalls and mountain tea plantations of Nuwara Eliya. The excursion was amazing, we were absolutely delighted. Very beautiful places. We returned full of emotions and new impressions. The excursion cost 75 dollars per person (including all entrance tickets, i.e. we gave our guide 75 bucks, and throughout the entire excursion he himself paid for us for entrance tickets, taxes, etc.), in time - from 4 am to 12 midnight. Don't be alarmed, it's worth it to get up at 4 am :) The minibus is excellent, comfortable, with air conditioning. By the way, whoever is going, do not hesitate to ask for a packed lunch at the hotel the evening before departure, so that at 4 am they give you breakfast to take with you, and in the evening they leave a packed dinner for you at the reception. We ordered rations for ourselves, and for the guys who went on the excursion with us and who did not have all inclusive, and even for the guide and driver :)
By the way, after the tea plantations, we were brought to a tea factory with a tea shop at the factory. At first WE didn’t want to buy anything, we thought it was a scam and it would be cheaper in supermarkets in the cities. They turned out to be WRONG. There is no such tea in supermarkets; they mainly sell cheap trash tea for locals. By the way, the choice in duty-free in Colombo is also not that great, and it’s expensive. So we didn’t regret that we decided to buy real mountain Ceylon tea there in Nuwara Eliya; we even ordered the guys at the hotel who went after us to buy more tea. The cost of a 100 gram pack is approximately 2 dollars, 300 grams is about 3 dollars for black tea, green tea is about 3 dollars for 150 grams. There, next to the shop, you can sit on the terrace and try tea, they bring it for free. Silver or white tea is very expensive, they have some special varieties, but again on the terrace we asked, they brought out the brewed tea for us to try, we didn’t feel anything special. Maybe we're just not experts :)
Second excursion: Dondra Lighthouse (the southernmost point of Sri Lanka) and jeep safari in the Yalla Nature Reserve. The lighthouse is very beautiful and the area around is amazing. It’s not worth going up to the lighthouse, honestly, you won’t see anything super interesting there, and climbing the narrow spiral staircase is quite tiring, even for our guys, although they are quite strong J Moreover, it’s very stuffy inside. The guys went swimming after the lighthouse with their clothes on, as they were all soaked through with sweat :) And I soaked in the sink for about 5 minutes :)
We weren't particularly impressed with the safari. In a jeep with bad tires, moving along the petrified sandy road was a little problematic, sometimes it seemed like your teeth were going to fly out :) We saw animals: elephants (very far), buffalos, crocodiles, a lot of roe deer, magunsta (far away), monitor lizard, wild rooster, peacocks, one monkey, a boar that was eating another boar left after a predator, and even a JAGUAR. As I read earlier in reviews, seeing it is rare, so we were incredibly lucky. He ran right in front of our jeep and disappeared into the bushes and looked at us with displeasure. The other jeeps that drove up to our satisfied squeals did not have time to see anything, since the jaguar had already run away somewhere far into the bushes. And so, all the way I wanted to get out of the jeep and come closer to the animals to take a closer look, but naturally this was prohibited, so there was no special delight, since all the animals were at a decent distance. But from an educational point of view and a desire to see more of this wonderful country, it was interesting. We left the hotel at 9 am, with a stop at the lighthouse, then to Yalla. We had a snack at a restaurant, and from 3 to 6 pm we rode around the park. Then go home. The excursion cost $60 (including all entrance fees).
We were not impressed with Halle at all. A noisy town, dirty, and periodically stank of combinations of smells that were absolutely exotic for us:) We wandered through the ruins of a Dutch fort; we tried to buy fruit at the local market, it didn’t work out, because seeing foreigners, local merchants begin to charge mind-blowing prices, and we went back home. It takes about half an hour to get to Galle by tuk-tuk and 400-500 rupees ($3-4) per trip for one tuk-tuk round trip. One tuk-tuk can accommodate a maximum of 3 people. If you want to go to the city, it’s better to go to Matara, it’s in the other direction from the hotel than Galle, an hour’s drive by tuk-tuk, but it’s much more fun there.
We went to a turtle farm. Everyone, including adult men, had simply touching facial expressions while holding small turtles in their hands:) Entrance costs 400 rupees (approx. 3 bucks) plus a round-trip tuk-tuk ride of about 5 minutes and 200 rupees per tuk-tuk ( 1.5 bucks).
By the way, if you are being taken somewhere in a tuk-tuk, the tuk-tuk will wait for you until the end, as long as you are there, look at it.
We went to Lake Koggala. A fairly ordinary motorboat ride. We stopped at some peninsula where monkeys were sitting very high on two trees, almost nothing was visible, we could only see them through the camera lens. We saw one monitor lizard in the water. The motorboat trip cost 10 bucks per person (plus 200 rupees for a tuk-tuk to the lake), don’t give us more, our guide Gemini immediately told us that it was 10 dollars, so when we told the boatmen about this, they immediately agreed without talking, although At first they tried to make it bigger. I don’t even know if it was worth going, I wouldn’t recommend it. But again, for the sake of sporting interest it is possible.
We ordered shrimp from Gemini several times, he brought them ready-made, they came with a delicious garlic-tomato sauce, or they were simply boiled in water and salt. Very large, Cost 800 rupees per kilogram (approx. 6 bucks). Lunch!
We really wanted to have a picnic on the beach for my birthday. Did not work out. By the way, if they tell you that this is possible, don’t believe it. The police don't allow it. The locals promised to do this for us a few days before our birthday, but on the birthday itself they told us that it wasn’t possible, and suggested we just bring ready-made shrimp and hang out on the beach together. It was clear that they just wanted to eat and drink nashara. At the market in Galle, fish and shrimp are again impossible to buy, since seeing foreigners, prices increase sharply. For 1 kilo of shrimp they charged us 15 bucks.
Be careful with the “whale watching in the ocean” tour - whales swim off the coast of Sri Lanka from about November to April, if you are offered such an excursion at other times of the year, it’s a scam.
As already written in other reviews - when planning any trips, consider the length of the day. Day and night here are 12 hours long. It starts to get brighter at 6 and by 7 it’s already light, it gets dark at 18 and by 19 you can’t see anything.
Gemini also took us to a shop of various wooden products. Beautiful, mostly made of ebonite or rosewood. We bought a small Buddha figurine, pink wood, approx. 18 centimeters, 2000 rupees (15 bucks), an ebonite ashtray 600 rupees (4.5 bucks), a rosewood elephant 1200 rupees (9 bucks) and a nice tuk-tuk made of plywood for 600 rupees. They didn’t spare any money, everything was very beautiful, a good memory of the trip. You can immediately see how the boy working nearby in the workshop is turning all these figures. If you buy more than one piece they give a good discount. In other places, we specifically looked, much more expensive. I’m generally silent about the hotel. At the prices they charge there, you could buy half a shop.
About insects. The mosquitoes there are just nasty. Unlike ours, they are not heard and practically invisible. When sitting outdoors in the evening, it is better to smear yourself with something. And so, everything seems to be in order. There were no extreme insects. There is a small iguana on the hotel grounds, which lives mainly in the grass between the pool and the beach, and several very funny chipmunks. We fed them nuts and cookies.
Also, it’s worth taking with you a stronger sunscreen and definitely an after-sun cream with panthenol, since the sun is very strong, even guys who had already tanned before got sunburned. And also a first aid kit with native medicines, if the medicine is not very good, their main focus is on alternative medicine :)
Regarding the linen, I read reviews before the trip that the linen was dirty and gray. We had nothing like this. Everything is white, clean, towels are changed every day, i.e. everything is part of normal hotel management :)
There is a safe at the reception, it costs a lot of money, we paid 2 bucks for 10 days. You come up with your key, which is kept with you all the time, and you take from your cell everything you need day and night. Very convenient and safe.
The hotel also offers laundry services. We also laughed for a long time when we saw the prices. For the mountain of underwear that we threw off upon arrival, which included two pairs of pants, two pairs of T-shirts, a warm jacket, socks, panties, that is, everything we were wearing, we paid 5 dollars! I have never seen anything like this. My husbands and I felt like bourgeois when we put things in the laundry for the nth time. And they wash well, they have never spoiled anything, things are neatly folded, smelling very nice. It’s just that because of the humidity, things take a long time to dry, so we even took even slightly dirty things to them to wash, although the main goal was to dry things :)
About the sockets. Inconvenient, because they are not ours. At the reception they can give you an adapter, but there is not enough for everyone. If you are unlucky, the socket is like one hole on top, two on the bottom, so take the handle and poke it into the hole on top, don’t be afraid, there is no current there, the two bottom holes will open and you can insert
A little more about prices:
The guys bring coconuts - 5 rupees each;
Local beer Lyon - 200 rupees (approx. 1.5 dollars) per 650 gram bottle;
Plain water 0.5 - about 40 rupees (30 cents)
Fanta, Cola 0.5 – 90 rupees (70 cents)
In cafes, Lyon beer - 370 rupees (3 bucks)
Massage at the Koggala Village hotel – $10 per hour (great, from earlobes to toes);
Prices in the restaurant right next to the hotel (by the way, a very nice restaurant and delicious) - 600-900 rupees (5-7 dollars) for a decent dish with something seafood (fish, squid, etc.) + fries + salad. Plain water in a bottle 100 rupees 1 liter. Milkshake – 250 rupees (2 bucks).
By the way, who has children, grandchildren, nephews. Very cheap children's clothing. We don’t have children, but our Kiev neighbors bought a whole package of all kinds of clothes for ridiculous money. For example, a very cute dress for a girl (the fabric is good, don’t think it’s cheap) cost $1.
For guys who fly from Kyiv with low-cost airlines AirArabia and FlyDubai. Airplane food is very expensive. Something very small, like shawarma, costs 5-7 dollars, beer 0.33 - 7 dollars, juice 200 ml or plain water 0.5 liters - 3 dollars, strong alcohol 50 grams - 7 dollars. Watching TV series - 3 dollars, movies - 9 dollars. For comparison: at the Dubai airport, during a transfer, if you have a snack at McDonald's: a cheeseburger - 3 dollars, a double cheeseburger - 6 dollars (one double cheeseburger is approximately the same as two shawarmas on the plane in size and degree of "filling":) Sweet water, mineral water at the Dubai airport - 1 dollar . You can easily carry it on the plane. So stock up on food and drinks in Kyiv and Dubai.
About magnets, knowing that many people buy gifts for friends, including us, I can’t help but say. The hotel is very expensive, if you see nice ones somewhere in the cities, shops - take them, on average they cost 300 rupees (2-3 bucks), at the airport the choice is very meager, the prices are the same, not cheaper than in the city. We read somewhere earlier in reviews that it is cheaper at the airport. Nothing like that, the entire airport was raided.
About the visa. In principle, travel agencies should tell you, but I’ll clarify anyway. There is electronic visa registration on the official immigration website http://eta.gov.lk. Everything is quite simple there. Fill out a short form and pay by card. The visa costs $20. You can also apply for a visa upon arrival, but there are queues and time, and the visa costs $25. Therefore, Sri Lankans recommend registering online. You need to print out the notification that will be sent to your email and show it when you arrive in Colombo.
For tea lovers, a little about the varieties of Ceylon tea (for example, I didn’t know, maybe it will be useful for you):
Orange Pekoe - black loose leaf tea made from leaves following the bud;
Pekoe is a rolled leaf of black tea made from side shoot leaves or from the third and fourth leaves;
BOP – Broken Orange Pekoe, i.e. chopped Orange Pekoe. Considered the golden mean among teas;
BOPF – Broken Orange Pekoe Fannings, i.e. very finely chopped Orange Pekoe. Typically used in sachets;
Fop - flowery orange pekoe, black leaf tea made from leaves following the bud, having a sufficient content of tips (buds, which are the main source of tea aroma)
Dust is dust, the finest tea is what remains as a result of processing tea leaves. It is mainly drunk by Sri Lankans, because... the cheapest.
As they explained to us at the factory, the finer the grind of the tea, the stronger it is.
We are focused on providing sightseeing tours to a wide range of individual customers and private and public organizations. We offer a full spectrum of booking hotels, transfer from Colombo airport , tours vehicles with a guide-chauffeur including car, van, coach and limo. Geographically, we operate throughout the Sri Lanka and in particular in Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Sigiriya, Bentota, Beruwella, Induruwa, Aluthgama, Kalutara, Hikkaduwa, Unawatuna, Koggala, Weligama, Mirissa, Dickwella, Tangalle, Yala, Ella, Nuwara Eliya, and a number of other areas. We also serve our clients in other Area.
To ensure a wide coverage, availability of hotels in Sri Lanka, vehicles, best price and service conditions for our customers we partner with a number of carriers. We take a particular pride that the efficiency of our operations and the quality of our customer service and passenger transport sector. That is why most customers who tried us for the first time become our repeat customers and the rate of our customer satisfaction is at the industry top of 98%
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka the country is truly unique! This should go for the exotic and adventurous, with great beaches, a warm sun and crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean! Sri Lanka - is a wonderful place to relax. During the holidays you can and should manage everything - perfect to relax on the beach, as well as get acquainted with the rich history, traditions, unique monuments of ancient architecture of the island. Sri Lanka - is an ancient country with rich history and ancient traditions - on the island there are 8 of architectural and natural sites included in UNESCO's World Heritage Fund.
About Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka- an island in the Indian Ocean (up to 1972 - Ceylon), located south of the Indian subcontinent. It stretches from north to south and 445 km from west to east 225 km. Most of the island is occupied by plains, whose height rarely exceeds 100 m above sea level. In the center of the island is the Central mountain range. The average height of the mountains - 1000-2000 m above sea level, but some peaks rise above. The highest point of the island - the mountain has a height Pidurutalagala 2524 m, however, is best known for the magnificent Adam's Peak (2243 m). Official capital: Sri Jayavardanapura-Kotte (the seat of parliament and the Supreme Court) Actual Capital: Colombo (seat of government, the residence of the President).Administratively, the country is divided into nine provinces, major cities: Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Anuradhapura, Ratnapura, Jaffna.
Sinhalese make up about 75%, Tamils - about 18% of the population, mainly in northern and eastern regions. Is also home to Sri Lankan Muslims - about 7%, Burghers (descendants of interarriage with Europeans) - about 0.3%, Vedda (descendants of the ancient population of the island) - about a thousand people. About 70% of the population (mostly Sinhalese) practice Buddhism, 15% - Hindu (Tamils), 8% - Christianity, 7% - Islam (Sri Lankan Moors).
Climate in Sri Lanka
The climate in Sri Lanka, warm and humid. The temperature is very smooth, without sharp fluctuations during the year. The difference between the warmest and the coldest month of 2-3 degrees Celsius. The average temperature is typically less than 30 degrees. Most rain falls in summer. To stay most comfortable coastal areas of Sri Lanka. In large cities inside the country, the weather is hot and humid. Average water temperature in the Indian Ocean near the country of 27 ° C. For tourists it will be useful and pleasant to know that the rains in Sri Lanka are usually held at night. Therefore rest in the resort should not be overshadowed by precipitation. Enjoy the beaches of Sri Lanka can be all year round - you only need to properly define the place of rest. From November to March - a western and southern coast of the island, and from April to October - the east and north-east coast.
Currency
The official currency is the Sri Lankan Rupee state. 1 Rupee (1 LKR) is equal to 100 cents. The December 2017 Lankan Currency against the dollar and the Rupee was: 1$ = 150 LKR.
Large hotels and shops accept payment by international credit cards. It is recommended to exchange money at the airport in Colombo. Check received at the official exchange rates should be maintained until the end of the trip. In this case, the departure from Colombo you have the option to exchange the remaining money in the bank at the rate of purchase of the airport. You can also exchange money at any hotel and bank.
Visa
Citizens of the countries to visit Sri Lanka need a visa, which is necessary to issue any advance on-line at ETA , or draw directly upon arrival in Colombo airport.
The cost of entry visas is valid for one month. if you pay through the Internet - $30.The cost of entry visas valid for one month. if you pay at the airport - $40.
In the case of a transit trip, when the length of stay in Sri Lanka does not exceed 48 hours, the fee for a visa will be charged. Officer of the migration service will need to submit tickets, further confirming the flight. When making a tourist visa must also have a return ticket or a hotel booking confirmation, as the guards conducted random checks of the documents from foreigners entering the country.
Shopping and shop
Traditionally, Sri Lankan tourists bring spices, tea, jewelry, gemstones, high quality knits and gorgeous china. Around the island a large number of small shops and stalls where you can buy only what you need. In the cities are beginning to open large stores, but all the same - to European variety of products - Sri Lanka is far away. The main location of shopping, of course, is Colombo. Here you can buy very good quality jerseys at low prices, because Many well-known European brands have production was in Sri Lanka. Partial products of these companies are sold at much lower prices than in Europe. We recommend to visit the following stores:
ODEL. Address: No. 5, Alexandra Place, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka; http://www.odel.lk/
TFO The factory OUTLET. Address: Sri Sambuddhathya Jayanthi Mawatha, Colombo 5, Sri Lanka; http://www.tfostore.com/
Cotton Collection. Address: No. 40, Flower Road, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka; http://www.cottoncollection.lk/
Beverly Street; http://www.beverlystreet.lk/
House of Fashion. Address: No. 101, D. S. Senanayaka Mawatha, Colombo 8; http://www.houseoffashions.lk/
Chain stores Majestic City;
Liberty Plaza. Address: R.A. de Mel Mawatha, Colombo 3, Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka, with its fantastic tropical nature can actually be proud of any of its unique landscapes - from the golden sandy beaches, caressed by the Indian Ocean, to the numerous ridges and slopes, forming terraces, tea plantations, rice fields and dense forests. Locals cherish and appreciate the nature of the island. The first nature reserve was established here in the III century BC during the reign of King Devanampiyatissa. The purpose of the reserve has been striving to implement one of the precepts of Buddhism, "Do not kill." Now, despite the high population density in Sri Lanka, there are 12 national parks and 52 reserves, which occupy 14% of the island. Among them, miner, Sinharaja, Bundala, Vilpatu, Vasgamuva, Udavalave and Yala.
Go everywhere in Sri Lanka and talk about everything - it is impossible. The beaches of the island beckon vacationers, Ayurveda centers and gardens of spices - wanting healthier, mountains - people willing to climb, the ocean - to dive deep into his strange, UNESCO sites are waiting for history buffs, Buddhist shrines - the faithful, national parks and reserves - naturalists and contemplators of nature ... The island of Sri Lanka is ready to meet you. Time to relax! Prior to the meeting in Sri Lanka!
They say that only thanks to the works of the writer Martin Wickramasinghe, the town of Koggala (Sri Lanka) was marked on the geographical map. Memories of the town in which Wickramasinghe was born are present in many of the author's books. And the plot of Madol Duwa, the writer’s most famous novel, is closely connected with a small island located in Koggala.
The small resort of Koggala is located on the shores of the Indian Ocean, very close to (less than 20 km). The distance to, already more significant, is 130 km, and to the Bandaranaike international airport – 147 km. There is an airport directly in Koggala that serves flights within Sri Lanka.
As a tourist resort, Koggala became popular not so long ago, and the infrastructure is not yet very well developed. The range of hotels cannot be called wide; these are mainly expensive 5* hotels and a few guesthouses. There is a bank and an exchange office in Koggala, which is important for travelers.
Beach holiday
The beach at Koggala is clean, covered with fine-grained light yellow sand and lined with coconut palms.
The beach line, about 3 km long, stretches to the neighboring village of Khabaraduwa. As for its width, it changes throughout the year and depends on the phases of the Moon, that is, on the ebb and flow of the tides. Swimming and snorkeling here can be a little problematic, although in calm weather there is definitely a place on the beach where you can safely enter the water.
Since the beach is long and quite wide, and there are not many vacationers in Koggala, you can always take beautiful photos here without unnecessary people in the frame.
Since Koggala is not located in a bay, the beginning and end of the season at the resort is accompanied by the appearance of high waves. For professional surfers this is a plus, but for beginners it is better to go to Koggala in the high season.
Activities available in Koggala
Lake Koggala is the main attraction of the resort town
The city of Koggala is famous for the lake of the same name, which stretches parallel to the coast. Lake Koggala is the largest freshwater body of water in Sri Lanka, providing many opportunities for fans of eco-tourism and lovers of water activities.
The wind always blows from the ocean on the lake, but there are no high waves - such conditions are ideal for those who like to windsurf, speed kite, and water ski. There are many diving centers on the shores of Koggala, giving athletes the opportunity to explore the underwater world of the lake.
Here you can go fishing, ride a catamaran and motor boat on the lake.
There are several islands on Lake Koggala - looking at the photo of Koggala in Sri Lanka, you can see them. Some of them are rocky, covered with dense thickets of mango trees, and are popular only among lovers of extreme recreation and wild nature. Some islands in the lake have exotic Buddhist huts, which require prior permission to visit.
The most popular and most often visited are 3 islands, by the names of which you can understand what is to be seen on them. The first island is Temple Island, the second is Spice Island, the third is Cinnamon Island.
On Temple Island a Buddhist temple rises, or rather 2 temples - active and inactive. Tourists are allowed into an inactive temple with Buddha statues installed in it, and the entrance to the structure is guarded by a blind caretaker.
Here, travelers are offered a fish massage, the essence of which is as follows: a person sits down and lowers his legs into a “pen” with a huge number of fish, after which food is poured into the water at his feet - the fish begin to swim closer, nibble their legs, and beat their tails. This is massage.
The next island is the Spice Garden, where locals grow spices for sale. It should be noted that the government provides support for the maintenance of the garden and the production of herbal medicines. During the excursion, tourists can buy their favorite spices and herbs, which are intended for making wines and medicines.
The last one is Cinnamon Island, where 2 families have been living for several centuries, cultivating cinnamon plantations. These plantations are the largest in Sri Lanka. During the excursion, locals tell and show how cinnamon is prepared, treat you to cinnamon tea, and also offer to buy cinnamon sticks, ground spice and cinnamon oil.
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What else is there in Koggala?
There is another aspect of life in any resort city - shopping.. For such an activity, it does not matter at all what the weather will be like in Koggala.
This Sri Lankan resort has a lot of shops: there are fruit stands, a tea shop called Dasa Tea Shop, a unique Ayurvedic goods store Lake Side Spice Garden, a Food City supermarket, souvenir shops, and market stalls.
In a manner restaurants and cafes can also be considered local attractions. The most famous restaurant, Airplane, is located in a clearing not far from The Long Beach Hotel and close to the beach. There is a cafe nearby where you can try Sri Lankan cuisine.
One of the most visited restaurants with good reviews is Restaurant Patty Place, which is characterized by decent cuisine and reasonable prices. In the photo you can see what they cook in this establishment and how much the dishes cost.
Prices are also quite reasonable in the restaurant near the Food City supermarket in Khabaraduwa, which offers European and local dishes. There is no point in naming all the establishments in Koggala - you can just take a ride in a tuk-tuk along the central road of the resort town.
The weather in Koggala in Sri Lanka is conducive to vacation in November-April - this is the most favorable time when it is warm and quite dry. And from May to the end of October almost 95% of all precipitation falls.
The air temperature remains unchanged all year round – it ranges between +28-30 ºС. As for the water temperature in the ocean, it is also quite stable and amounts to +26 °C.
Since Koggala (Sri Lanka) is a beach resort town, it is best to come here during the dry season, that is, from November to May. At other times, the weather is not the best for relaxing on the beach and for a variety of beach activities, and swimming in open ocean bays can be dangerous.
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If you decide to go on holiday to this city in Sri Lanka in 2019, then you will not have problems with housing. There are a sufficient number of prestigious and comfortable hotels here that will offer their guests excellent service and access to excellent spas. If you prefer not to spend large sums of money for comfort and luxury, then it makes sense to pay attention to cozy boarding houses or guest houses. It is worth noting that the cost of living in the best hotels is about 10,000 rubles, but can reach 20,000 rubles. At the same time, you can find accommodation for the night much cheaper, starting from 800 rubles per night.
Holidays at the Koggala resort: attractions and entertainment
First of all, people go to Koggala for a beach holiday. The five kilometer long beach is considered one of the best in the country. Sand, gently sloping land and a fairly convenient entrance to the water distinguish Koggala beach. And the waters of the Indian Ocean here are very clean and have a pleasant blue hue. But if you have already enjoyed the stunning beauty of this place, have sunbathed and swam, and want to see something and have some fun, this is also possible in Koggala and the surrounding area.
Sights of Koggala
One of the main attractions of the resort is the Folk Art Museum, which displays an exhibition of folk art objects. In it you can look at a fairly extensive collection of rare art objects, as well as things related to the ordinary life of the population from different regions of the country. The entire exhibition is divided into 25 different parts. The objects in each part of the exhibition cover one area of human life. These can be handmade items related to music, architecture, clothing, medical instruments, etc.
The natural highlight of Koggala is the lake of the same name. There you can look at a wide variety of birds. This place is not only a stunningly picturesque lake with many different species of plants and birds, but also a popular eco-tourism destination. Also on this lake you can see hermitages scattered here and there on the islands. They are considered the sanctuaries of the first Buddhists. For this reason, this place is so popular among religious pilgrims. If you decide to follow the path of the pilgrims, you can use the catamarans offered specifically for this purpose.
You can admire the lake in the video:
There are several traditional Sinhala villages around the lake. It’s worth getting here to get acquainted with the local exotic way of life, as well as to take some very colorful pictures.
Not far from Koggala there is an ancient temple called Katalyuva Purvarama Maha Viharaya. This Buddhist sanctuary was built back in the 13th century. The temple is very picturesque due to the traditional style paintings done by ancient masters on its walls. In the drawings you can find scenes from the many lives of Buddha.
A little further, about 20 kilometers from the resort, there is a nature reserve - the Hiyare Rain Forest. This is a perfectly preserved corner of tropical vegetation, a reservoir, and also a good place for lovers of exotic representatives of the animal world. There is also a hospital for wild animals, whose staff treats wildlife with love.
Most often, tourists from Koggala go on excursions to the ancient city of Galle. The trip takes no more than twenty minutes. Here, pay attention to the ancient Galle Fort. It is one of the best preserved from colonial times in all of Asia. Ancient walls, an old lighthouse and the remains of other buildings, as well as a beautiful panorama of the city await tourists here. The 18th century colonial temple building, St. Mary's Cathedral, is also interesting. There are also several museums in the city with very fascinating exhibitions, for example, the Dutch Museum or the Maritime Museum. Nearby you can visit the Buddhist island of Ratgama Lake, which is particularly beautiful and can give a feeling of harmony and tranquility.
Excursions to the Habaraduwe turtle farms, visits to the Kalutara temple, spice garden, cinnamon plantations are also popular from Koggala, and you can also go to Weligama, where you can take windsurfing lessons. In Colombo, if you decide to go that far, there are also many attractions: a fort, temples of different faiths, the best of which are the Buddhist sanctuary Gangaramaya, St. Anthony's Church and the Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque, as well as many museums.
Entertainment Koggala
For lovers of active recreation, Koggala has the opportunity to go diving (in the appropriate season), surfing, windsurfing, water skiing, and fishing. Speaking of fishing, near the town you can see local residents fishing on poles, which is a very colorful sight. You can ride on a yacht or boat.
For lovers of nightlife, Koggala is not the best place, since the resort is, rather, intended for those who want tranquility and unity with nature, so you will not see a vibrant nightlife here. But there are cafes and restaurants here, because tourists, despite the fact that the resort is still developing, are already actively visiting this place - which means we need to feed them. Sri Lankan cuisine is distinguished by the presence of a large number of spicy dishes. Due to its location near the ocean, you should definitely try seafood and fish; rice and vegetable dishes are also popular in the country. And, of course, wonderful coconut, which is added to dishes, and delicious juice is also prepared from it.
There won't be much shopping in the city, since Koggala is not the largest city in Sri Lanka. But you are always welcome to buy a few traditional souvenirs: the resort has many shops with typical souvenirs. What should you bring with you from Koggala? This, for example, could be:
- handmade wooden mask;
- other products made of valuable wood;
- Ayurvedic remedies;
- elephant figurine.
Koggala will definitely appeal to those who appreciate picturesque nature, clean beaches and waters. If you wish, you can limit yourself to the surrounding attractions, but if you want something more, you can take an excursion or go on your own to other cities. The main thing is that your holiday in Koggala will definitely not disappoint you, and the memories from the exotic nature, temples and the holiday itself will last for a long time.
