Wadduwa Sri Lanka is a small resort village with a total area of about 35 km2, located in the western part of the island. From the south, Wadduwa is bordered by the well-known resort of Kalutara-they are separated by the Kalu Ganga River, and from the north is Panadura – here the border is the Bolgoda River and the South Bolgoda Lake.
The name of this small village is associated with one of the local legends. Many Sinhalese living in this area practiced medicine – they were called “veda mahaththayaa”. As a result, the village was named “veda doova”, that is, “land of doctors”.
Wadduwa is famous for its extensive palm plantations. It produces toddy palm wine and vinegar, as well as numerous products made from coconut fiber: panicles, mats, mats.
The weather is warm all year round and the air is humid.
Wadduwa infrastructure
There are very few hotels in the village of Wadduwa – only 9, but there is still a choice. Wealthy vacationers usually settle in large cities. 5***** complexes with spas — The Blue Water and Serene Pavilions. Lovers of Ayurveda prefer it 4**** Siddhalepa Ayurveda Hotel.
The most affordable in terms of price and the most popular option for housing in this village is the 4-star Villa Ocean View hotel, there are several other cheaper villas and guest houses. Most of the hotels are located very close to the beach – you can walk to it at a leisurely pace in just 2 minutes.
Several hotels in Wadduwa try to organize animation: live music, discos in the evenings, darts competitions, snake show, volleyball, water aerobics. But those who have seen really cool animation, all this is unlikely to impress.
On Galle Road, the main street of Wadduwa, there are several massage “huts” (it is difficult to call them otherwise). However, massage services there are quite good and much cheaper than in hotels. One of these massage parlors is located in a two-story building opposite the Villa Ocean View hotel – although it is not a hotel environment, it is cozy and clean. On the same Wadduwa street there are small souvenir shops where you can buy cheap and good tea-at the tea factory the same will cost 2 times more.
There are no large supermarkets in Wadduwa, and the food in the shops sometimes turns out to be unusable. There are fruit shops on Galle Road, although the range is not very wide: bananas, watermelons, coconuts…
Fruit is best bought at the fruit market, which is located 15-20 minutes ‘ drive from Wadduwa, and you must bargain.
Wadduwa Beach
The beach here is very beautiful. But it is not snow-white, as it is sometimes described, and painted in yellow, red and black colors – this is sand and clay. The length of the beach strip is 8 km, and palm trees with emerald green leaves grow along its entire length.
But what this beach looks like largely depends on what the weather is like in Wadduwa. In the dry season, the coastal ocean waters are warm, clean and clear. In the rainy season, they are also warm, but they can not be called transparent and clean. At this time, the ocean off the coast of Sri Lanka is restless, waves are up to 1 meter high and therefore it is unrealistic to swim.
That’s why the beaches of Wadduwa are almost deserted at this time of year – everyone is sunbathing on the sun beds at the hotel. At this time, you can take stunning photos on a deserted wide beach, no one will be superfluous in the frame. There are no showers or restrooms on the beach.
Along the road, within walking distance from the beach, there are necessary infrastructure facilities for recreation — grocery stores and fruit shops, cafes and restaurants, massage rooms.
What can tourists do in Wadduwa?
Wadduwa is not just a beach destination for travelers. Although this village is quite small and there is no special entertainment on its territory, you can always find them in the larger cities of Sri Lanka. There is a bus stop in the centre of Wadduwa where all buses passing along Galle Road stop – the trip to the nearest settlements will be quick and cheap, although you can use the more expensive tuk-tuk service.
In Wadduwa, as in almost all resorts in Sri Lanka, foreigners are impressed by the nature. This island is a place for passive cognitive recreation: vast expanses of the ocean, beautiful weather, delicious Sri Lankan cuisine, excursions.
Bolgoda Lake vacation
One of the most popular “enticements” in this resort is Lake Bolgoda. Or rather, wetlands with an area of 400 km2, which consist of a Northern and Southern Lake, connected to each other and the ocean by channels. Bolgoda is located in Panadura – it is very close.
Safari tours are organized for tourists in the water area. Especially charming local landscapes look in the morning and evening – even looking at the photos of Vadduva, you can understand this. In the central part of the far North Lake there is a small island, which has all the conditions for a picnic or a private party-there is a beach, tables under umbrellas are installed. In shallow waters, many people ride catamarans, ride “buns” (the waves of the ocean are too scary for this), more sporty travelers prefer to do boat rowing.
These areas are also suitable for fishing. Here you can catch white sea bass barramundi, mangrove snapper, spinopera (“silver knife”), tarpon, tilapia, gourami, Malabar danio (malabar).
Kalu Ganga River Rafting
The Kalu Ganga River flows south of Wadduwa and passes through the town of Kalutara. The width of this river almost along the entire course does not exceed 250 m. In most cases, tourists spend 2-3 hours rafting, although for experienced rowers, a 2-day rafting with category 4 and 5 rapids and a waterfall 7 meters high is also possible. Rafting is good both in clear and cloudy weather, as long as it doesn’t rain.
Sightseeing
If you want to experience a mysterious, calm, harmonious atmosphere – this will help Buddhist temples, of which there are up to 40 pieces. The most significant of them is the Priydarshanaramaye temple. There is a nearby village of Kalutara, which was built around the Gangatilaka Vihara temple. Nearby, another attraction is Richmond Castle, whose architecture combines the original motifs of Indian and British architecture.
It is also worth visiting the village of fishermen Hambantota, from where they organize excursions to the national parks of the islands of Udawalawe, Yalla, Bundalla.
The city of Katagarma, which is revered as sacred by representatives of completely different religions (Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism), is visited by numerous pilgrims both from Sri Lanka itself and from other countries.
In the northern part of the settlement, the Buddhist Dagobah Kiri Vihara temple, the Muslim sanctuary Masjid-ul-Khizr and the Hindu temple Kathirkamam peacefully coexist. You can also go to the nearby fishing town of Beruvela to see the local temple and port, or buy fresh seafood at the local fish market.
Climatic conditions
The weather in Wadduwa in Sri Lanka is always warm: regardless of the season, the thermometer does not fall below +25 °C. And although in mountainous areas you can observe temperature changes during the day, on the shores of the ocean it is always warm and the sun shines.
The water temperature in Wadduwa, as well as on the entire south-west coast of Sri Lanka, is around +26 °C at any time of the year.
There is not much difference by month, the only significant factor is the rainy seasons, when there are showers with thunderstorms, and humidity reaches 100%.
Wadduwa Sri Lanka is best visited from October to April. At this time, rain is rare, and the ocean is calm.
Useful tips
- Since the village is only 76 km from the international airport, take a taxi to reach it. It will cost only$20-25. At the same time, the trip will be comfortable and will take about an hour of time against 3-4 hours with transfers if you decide to go by bus.
- Always bargain! In Wadduwa, as in the whole of Sri Lanka, prices for white people are inflated at least 2, more often 3-4 times. This rule does not apply to mini – stores and supermarkets, where the cost of goods is always indicated on the package.
- Take dollars with you on your trip, they are changed in Sri Lanka at a more favorable rate than euros. Keep in mind that the bills must be intact and clean, without any damage or inscriptions.
- If you want night entertainment, you will not find it in Wadduwa-there are no bars and clubs here at all. For more active recreation and fun, it is better to go to the hyped Hikkaduwa in the south.
Unawatuna Holidays, Sri Lanka: beaches, weather and what to see
