With over 1600 km coastlines, Sri Lanka is known to mosttourists for its tropical beach resorts which offer various attractions yearround. The southwestern coast is best from November to April and the east coast is best from April to September. Some popular beach spots on the southwestern coast include: Ambalangoda, home of devil-dancing and mask-making; Hikkaduwa, a popular underwater sports site with coralgardens; Galle, its natural harbour was once a Dutch fort, known forlace-making, ebony-carving, and gem-polishing.
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| Devil Dancing |
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| Mask Making |
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Ambalangoda Beach
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| Ambalangoda Beach | | |
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| Hikkaduwa Coralgardens |
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| Hikkaduwa |
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| Hikkaduwa |
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| Hikkaduwa |
The eastcoastal region offers numerous opportunities for water sports, deep-seafishing, underwater photography, scuba diving at the shipwrecks and coralreefs off the coast, and whale watching. Popular tourist towns include Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Kalkudah and Nilaveli.
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| Traditional see fishing |
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| Deep sea fishing |
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| Whale watching |
