Batticaloa and the east coast beyond Arugam Bay is it worth it the lagoon the singing fish the quiet beaches
Everyone goes to Arugam Bay for surf but I am curious about the east coast BEYOND it especially Batticaloa with its famous lagoon the legend of the singing fish the Dutch fort and the quiet beaches like Pasikuda nearby Is Batticaloa worth visiting what is there to do is it a sleepy backwater or a genuine destination how is June for it (east coast season) and how do I get there I want the road less travelled if it rewards East coast travellers and locals please tell me about Batticaloa
7 Answers from travellers
Batticaloa guide and lagoon boatman so let me show you my home Is it worth it YES if you want the road less travelled Batticaloa (Batti) is a genuine destination not a tourist machine a laid back east coast city of lagoons islands and a rich Tamil and Muslim culture it rewards the curious traveller who wants real life over a resort strip What is there to do the LAGOON is the heart a vast beautiful lagoon you can boat across at sunset and the famous SINGING FISH the legend that on still moonlit nights you can hear a musical humming from the water (said to be from aquatic life) take a boat out by the old bridge and listen it is a lovely local legend and a magical quiet evening the DUTCH FORT the compact old colonial fort in town the city itself the markets the kovils and mosques the multicultural everyday life the lighthouse and the QUIET BEACHES around Batticaloa and nearby and PASIKUDA and Kalkudah just up the coast the shallow calm bays good for easy swimming (the beach threads) Sleepy backwater or destination a bit of both it is RELAXED not a nightlife or surf party place (that is Arugam Bay down the coast) the appeal is the calm the culture the lagoon and the unhurried east coast life if you want buzz go to Arugam if you want gentle authentic and quiet Batti is a gem June timing PERFECT the east coast is in its DRY SEASON now (May to September the coast and season logic from every thread) so June is the RIGHT time for Batticaloa and the east sunny and calm when the southwest is wet this is exactly when to come east Getting there a long but doable journey from Colombo or the cultural triangle by road (car or the expressway and then on) or there is the train (the line to Batticaloa) the overnight or day train is a scenic way in (the train threads) it is far from the western tourist core which is precisely why it stays unspoilt The verdict worth it for the road less travelled traveller the lagoon and the singing fish a sunset boat the Dutch fort the quiet beaches and the genuine multicultural east coast life in its perfect June season come for calm and culture not buzz and Batti rewards you
Following up the food in Batti is its own reason the eastern Tamil and Muslim cooking the seafood from the lagoon and coast was superb and different from the south ask locals where they eat
Pasikuda nearby is the easy swimming beach the bay is so shallow and calm you can wade far out perfect after the culture of Batti town pair the two for a couple of relaxed east coast days
The train to Batticaloa is a wonderful slow way in far emptier than the Kandy Ella tourist train rolling through the dry zone and paddy to the coast the journey is part of the off the beaten path appeal
Thank you all for visiting my home one tip combine Batticaloa with Arugam Bay to the south and the Trincomalee area to the north for a full east coast string in the June season the whole east is in its prime now and far quieter than the famous west and south
The lagoon and the singing fish a sunset boat the Dutch fort and quiet beaches in the perfect June east coast season this is exactly the road less travelled reward I hoped for come for calm and culture not buzz it is thank you
Took the boat out at dusk to listen for the singing fish and whether you hear it or not the still lagoon under the moon by the old bridge is pure magic and we had it almost to ourselves the quiet is the point
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