Excursions in Batticaloa and Passikudah

A preserved gorgeous nature all around, some original colorful cultures and some truly hospitable people are the 3 gems you can expect to meet when visiting our district.

To move around and get connected with our Nature, Culture and People, you can participate in one of our “3-in-1 tours”.

These excursions and activities are organized by East N’ West on Board, which means the team that has developed welcometobatticaloa.com website.

WHY TRAVELLING WITH US?

We have travelled extensively in Batticaloa district and explored a good number of its beautiful off-the-beaten-track locations. Moreover, we have discovered that the first Beauty of our district is its Hospitable People.

It is therefore natural that we do our best to put you in touch with our local communities, for you to discover their ways of life, have a good chat under the tree, learn about the local cultures and religions, etc.

By travelling with us, you might end up leaving the main road and take smaller paths, getting an in-depth experience of our Nature, Culture and People.

You also contribute to our aim which is to ensure that local communities benefit from IMG_7239 (3) the presence of travellers. Fishermen, cooks, farmers, handicraftswomen, drivers and guides, boatmen… We work with around 50 families providing different services to make your stay with us enjoyable and unforgettable. Book an excursion or an activity with us, experience the local lifestyle, meet our people and create one day of income for them…

BICYCLE RIDES IN AND AROUND BATTICALOA

Here we take you for the day, with a guide to show you around the small lanes and hidden treasures of the neighboring villages… The bicycle rides are from 12 to 35 km long, the distance being split in various stretches of 3 to 5 km, at your rhythm… For people who would be unable to ride bicycles, we can do the same itineraries by 3-wheeler, but bicycle is more fun!

Palamunai Colours

In “Palamunai Colours”, you will explore the southern part of Batticaloa, riding along the beach, visiting the fish market. You will meet handloom weavers, making colourful sarees and sarongs. You will discreetly observe the midday prayer at the local mosque and interact with the believers. Your lunch will be prepared by a local family, and will reflect the typical food of the community. After a tasty meal and a relaxing chat with your host family, you will go through Kattankudy, a bustling Muslim town famous for its history and numerous businesses, visit its Heritage Museum, and might still have a bit of time to visit the beautiful Al-Aqsa mosque.

Tour Highlights:

Visit to a Hindu temple
Visit to the fish market
Ride along the beach
Discovering handloom handicraft
Observation of prayer at a village mosque
Lunch with a local family
Visit to Kattankudy Heritage Museum and Al-Aqsa Mosque

Get a glimpse of Palamunai Colours by watching our presentation on Youtube:

Towards Mylambaveli

In “Towards Mylambaveli”, the slow pace of travelling by bicycle will enable you to discover the villages and nature paths surrounding Batticaloa. After a quiet visit of the bird sanctuary, you will participate in an offering ceremony at the Hindu temple, while your lunch is prepared by a local family. After a healthy village lunch and a funny chat with your host family, you will visit the nearby organic farm, its fruit trees, coconut estate and cattle. You will then ride back to Batticaloa along a stunning deserted beach and observe birds, wildlife and fishermen as you peacefully move along our gorgeous lagoon.

Tour Highlights:

35km bicycle ride in surrounding villages
Visit to the bird sanctuary
Pujah in a Hindu Temple
Lunch with a local family
Visit to a local farm –
Relaxation at Savukkady beach
Visit to the Lighthouse area
Ride along the beach and lagoon

Get a glimpse of Towards Mylambaveli by watching our presentation on Youtube:

THEME DAYS IN BEAUTIFUL BATTICALOA

Meet Batticaloa’s inhabitants and let them teach you some of their talents: Cooking, fishing or local history, glean some secret advice from passionate people… Spices, fish, local history or life memories, we are sure that you will return home with many stories to tell to your loved ones…

Let’s cook and Fish!

In our tour “Let’s cook and Fish!”, you will learn good recipes of delicious curries to bring back home and get in touch with local fishermen willing to share their ancestral way of fishing with you… In more detail, the day starts with a visit of our small permaculture project, before riding by bicycle to Batticaloa market. You will then reach the family that will teach you Sri Lankan cooking, take your lunch with them, and after a relaxing chat, ride along our enchanting lagoon before meeting the fishermen on the lagoon for a refreshing fishing experience…

Tour Highlights:

Eductour of Rûmi’s Eco Garden
Visit to Batticaloa market
Cooking class
Lunch with a family
Bicycle ride along Batticaloa lagoon
Fishing experience with local fishermen

Get a glimpse of Let’s Cook and Fish by watching our presentation on Youtube:

Historic Batticaloa

Now, let’s explore History and Religions… Our tour “Historic Batticaloa” brings you to old buildings in Batticaloa, Kattankudy, Navalady, throughout 450 years of history and the vestiges of 3 colonial powers. We will guide you into the cultural and religious diversity of our local communities, by visiting worshipping places of 4 different faiths (Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism). We’ll break for lunch in a local family, where you’ll get a flavour of traditional Batticaloa food, and interact with your host family. After lunch, you’ll get a glimpse of the scars of the recent war and tsunami as well as visit the Heritage Museum of Kattankudy… if time permits!

Tour Highlights:

Visit to oldest local buildings
Insights into the Dutch, Portuguese and British architectures
Lunch with a local family
Visit to religious buildings of 4 faiths
Scars of recent history (war, tsunami)
Heritage Museum of Kattankudy

Get a glimpse of Historic Batticaloa by watching our presentation on Youtube:

DISCOVERY OF VILLAGE LIFE IN RURAL BATTICALOA

Let’s leave the main road… Let’s guide you inland, in-depth, to off-the-beaten-track rural villages. Luxuriant paddy fields, untamed wildlife, secret ponds, mighty rocks, cultivation areas… are just part of the experience. Be welcomed by the villagers, share a moment of their life, enjoy a village lunch and get to know their livelihood…

Boating in Unnichai

In the excursion “Boating in Unnichai”, you will leave the coastal area to reach rural villages. Depending on the season, you will be able to observe the farmers and cultivation areas, paddy fields or vegetable gardens on the way. When reaching Unnichai, local boatmen will take you on board in their traditional fishing boats for a ride on the lake. You’ll then visit the village Hindu temple and feel its peacefulness, before enjoying a village lunch in a family. In the afternoon, you’ll be invited to walk and chill out around Unnichai immense water tank or observe the buffaloes and birds around, before a farewell cup of tea with your host family. Enjoy the beautiful simplicity of village life…

Tour Highlights:

Ride in the countryside
Observing wildlife on the way
Boat ride with local fishermen
Visit to a village Hindu temple
Lunch with a local family
Chilling out / Walking around Unnichai Tank

Get a glimpse of Boating in Unnichai by watching our presentation on Youtube:

A day in Kudumbimalai

“A day in Kudumbimalai” will start by leaving the main road for the previously war affected inland rural area. Wildlife might surprise you on the way, with its lazy buffaloes, grazing cattle and wild birds. You will climb the 1.750 ft-high Kudumbimalai mighty rock and enjoy a breathtaking view of the nowadays peaceful surroundings. For lunch, you’ll be invited to share the usual village food of a local family, and will surely have a small walk around to see the villagers’ activities and hidden pond. After a quick visit to the military museum, you’ll be on your way back in the wilderness again for an off-the-beaten-track tuktuk ride.