Attractions
Kallady Beach
Kallady Beach Kallady Beach is the charmingly peaceful beach all people are finding for. It is situated in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. It is a 40-minute drive away from Pasikuda and it is separated by the Batticaloa lagoon. It is as soothing as it could be for your tired body and unrelaxed mind. Kallady Beach is also among the cleanest beaches in Sri Lanka. It is less crowded and the ideal place for people to relax. From here you can see the beautiful sunrise and also in the morning you can see the fisherman coming to catch their daily catch of fish. This is just a gorgeous beach that shouldn’t be missed at any cost. Kallady Beach it is not completely safe for swimming just like the other beaches. The waves in Kallady Beach can get considerably rough making it a bit risky for novice swimmers but if you trust your swimming skills and you are an experienced swimmer you can try your hand at it.
The fort of Batticaloa was set upon a small island, the fort protrudes into a swampy lagoon, surveying the brackish waters protected by the city’s outer banks. The Dutch had arrived in 1602, drawn to the prospects of trade and the abundance of pepper and cinnamon grown by the local community. The Fort of Batticaloa was first constructed in 1628 as a trading and administrative center. Bordered by a moat on two sides and the lagoon on the others, the stone fort remained in Dutch hands for nearly two centuries before the British entered the country in the late 18th century and took control of the Dutch fortifications. The site has significant religious implications dating back to the 1st century B.C., evidenced by a Buddhist stupa and shatra from the Ruhuna Kingdom that remains in the area.
The Kallady Bridge which connects the suburb of Kallady to the main city of Batticaloa, is a unique bridge that is shrouded in history and legend. Built in 1924, the bridge was officially called the Lady Manning Bridge in memory of the wife of William Manning, who was the Governor of Ceylon at the time and was the longest iron bridge in Sri Lanka. The bridge was a major route for almost a hundred years in which an average of 10,000 vehicles would cross the narrow bridge daily. As a result, this bridge also became the island’s oldest iron bridge in operation. However, in 2013 the local authorities decided to make a newer and wider bridge that can accommodate more vehicles, thus leading the old bridge to be used by pedestrians and cyclists. An Interesting Legend Adding to that history is the legend of the singing fish that can be heard from the Kallady Bridge. Local folklore claims that an intriguing sound emanates from the bridge, and is believed to be singing fish from the depths of the Batticaloa Lagoon. There have been many expeditions to find out the true reason, however, there is no conclusive evidence to say that the sound comes from the activity of the marine ecosystem near the bridge. It still is a major attraction to many who want to witness a unique natural phenomenon.
Eco-Park Batticaloa is located near the Lighthouse in Batticaloa. It is an ideal place to visit with your family, kids, friends, and colleagues. The park is decorated with rich natural beauty. You will be able to enjoy the children's park, picnic huts, bird viewing tower, resting huts, and benches and admire the statues of birds and animals when here. An access path to the beach is an add-on. From the fifty-foot bird viewing tower, you can see a wonderful view of local birds at play while having a stunning view of the lagoon, beach, bar mouth, sea, and a small forest.
Sri Mangalarama Raja Maha Viharaya
Sri Mangalarama Raja Maha Viharaya is situated on Pansala road which is close to the Batticaloa police station. There are many buildings and a stupa in the Viharaya. In the Sri Mangalarama Raja Maha Viharaya, there is a beautiful Buddha statue in the sitting position while there are many sculptures of devotees made on the two walls on either side. There is another statue of Buddha in a seated position with a cobra sheltering Buddha’s head. If you are interested you may observe the pictures hung in the area which consists of the ancient building and folklore.
The Batticaloa Lagoon is a large estuarine lagoon in the Batticaloa District of the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. It is the largest of three lagoons in Batticaloa, stretching up to 56km in length. It extends all the way from Eravur in the Batticaloa district to Kalmunai in the Ampara district. The Batticaloa Lagoon has highly picturesque landscapes and scenic views of the ocean, with many diverse species of exotic flora and fauna, especially a wide variety of migratory, resident, and endemic birds. Also, home to Bone Island, Puliayantheevu Island, and Buffalo Island, the scenic bridges that allow visitors to cross the lagoon and the Lady Manning Bridge are equally intriguing attractions.
Batticaloa Clock Tower
This Clock tower in the city center is also a well-known landmark of Batticaloa. A historical landmark in Batticaloa town.
Batticaloa Fort
The Kallady Bridge
The Kallady Bridge which connects the suburb of Kallady to the main city of Batticaloa, is a unique bridge that is shrouded in history and legend. Built in 1924, the bridge was officially called the Lady Manning Bridge in memory of the wife of William Manning, who was the Governor of Ceylon at the time and was the longest iron bridge in Sri Lanka. The bridge was a major route for almost a hundred years in which an average of 10,000 vehicles would cross the narrow bridge daily. As a result, this bridge also became the island’s oldest iron bridge in operation. However, in 2013 the local authorities decided to make a newer and wider bridge that can accommodate more vehicles, thus leading the old bridge to be used by pedestrians and cyclists. An Interesting Legend Adding to that history is the legend of the singing fish that can be heard from the Kallady Bridge. Local folklore claims that an intriguing sound emanates from the bridge, and is believed to be singing fish from the depths of the Batticaloa Lagoon. There have been many expeditions to find out the true reason, however, there is no conclusive evidence to say that the sound comes from the activity of the marine ecosystem near the bridge. It still is a major attraction to many who want to witness a unique natural phenomenon.
Batticaloa Gate
Batticaloa Gate is a monument, which was used as a port to connect Puliyanthivu (island) with the mainland of Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. The place believed as the landing site of Rev. William Ault, who was the first Methodist missionary to Batticaloa, in 1814. His statue can be seen closer to the Batticaloa Gate.
Batticaloa Lighthouse
Batticaloa Lighthouse is also known as the Muttuwaran Lighthouse. It was built in 1913 by the British. The lighthouse is 28 meters in height and has a set of stairways that allows its visitors to climb to its very top where they can get mesmerizing views of the surroundings. Batticaloa Lighthouse is located 5 km away from the city of Batticaloa. It is situated in the place where the lagoon meets the Indian ocean. It is one of the major landmarks of the British colonial era. This was built to guide many sailors coming from all over the world. This place is now a park for visitors to relax and spend the day.
Eco-Park Batticaloa
St. Mary's Cathedral
The Cathedral of St. Mary is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Batticaloa in Puliyanthivu. The cathedral is a landmark and Catholic historical icon in the district of Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. It was first built in 1808 by Paschal Mudaliyar.
Batticaloa Lagoon
