Luxury Tangalle Holidays

Set on a sheltered bay in the far south of Sri Lanka, the fishing town of Tangalle makes a lovely base for a leisurely break. Once settled by the Dutch, it has a mild climate and such beautiful stretches of sandy beach that tea planters would visit whenever they could: it provided a mellow escape from their chilly plantations in the hills.

Tangalle offers great seafood and surfing, but there are plenty of cultural diversions too. The Mulkirigala Rock Temple, just twenty kilometres out of town, dates back 2000 years. Set high on a crag and reached by winding steps, this clutch of cave temples is richly decorated with Buddhist statues and wall paintings.

There are also excellent opportunities for wildlife watching. Rekawa beach is a nest site for five species of turtle, while the Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary along the coast, is a haven for rare birds such as the Glossy Ibis and the Black-capped Purple Kingfisher.