Hikkaduwa හික්කඩුව கிக்கடுவை | |
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  Hikkaduwa | |
| Coordinates:6°8′50″N80°6′37″E / 6.14722°N 80.11028°E /6.14722; 80.11028 | |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Province | Southern Province |
| District | Galle District |
| Areas | Sri Lankan town Tourist area Thiranagama |
| Beaches | Hikkaduwa Beach Narigama Beach |
| Population | |
• Total | 101,342 |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (Sri Lanka Standard Time Zone) |
| Postal Code | 80240[1] |
Hikkaduwa, in south-west ofSri Lanka, is a large costaltourist area covering 11 villages[2] run by theHikkaduwa Urban Council. Well known for its scenic beaches,[3]coral reef sanctuary, surfing and nightlife.[4], it extends over 6 km (3.7 mi) on the ocean, and 3 km (1.9 mi) inland.[5]
Hikkaduwa might be the most popular surf spot on the Sri Lankan south-west coast.[6]
Located in theGalle District, Hikkaduwa is divided into three main areas (from north to south) : the Sri Lankan town, then the very lively tourist area, then the upmarket area[7][8]Thiranagama.
In the sixties, manyhippies came to live in Hikkaduwa which was nicknamedHippiduwa.[9]
Its economy was based on fishing and coconut cultivation, which was replaced by tourism when its golden sandy beaches were widely discovered in the 1960s.
The2004 Indian Ocean tsunami affected Hikkaduwa along with many nearby villages.
Located in theSouthern Province, Hikkaduwa is about 17 km (11 mi) north-west ofGalle and 98 km (61 mi) south ofColombo.
Hikkaduwa is divided into three main areas (from north to south):
Hikkaduwa is a popular surf spot on the Sri Lankan south-west coast.[14]
It attracts thousands of surfers between October/November and March/April.[15][16] There are:[17] shallow sand-bottomed waves, A-frame sections, harbourside waves, mellow whitewash to practice the pop, and fast left-hander waves.
TheHikkaduwa National Park was the first marine sanctuary to be established in Sri Lanka. It has approximately seventy varieties[1] of multi-colouredcorals.
In 2023, the Wildlife Conservation Department started to restore the coral reef.[18] Live coral washed ashore with the waves are planted on coconut shell-shaped cement blocks dropped and nursed in the medium-deep seabed of Hikkaduwa.
Australians say that Hikkaduwa Beach is Sri Lanka's version ofKuta Beach (Bali).[19]
Extends for 3 km (1.9 mi) towards the south, in a broad and continuous sandy beach, this wide beach is calm[20] with some luxury hotels[21] and a few quality restaurants.[22] There also are several surf stops there.[23]
The Big Buddha Statue is 30 m (98 ft) high. It is a replica of the 6th-century Buddhas of Bamiyan destroyed by Taliban in Afghanistan. It was created using the earliest known sketches of the statue.[24] It was built in remembrance of the2004 Indian Ocean tsunami victims[25] and to protect the people from harm.[26]
Held between July/August, this five-day festival attracts thousands of locals and foreign nationals.[27] It features both local and international professional DJ's, famous musicians and world class dancers.[28]
The jungle around Hikkaduwa is rich inbiodiversity. It is home to thepurple-faced langur, an endangered and endemic monkey. Over sixtyspecies of endemic birds, includingherons,sandpipers,terns,egrets, andkingfishers, as well as rarer species such as thelesser whistling duck, theAsian palm swift, thewhite-breasted waterhen, theblack bittern andLoten's sunbird.
Beneath the Indian Ocean lies a number ofcoral reefs,shipwrecks, and a great variety of fish and turtles. The turtles still wade onto the shore to lay their nests and eggs.
In the early 1980s,Arthur C. Clarke played a key role in persuading the government to declare Hikkaduwa a marine sanctuary.
Hikkaduwa is located on theCoastal or Southern Rail Line (connectingColombo through toMatara). It is also located on theA2 highway, connectingColombo toWellawaya.
