Nilaveli beach
Some people consider this beach the best in Sri Lanka, and not without reasons. If you want to enjoy calmness and solitude, spend time along in quietness, then come to this uncrowded but extremely beautiful Nilaveli Beach. You will be excited by the breathtaking landscapes and outside exotica both on the beach and on your way to it.
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Beach description
The beach is located in the eastern part of the country about 120 kilometers from Colombo and 14 kilometers to the south of Trincomalee Beach. It is a vast location covered in white sand, with its coast merging with clear blue water. It offers great conditions for children and tourist swimming who may not feel comfortable in the water. The sea bottom, like the beach itself, is even, with stones being very rare. Even if you go far from the shore your feet are still visible, which says a lot about the water clearness despite the sandy beach.
The occasional waves can be encountered (it is the ocean after all), but they aren't high. They're also "soft" and don't knock people down, unlike the waves at Hikkaduwa. The beach is mostly empty, which makes it attracting for some. For a couple this is a great place to set up a romantic picnic, especially during the sunset.
The beach is also popular among families with children. They will enjoy building sand castles, swimming near the coast, search for small crabs and beautiful shells in the sand, and there are a lot of them here.
When is the best time to go?
The best time to travel to Sri Lanka is the period from November to April, when the weather is dry. In summer, the rainy season takes place in Sri Lanka, however, the prices this season are much lower. So if you are not afraid of rainfalls (which commonly take place at night, and by morning the ground dries up), a trip in the summer can be a great option for a budget holiday.
Video: Beach Nilaveli
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is not well developed. There are absolutely no rental stores on the beach. Showers and toilets are also unavailable. The closest village is Irakkandi. Here you can find a place where you can have your dinner. There are no cafes at the beach, but several seasonal food stalls where one can buy some water and a sandwich operate there. You can stay at the hotel of the same name - Nilaveli Beach Hotel.
This beach is perfect for sunbathing, swimming, surfing and windsurfing, underwater swimming, fishing and whale watching. There are some boats moored at the shore, and you can rent of them to swim along the beach or to the Pigeon Island.
It's easily visible from the coast as it's only a couple kilometers away. It's a national park that got its name due to the fact that many local pigeons love to visit here. Pigeon Island is small and fully covered in white coral. It's considered to be a favorite place for divers as breathtaking underwater landscapes can be seen here.
Weather in Nilaveli
Best hotels of Nilaveli
All hotels of NilaveliUseful information
- One of the nearby local sights is the Hoods Tower Museum, a naval-themed showroom of the Sri Lankan navy. It's located in Ostenburg on Trincomalee peninsula on a high edge with a view of the inner bay.
- The best time to visit this beach is from May to September. The rest of the year is characterized by heavy rains and high waves that make swimming impossible even right near the coast.
- Don't even try to find beef meals in the menu or show a cow in front of a waiter. Buddhists predominantly live here, and the cow is a sacred animal for them.