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Hikkaduwa

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Hikkaduwa
හික්කඩුව
கிக்கடுவை
Beach view in Hikkaduwa
Beach view in Hikkaduwa
Administrative map of Hikkaduwa region[1][2]
Administrative map of Hikkaduwa region[1][2]
CountrySri Lanka
ProvinceSouthern Province
DistrictGalle District
AreasTownsite
Tourist Hub
Wewala
Narigama
Thiranagama
BeachesTurtle beach
Hikkaduwa beach
Narigama beach
Population
 • Total
101,342
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (Sri Lanka Standard Time Zone)
Postal Code
80240[3]

Hikkaduwa, in south-west of Sri Lanka, is a large costal area covering 11 different villages[4] over 6.5 km (4.0 mi) on the ocean, and 3 km (1.9 mi) inland,[5] in the Galle District.

Located in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka, this area is under the dual jurisdiction of the Hikkaduwa Urban Council and the Hikkaduwa Divisional Secretariat covering 24 km (15 mi) of coastline[6] on the Indian Ocean.

The Hikkaduwa region is divided into several main areas (from north to south): the townsite; the tourist hub (from Baddegama Rd to Wewala[7]); Narigama (partly residential zone); and the upmarket area [8][9] of Thiranagama, which borders Narigama Beach (a 3 km (1.9 mi) stretch of sand extending through Patuwatha.[10] to Dodanduwa[11])

History

[edit]

In the 19th century, during the British Ceylon period, Hikkaduwa region was "the great resort of picnic parties from Galle"[12] (Galle was the largest city in southern Ceylon). 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, many hippies came to live in Hikkaduwa, which was nicknamed Hippiduwa.[13]

The largest rail disaster in history has been caused in Hikkaduwa by the 2004 tsunami.[14] A wall of water slammed an eight-carriage train in Peraliya in Hikkaduwa.[15]

Geography

[edit]

Located in the Southern Province, Hikkaduwa is about 17 km (11 mi) north-west of Galle and 98 km (61 mi) south of Colombo. The Hikkaduwa region is divided into several main geographic zones (from north to south):[7]

  • Townsite (north part to Baddegama Road): with public infrastructure (bus stand, harbour, railway station), extending from the north to Baddegama Road (the region's widest road [up to 15 m (49 ft)][16] going east, and also serving as a bus bypass).
  • Tourist Hub (from Baddegama Road to Narigama): with numerous hotels and restaurants, encompassing the Marine National Park and Turtle beach.[7].
  • Tourist Hotspot (Wewala, from Turtle beach to Narigama[17]): contains large hotels (Hikka Tranz, Citrus), retail facilities, banks, numerous restaurants, bars, and dance clubs.
  • Narigama (from Wewala to Thiranagama[18]): on the ocean side, a lower-density tourist area with many hotels, restaurants and few dance clubs; becoming partly residential inland.

Attractions

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Beaches

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  • Hikkaduwa Turtle Beach: located at the northern end of Hikkaduwa beach, is a popular spot for observing sea turtles in their natural habitat. The area supports several conservation centers that protect endangered species (incubate eggs, and release hatchlings into the ocean).[35]
  • Hikkaduwa Beach: a long, busy, and vibrant beach (Australians say that Hikkaduwa Beach is Sri Lanka's version of Kuta Beach (Bali)[36]).
  • Narigama beach: extends for 3 km (1.9 mi) towards the south, in a broad and continuous sandy beach, this wide beach is calm[37] with some luxury hotels[38], restaurants[38], and several surf spots.[39]

Biodiversity

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The jungle areas around Hikkaduwa is rich in biodiversity. It is home to: many coral reefs and shipwrecks; a great variety of fish and turtles; the purple-faced langur, an endangered and endemic monkey; over sixty species of endemic birds.

Transport

[edit]

Hikkaduwa is located on the Coastal or Southern Rail Line (connecting Colombo through to Matara) and by the A2 highway, connecting Colombo to Wellawaya.

Road bypass

[edit]

The necessity of a bypass for Hikkaduwa has been highlighted for over 45 years.[40][41] Government projects in 2003,[42] and in 2011[43] (a 5 km (3.1 mi) road costing Rs. 8 bil.[44], approx. $106 Mln in 2026) were never realised.

Near the northern boundary of Hikkaduwa, Baddegama Road (the region's widest road, up to 15 m (49 ft)[16]) became, in 2023, part of a new bypass. It complemented the construction of the 6 km (3.7 mi) Hikkaduwa Bypass New Road.[45] 70% of which was completed by the end of 2023[45] Its August 2024 opening was suspended by the Election Commission [46] due to the 2024 presidential elections. In 2025, the new Hikkaduwa UC began to implement a partial version of the bypass, as a limited one-way southbound diversion, only for long-distance buses.

Religions

[edit]

Religious composition in Hikkaduwa DS Division according to the 2012 census is Buddhists 100,955 (99.06%), other Christians 317 (0.31%), Roman Catholics 293 (0.29%), Hindus 257 (0.25%), Islam 79 (0.08%), others 8 (0.01%).[47]

Notable people

[edit]

See also

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References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hikkaduwa.
  1. ^ Ward Map of Hikkaduwa Urban Council: https://mpclg.gov.lk/web/images/wardmaps/galle/03_Galle_HikkaduwaUC.pdf
  2. ^ Ward Map of Ambalangoda Pradeshiya Sabha: https://mpclg.gov.lk/web/images/wardmaps/galle/05_Galle_AmbalangodaPS.pdf
  3. ^ "Hikkaduwa Post Office – Sri Lanka Postal Codes". Mohanjith. Archived from the original on 21 March 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  4. ^ mpclg.gov.lk, Ward Map of Hikkaduwa Urban Council
  5. ^ hikkaduwa.uc.gov.lk
  6. ^ Anuththara, Sanju & Priyadarshana, K.W.K.A. & Bandara, Nuwan. (2025). Assessing the causes of Coastal Erosion and its ongoing challenges during 2004-2024 in Hikkaduwa Divisional Secretariat in Galle District. II. p 109.
  7. ^ a b c Ward Map of Hikkaduwa Urban Council: https://mpclg.gov.lk/web/images/wardmaps/galle/03_Galle_HikkaduwaUC.pdf
  8. ^ cnn.com
  9. ^ "Riff Hikkaduwa - Fact Sheet" (PDF). Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  10. ^ Ward Map of Hikkaduwa Urban Council: https://mpclg.gov.lk/web/images/wardmaps/galle/03_Galle_HikkaduwaUC.pdf
  11. ^ Ward Map of Hikkaduwa Urban Council: https://mpclg.gov.lk/web/images/wardmaps/galle/03_Galle_HikkaduwaUC.pdf
  12. ^ John Whitchurch Bennett, Ceylon and Its Capabilities, 1843, p. 369
  13. ^ "Sri Lanka". 8 March 2018.
  14. ^ a b NBCnews.com
  15. ^ "BBCSinhala.com". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
  16. ^ a b "Resettlement Plan: Hikkaduwa–Baddegama–Nihena road (B153)". Road Development Authority (RDA). Retrieved 5 April 2026. The road development project for the B153 corridor defines a right-of-way and building limit up to 15 meters to accommodate urban infrastructure.)
  17. ^ broadly spanning Galle Rd odd Nos. 319–431 and even Nos. 360–466 (see map of: Wewala, Google Maps, April 2026.)
  18. ^ consisting of: Narigama Wellabada and Narigama; broadly spanning Galle Rd odd Nos. 431–679 and even Nos. 466–750 (see maps of: Narigama Wellabada and Narigama, Google Maps, April 2026.)
  19. ^ consisting of: Thiranagama Wellabada, Thiranagama, and Thiranagama East; broadly spanning Galle Rd odd Nos. 681–995 and even Nos. 752–1040 (see maps of: Thiranagama, Thiranagama Wellabada, and Thiranagama East, Google Maps, April 2026.)
  20. ^ The Times
  21. ^ "Welcome to the famous beach resort of Hikkaduwa".
  22. ^ The Asia Collective
  23. ^ 10 Best 5-Star Hotels In Sri Lanka
  24. ^ "Dept of Wildlife steps into restore coral reefs in Hikkaduwa". Times Online. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  25. ^ "Insider's Guide To Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka: Surf, Sharks & Epic Parties". Eats & Retreats Guide. 16 November 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  26. ^ The Rough Guide to Sri Lanka, Apa Publications.
  27. ^ The Surf Atlas
  28. ^ The Surf Atlas
  29. ^ The Surf Atlas
  30. ^ "Hikkaduwa Sri Lanka | Truly Sri Lanka | Visit Hikkaduwa". Truly Sri Lanka. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  31. ^ The Surf Atlas
  32. ^ "Sri Lanka". 8 March 2018.
  33. ^ NBCnews.com
  34. ^ "Paraliya Tsunami Honganji Viharaya".
  35. ^ "Turtle Beach Hikkaduwa Sri Lanka Destinations". 1 October 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  36. ^ Tulloch, Lee (9 June 2023). "Why you should visit this undersold, teardrop-shaped island right now". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  37. ^ GoodHotelsSriLanka.com
  38. ^ a b "Hikkaduwa". At Ease Beach Hotel. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  39. ^ Trickyfish.net
  40. ^ De Silva, Hemantha; Tilakaratne, W.M. (18 January 2020). "Proposal for bypass road in Hikkaduwa ignored for 40 years". Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  41. ^ Vithanage, Amarasena (31 January 2012). "Traffic congestion: Hikkaduwa needs bypass". Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). Retrieved 17 April 2026. Foreign tourists visiting Hikkaduwa face the dangers caused by heavy traffic on the Galle-Colombo road... the road running through the shopping area was just a lane..
  42. ^ "Hikkaduwa bypass road project: Work to begin soon". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 20 April 2008. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
  43. ^ "Galle Road diversion for Hikkaduwa tourism zone". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 26 June 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
  44. ^ De Silva, Hemantha; Tilakaratne, W.M. (18 January 2020). "Proposal for bypass road in Hikkaduwa ignored for 40 years". Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  45. ^ a b "RDA 2023 Annual Report" (PDF). Parliament of Sri Lanka. 3 February 2026. p. 67. Retrieved 17 April 2026. 36. Hikkaduwa Bypass New Road (Status as of 31.12.2023)
  46. ^ "Election Commission halts opening of Hikkaduwa bypass road". Zira Daily. 18 August 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
  47. ^ Census of Population and Housing of Sri Lanka, 2012: https://www.statistics.gov.lk/pophousat/cph2011/pages/activities/Reports/District/Galle/A4.pdf
  48. ^ "Hikkaduwa is my favourite movie shooting location: Actor Ryan Reynolds". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  49. ^ "Hikkaduwa becomes Ryan Reynolds' favourite location". The Island. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  50. ^ https://www.scubadiving.com
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