Pasikudah

A resort beach town north of Batticaloa, wrapped around a shallow, reef-protected bay with some of the calmest swimming water in Sri Lanka.

Overview

Pasikudah (Pasikuda) is the east coast's most popular beach resort, set on a wide, sheltered bay about 35 km north of Batticaloa. Protected by an offshore reef, its warm, shallow water extends far from the shore, making it exceptionally safe for swimming and wading and a favourite with families. A strip of resorts and guesthouses lines the blond sand, and the quieter Kalkudah beach lies just around the headland. Snorkelling, kayaking and lazy sunset walks are the main draws, and the dry-season sun shines here while the west coast is under monsoon.

History

Pasikudah was a small fishing settlement until the late 20th century. Like the rest of the east coast, it was hit hard by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and held back for years by the civil conflict. After the war ended in 2009 the bay was designated a tourism development zone, and a cluster of beach resorts opened along the shore, turning Pasikudah into one of the country's fastest-growing beach destinations.