Ahangama

Ahangama
Ahangama
	Ahangama
	Coordinates: 5°59′N 80°22′E / 5.983°N 80.367°E 5°59′N 80°22′E / 5.983°N 80.367°E
Country	Sri Lanka
Province	Southern Province
District	Galle
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (Sri Lanka Standard Time)

Ahangama is a coastal town in Galle District, Southern Province of Sri Lanka. It is approximately 18 km (11 mi) east of Galle. The A2 highway passes through the town.

Geography

Nearby towns include Habaraduwa, Koggala, Weligama and Imaduwa.

History

Historically, Ahangama is situated within the Principality of Ruhuna.

Ahangama was significantly affected by the tsunami caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, where the waters measured 9.3 metres (31 ft) high.^[1]

Approximately 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) west of Ahangama is the birthplace of noted Sri Lankan author Martin Wickramasinghe and there is a museum, Martin Wickramasinghe Folk Art Museum, dedicated to his arts and popular traditions in the town.

Approximately 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) west of Ahangama is the Kataluva Purvarama Maha Viharaya temple, which was originally built in the 13th century and has some late 19th century additions. The temple is renowned for its Kandyan-style paintings in the main shrine, dating from the late 19th century. The paintings of musicians, dancers and European figures illustrates an interesting piece of social history.^[2] Some of the Jatake tales (episodes from the Buddha's series of 550 previous lives) are painted here, and purportedly are 200 years old. There are also some cameo-style paintings of Queen Victoria and the Queen Mother, done in gratitude of Queen Victoria's role in ensuring the free practice of Buddhism outlined in the Kandyan capitulation of Lanka in 1815.

Ahangama is also the home to the Giniwella Kathaluwa and the ancient Temples. The Kathaluwa Buddhist temple is known for its murals and for the preserved first printing press, brought by the Dutch to Sri Lanka.

Tourism

Ahangama is a very calm and peaceful beach town with majestic palm trees all around. There is no sound apart from the waves hitting the shore and swaying of the trees making it ideal for a relaxing vacation.

A small town in Southern Province, Ahangama is a secret treasure in Sri Lanka. Known for its pristine beaches, sparkling waters and picturesque landscapes, this town is indeed one of the most beautiful ones in the country. Although it is not fully developed, it is easily accessible via Galle, a major city that lies only 20 minutes from Ahangama. This town, being at the epitome of serenity, is one of the ideal getaways in the country.

Ahangama overlooks the aesthetic Weligama Bay, which is a happening place in the town. The famous tuk-tuk takes passengers from the main city to the Bay. Weligama is the central surfing spot, surfing being one of the main attractions of Ahangama. Apart from surfing, Wellingama offers beachside shops, restaurants, shacks and bars.

The landscapes of Ahangama, along with its fame for surfing, make it what it is today. A pious hideout, Ahangama is heaven on earth.

This town is an attraction of tourism. Ahangama has beautiful beaches such as Kathaluwa beach, Kabalana beach, Ahangama beach, Goviyapana beach and Midigama beach. There are a lot of surfing areas in Ahangama.

Special Activities

The major activity in this area is tourism. There are a lot of hotels and restaurants.

The area is famous for its distinct stilt fishermen, who erect a single pole in the chest-deep water on the beach, just few meters off-shore, where they perch on a cross bar and using bamboo fishing rods cast their lines out beyond the surf break to catch small fish.

This area is also known for its coir industry.

The Ahangama area is home to the most consistent, and possibly the best, surf in Sri Lanka. Development is ongoing in parts, but for now it remains a relatively low-key region with a mix of surfer-friendly accommodation and the odd villa. The shoreline consists of slim sandy bays and rocky outcrops, though the A2 highway often runs very close to the shore.