Surrounded by palm-fringed lagoons and picturesque beaches, Batticaloa (“Batti” for short) is a laid-back island city on Sri Lanka’s east coast. It’s an important commercial hub in the region and home to the Eastern University of Sri Lanka. Batticaloa is also famed for its “singing fish”.
Things to do in Batticaloa
Discover the local history at the Dutch Fort, a Portuguese-built landmark that was captured by the Dutch in 1638. It is perched atop the eastern tip of the island, with its four bastions protected by the waters of the Batticaloa Lagoon. Soak up the spectacular views from one of the watchtowers and admire the historic cannons while learning about the fort’s tumultuous history.
The Batticaloa Lagoon is a destination in itself, with its extensive mangrove swamps attracting a huge diversity of water birds. Fed by several small rivers, the lagoon is linked to the Bay of Bengal by two narrow channels and traversed by a number of impressive bridges. Join a guided boat tour to explore its scenic waters, with a highlight being the melodic sound of the lagoon’s “singing fish” between April and September.
For a day at the beach, make the short drive north from Batticaloa to Pasikuda, a wide stretch of sand that overlooks an azure bay. Backed by swaying coconut and palmyra palms, it’s an idyllic setting for swimming, canoeing and kite surfing. A short boat ride offshore lies the Irachchal Coral Reef, which is best explored while snorkelling or freediving.
Getting around Batticaloa
Batticaloa International Airport is the main gateway to Batticaloa and has regular flights to Colombo. Trains from the Sri Lankan capital connect to the Batticaloa railway station while buses access the surrounding towns and villages. Batticaloa is small enough to explore on foot and tuk-tuks are also available.