Arugam Bay
A curving bay on the Indian Ocean in the dry zone of the southeast coast, a historic settlement of the old Batticaloa territory. Its point break is one of the best known surf spots in Asia and draws surfers from around the world.
- Where
- Eastern Province, Sri Lanka
- Grade
- Well known
- Worth
- 10 points collected on site, plus 1 for its grade
- Coordinates
- 6.8500, 81.8333
Get the Arugam Bay stamp
Open LOQAH when you are at Arugam Bay. It checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp is yours: confirmed on site in gold and struck with the date. It goes into your Eastern Province volume with your photos and a note.
Near Arugam Bay
Muhudu Maha Vihara 3.1 km
A Buddhist temple by a wide beach at Pottuvil, believed to have been built more than 2,000 years ago by King Kavan Tissa of Ruhuna. Among its ruins are ancient stupas, stone Buddhas and two statues of old kings or gods.
Kudumbigala Monastery 22 km
An ancient Buddhist forest monastery in the jungle between Panama and Kumana, with stupas and cave dwellings among great outcrops of rock. A climb to the top of the main rock looks out over the forest towards the sea.
Thirukkovil Temple 32 km
The chief Hindu temple of this east coast town, dedicated to Chitravelayudhar, once guardian deity of Mattakkalappu Desam and honoured as the principal temple of the Batticaloa region. Chola, Kotte and Kandyan kings all kept close ties with it.
Kumana National Park 41 km
A park on the southeast coast that runs into Yala and was known as Yala East until 2006. It is famous for its birds, above all the great flocks of migratory waterfowl and wading birds that gather in its lagoons and swamps.
Yala National Park 50 km
A 979 square kilometre park on the Indian Ocean, protected since 1900, with monsoon forest, scrub, lagoons and beach. It is the best known place in Sri Lanka to see leopards, and also shelters elephants and 215 species of birds.
Maligawila Buddha 55 km
A standing Buddha carved from a single block of limestone in the 7th century by Prince Aggabodhi of Ruhuna, the tallest free standing ancient Buddha statue in the country. Found broken into pieces in 1951, it was put back together and raised upright again in 1980.
Gal Oya National Park 66 km
A park founded in 1954 around Senanayake Samudraya, the largest reservoir in Sri Lanka, made by damming the Gal Oya at Inginiyagala in 1950. Its elephant herd can be seen all year, and boat safaris on the reservoir watch them cross between islands.
Sithulpawwa Rajamaha Viharaya 67 km
An ancient monastery among the rocks of the Yala forest, 18 km east of Kataragama, believed to have been founded by King Kavantissa in the 2nd century BC. Its name comes from Chiththala Pabbatha, the hill of the quiet mind, and the rock summit looks out over the jungle.
More famous places to visit in Eastern Province
Questions
Where is Arugam Bay?
Arugam Bay is in Eastern Province, Sri Lanka. The nearest other LOQAH stamps are Muhudu Maha Vihara (3.1 km), Kudumbigala Monastery (22 km), Thirukkovil Temple (32 km).
How do I get the Arugam Bay stamp?
Open LOQAH when you are at Arugam Bay and get its stamp. The app checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp goes into your Eastern Province volume, confirmed on site, with the date.
I have been to Arugam Bay before. Can I still have the stamp?
Yes. Add it from Earlier trips in your Eastern Province volume, with the date if you know it, or import your Google Timeline and LOQAH matches the places you were.
Collect your first stamp.
LOQAH is free on iPhone and Android, in India and 20 more countries, with more countries on the way. Stand at a place, collect its stamp, and keep every trip in a passport that grows.