Must-see attractions in Batticaloa

  • The Batticaloa Fort is the old portuguese fort in the center of Batticaloa city, Sri Lanka.

    Dutch Fort

    Batticaloa

    This once-mighty fort is now home to administrative offices, and though large sections of the structure are crumbling, it's still an evocative sight. It…

  • Heritage Museum of Kattankudy

    Batticaloa

    This fine new museum plunges deep into the history of Muslims and Arab traders locally. Spread over three floors, it tells a compelling story about…

  • Batticaloa Kallady Beach

    Kallady & Navalady Peninsula Beach

    Batticaloa

    This long beach follows the peninsula all the way north to the end. The swimming is usually good. With a bike, you can explore the beach, which has access…

  • Mahatma Gandhi Park

    Batticaloa

    This lovely modern park along Old Batti's waterfront is popular with strolling couples and includes features such as the Batticaloa Gate, which was a 19th…

  • Batticaloa Lighthouse

    Batticaloa

    At the end of a sandbar, surrounded by lagoons and mangroves, this 28m-tall lighthouse dates from 1913. The sheltered coastline around here is a popular…

  • Thiruchendur Murugan Alayam Temple

    Batticaloa

    Built in 1984 as a stopping point on the Pada Yatra pilgrimage to Kataragama, the temple's Murugan image is said to have opened its own eyes before the…

  • Imperial Saloon

    Batticaloa

    Consider a haircut and head massage (Rs 400) at this utterly bizarre salon, a monument to kitsch. Every centimetre is covered in decorative painting, fake…

  • Anipandi Sitivigniswara Alayar

    Batticaloa

    Of the many Hindu temples, the expanding Anipandi Sitivigniswara Alayar is visually the finest, with a magnificent gopuram (gateway tower) that’s…

  • St Mary’s Cathedral

    Batticaloa

    The grand, turquoise-coloured St Mary’s Cathedral stands out among the many churches in Batti. St Mary’s was rebuilt in 1994 following its partial…

  • Our Lady of Sorrows

    Batticaloa

    Of the dozens of churches, the most eye-catching is the huge cerulean blue, eight-sided, unfinished Our Lady of Sorrows.

  • Auliya Mosque

    Batticaloa

    The tiny Auliya Mosque has a curious green minaret. It's a great place to observe the Dutch Fort over the water.

  • St Michael’s College

    Batticaloa

    An old colonial survivor that's so drenched in vines and creepers that the brickwork is starting to break away.

  • St Anthony’s

    Batticaloa

    The vaguely Mexican-looking, earth-toned St Anthony’s is one of Puliyanthivu's most striking churches.

  • Methodist Church

    Batticaloa

    This sturdy 1838 Methodist church is an atmospheric part of Batti's colonial heritage.

  • St Sebastian’s Church

    Batticaloa

    Beside Kallady Bridge is the fairly modern and relatively unattractive St Sebastian’s Church, built somewhat in the shape of a whale.

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