Must-see attractions in 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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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

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…

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

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

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

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

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

A central landmark.

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