Ambalangoda

General information, holidays in Ambalangoda

Ambalangoda is a small town and beach on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka between Hikkaduwa and Bentota (Ambalangoda on the map of Sri Lanka). Sometimes this town is even considered a suburb or Hikkaduwa Beach, which is not at all correct. In fact, this is an independent city and resort, separated from Hikkaduwa by as much as 15 kilometers.

Ambalangoda is known to most tourists as the center of traditional wooden masks. Indeed, it so happened that this is the best and most famous place where you can buy or see traditional wooden carved masks, for which there are two museums and several small family workshops. Along with masks, local craftsmen make unique wooden dolls. But Ambalangoda is also a good beach resort.

Ambalangoda's prominence as a beach resort pales in comparison to neighboring Hikkaduwa and Bentota. However, the beaches of Ambalangoda for a separate category of tourists are even more attractive, because unlike the more popular resorts they do not see crowds of tourists. On the contrary, they are always deserted here. In addition, they are more natural: the coastline is not built up with hotels and restaurants, there are no pesky tuk-tuk drivers and boaters, party youth. There is nothing here at all, the rest is quiet and calm like in the village.

Ambalangoda Beach, Sri Lanka — Ambalangoda Beach

Infrastructure in Ambalangoda

The tourist infrastructure in Ambalangoda is minimal, but everything you need for a simple beach holiday is available. Along the main street Galle Road - A2, passing through the whole city away from the beach, and not as in Hikkaduwa almost close to the shore, there are shops and a couple of supermarkets, local cafes, banks, exchange offices, etc. In general, everything is like in any Lankan city. Closer to the beaches, the situation is almost rustic: quiet and peaceful. In general, you will live here in the same way as the locals: only occasionally meeting other foreign guests.

In the central part of the city, the beach interrupts the fishing port. The port is skirted by Beach road, To Which Market road adjoins. At their intersection is a very colorful fish market. In the same area on Main street there are a number of local cafes with fresh seafood cuisine, several alcoholic Wine stores. Here we managed to find the only place in the city for renting transport – electric bicycles from 700 rupees per day.

But you need to understand that there is no special tourist infrastructure here. You will not be able to find travel agencies and excursions, there are few restaurants oriented for tourists, and on the beach there are not even sun loungers for rent, let alone entertainment. Within the boundaries of the city on the beach there is generally only one single cafe Chill Pill Beach Restaurant.

Ambalangoda, Sri Lanka — Ambalangoda Main Street

Hotels in Ambalangoda where to stay

Accommodation options in Ambalangoda are few, but there are few tourists, so finding and booking a hotel before the trip will not be difficult. Even if you arrive here without a pre-booked hotel, you can find everything on site,including many housing options. It is enough to walk along the streets along the beach, as the locals bombard you with offers of rooms or entire houses for rent.

You can find and book a hotel, guest house or private accommodation in amjalangoda on these sites. All sites have a Russian interface and Russian-language customer support, a lot of reviews from real guests.

Ambalangoda weather, tourist seasons

In Ambalangoda you can relax all year round, but the high and low season stands out.

High season lasts from November to April. This is the best time for a beach holiday with a minimum of precipitation and waves, the temperature is moderate, not too hot.

in low season from May to October "problems" start in the ocean. Constantly blowing wind creates strong waves, there are even storms. You can sunbathe without problems, but because of the strong waves, swimming is problematic and even dangerous. Also at this time there is a merciless heat and often there are rains.

Tourist seasons in Ambalangoda by month, when is the best time to go

Jan	Feb	March	Apr	May	June	July	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov.	Dec

* best time to visit;
acceptable time to visit;
not recommended time to visit

Current Ambalangoda weather and forecast

How to get to Ambalangoda

Ambalangoda is located in the South-West coast, 85 km from Colombo and 130 kilometers from Bandaranaike international airport (Ambalangoda on the map of Sri Lanka).

Taxi or tuk tuk is the only way to get directly from the airport to Ambalangoda. A taxi at the counter in the terminal will cost about $ 80, but you can bargain up to $ 70.

A trip will be much cheaper when ordering a car through the Uber or PickMe applications. They can also order a cheaper tuk-tuk. As of 2023, when ordering through the application, a tuk-tuk will cost from 5000 rupees (from 14.96 USD), car from 10000. To order, you can use airport WiFi, or buy a local SIM card in the arrivals hall. Just keep in mind that the most budget cars through the application are miniature cars of Indian production without a trunk, and with large suitcases you can not get into it.

A more comfortable way to get from the airport to Ambalangoda directly is to order a tourist transfer via the search form from Kiwitaxi or on the website intui.travel. This is more expensive than a taxi on the spot, but you can place an order online at home, and then the driver will meet you at the airport with a sign. In addition, there will be no problems with luggage that does not fit into miniature budget cars.:

From other cities and regions of the country, Ambalangoda can be reached by bus or train. There are very few direct flights, but it is easy to get there with connections via Colombo, Galle, Matara and other cities of the south-west coast. In general, during one light day you can get here from anywhere in Sri Lanka, you just need to plan the route correctly and leave early.

Ambalangoda has a fairly large bus station (Ambalangoda bus station on the map). Within walking distance from the bus station is the railway station (Ambalangoda railway station on the map), where all trains from Colombo to Galle stop (at least 10 trains a day, schedule here - https://eservices.railway.gov.lk. From both stations to the beach and hotels you can walk with light luggage, or take a tuk-tuk from 100 rupees after haggling. There is no car taxi here.

Here is a brief description of the routes with transfers, how to get to Ambalangoda by local transport:

Colombo airport. Direct only by taxi or tuk-tuk, or budget bus #183 to Colombo city centre (see how to get to Colombo from the airport) and transfer there to another bus or train.
From Colombo. Direct buses and trains run during the day and at night (less often). The bus can be taken at the bus station in the Pettah area, or anywhere on the main Galle Road – A2. Buses run often, it is not necessary to focus on the schedule, you can just come to the stop and wait for the bus. Trains run on schedule at least 10 times a day.
From Negombo. From Negombo with transfer via Colombo by train or bus. Transport goes often, you can just come to the station and go.
From Jaffna. Go also through Colombo by bus or train. The train is preferable, but you need to leave either early in the morning or take the evening train, which arrives in Colombo at 4 am.
From Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella and other cities of the mountainous part of Sri Lanka, it is best to get by train with a transfer through Colombo, there are, including, night trains. If you go by bus, it will be faster to take the bus to Colombo, and get off earlier in the city of Kaduwela. In Kaduwela, you need to change to a bus on the expressway to Galle (departs every 20-30 minutes, costs 460 rupees), and then in Galle at the bus station, change to a bus to Hikkaduwa. There is also a direct bus to Ambalangoda at least once a day in the morning from Nuwara Eliya.
From Trincomalee. The direct train from Trincomalee to Colombo runs only overnight, or you can change trains via Batikaloa or Galoya Junction (see how to get to Trincomalee). Bus service is available during the day via Colombo.
From Amphara or Arugam Bay. from Arugam Bay you need to take a tuk-tuk to Pottuvil (Pottuvil), then take a bus to Ampar. There are night buses to Ambalangoda from Sara in the evening at 18:00 and 18:40.

Ambalangoda Attractions

Ambagangoda is known throughout the world as a Craft Center for making traditional wooden Sri Lankan masks and Dolls. The real traditional masks of Sri Lanka are made strictly from the Kadura tree, which grows in the swampy areas of the island. The manufacturing procedure that you can see in the museum is only the most final stages. Up to this point, the tree is long and carefully prepared: dried in the sun, given the desired shape, then the tree is stored in smoke for a week. This is done to protect the tree from insects in the future. Only after that, the master begins to work on the workpiece, giving the final shape and cutting out all the details on it, and then brightly coloring. Similarly, wooden dolls are made.

Of the attractions of Ambalangoda, first of all, there are two museums of masks. Both are across the street they are separated from each other in the center of the city on the main Galle Road, and most foreigners visit one of them or both at once to get acquainted with the magic of masks and buy an original souvenir.

One museum is called the Ariyapala & Sons Mask Museum (Museum on the map). The exhibition here is more interesting and informative than in another museum. Admission is free. The employee is happy to conduct a tour and talk about the exhibits in English. Donations are welcome. On the street, under a canopy, there is a workshop where you can see how masks are made. On the second floor of the building there is a shop. Prices for original handmade masks are quite reasonable. Museum opening hours: from 8:30 to 17:30.

Another museum is called Ariyapala Traditional Masks (Museum on the map). The exhibition there is a little more modest, mostly there are exhibits for sale. It is open from 8:00 to 19:00.

But in addition to museums, there are several other places where you can meet or buy masks and Dolls. One of these is a small family workshop L. A. R. Nanda Mask Showroom. The head of the family and master woodcarver Mr. Nanda personally meets guests in his small workshop, talks about masks, at the request can show the technology of work. As he states, his masks are better than in museums, since the technique of making has been passed down in his family for many generations, and in museums hired apprentices work on the stream. It is very pleasant to communicate with him, besides, he is always ready to bargain and sell a mask or a figure made of wood cheaper than you will be offered in the museum. His workshop is also located in the center in the narrow alley R. E. de Silva road (L. A. R. Nanda workshop on the map).

Another attraction for which Ambalangoda is even visited from neighboring resorts is the urawatte Sea Turtle Hatchery. As in other similar places, turtles are raised from eggs to be released into the ocean. For extra money (about 2000 rupees) this can be done by tourists. In addition to babies, there are wounded turtles of different ages in the pools. They can be touched, and sometimes even picked up and photographed with them. The farm is located along the main Galle Road (turtle farm on the map). You can get from the center of Ambalangoda to it on foot, from neighboring cities by any bus on this road, they go very often. Open from 07:30 to 18:00, entrance fee 2000 rupees.

Next to the fishing port on Market roud Street is a colorful fish and vegetable market (Fish Market on the map). Visit it as a tourist attraction is best early in the morning. At this time, many fishermen and buyers make deals, and by catch you can explore the rich underwater world of coastal waters.