Plunge into a water world of wonder dating back to the 1st century when you explore the famous Godavaya shipwreck, situated off the coast of Hambantota in Sri Lanka. Accommodation in the area is easy to come by, and the range of Tangalle hotels will make your Sri Lankan excursion truly worthwhile. Consider the Ranna 212 as a quality option of a Sri Lanka beach resort with attentive hospitality and a beautiful beachfront location for an idyllic sojourn in the tropics. The best way to get up close and personal with the Godavaya Wreck is via a scuba diving session, easily manageable since the southern coastline of Sri Lanka is famed for its pristine blue waters ideal for scuba diving. Some of the artefacts recovered from the site include red and black ware pottery that dates back to the first and fourth centuries. In addition, a majestic throne composed entirely of stone was discovered, along with ball clay, which is used as a source material for roofing tiles. Further excavations in the surrounding region revealed more treasures including the likes of pottery of Chinese and Persian extraction, an intriguing variety of Roman coins, various jewellery, bricks depicting marks of a mysterious guild in the shape of an “O”, as well as the remnants of a jetty, supported by stone pillars approximately 3.5 metres high. A large stone anchor was also discovered under water, lending credence to the theory that the area was an important location along the maritime Silk Route traversed by China and the Mediterranean.
Angela Fernando is an impassioned travel writer who composes pieces under the pen name Sumaira Narayan. She loves writing about new and exciting places around the world and intends to visit them all someday.