Located within the Galle district of the Southern province of Sri Lanka, is the beautiful coastal town of Unawatuna, a major tourist attraction notorious for its pristine, unspoiled beaches. Many believe that the paradise mentioned the epic poem Ramayana is actually Unawatuna, due to the almost identical descriptions. For anyone visiting this magnificent locale, there are a wide variety of accommodation options available given its popularity as a tourist hot spot. One of the most elite of such locales is Cantaloupe Levels, a luxurious boutique hotel.
Although the beaches are always the spotlight of Unawatuna, there are many unique and special aspects of the coastal town that are constantly overlooked. The mangroves of Madu River contain a bounty of diverse ecological treasures just waiting to be discovered. The most popular way one can do so is through a Madu River boat ride, where one can completely immerse themselves in the tranquility and suspense of the Madu River. The suspense is due to the Madu River playing refuge to certain species of crocodile amongst its diverse portfolio of fauna. The Madu River is also highly popular by bird-watchers due to the one hundred plus exotic species of feather-bound creatures that inhabit its reaches. In addition to the ecological treasures, the river safari will also bestow upon anyone embarking on it, a first-hand glimpse of the River’s historical significance, where one can explore the dozens of islet that scatter the area. Most of these are home to local communities that have inhabited the land for generations, with most of them carrying out the traditional task of cinnamon peeling. One of the islets, the one known as ‘Koth Duwa’, is the site of an ancient Buddhist temple that dates back to the Ancient kings of Sri Lanka.
So hop aboard a boat and embark on an adventure along the Madu River where nature and history await.
Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+