Sakkotai Cape – northernmost location in tear drop isle - By Arundathie Abeysinghe

Sakkotai Cape – northernmost location in tear drop isle – By Arundathie Abeysinghe

Sri Lanka, a tear-drop-shaped resplendent isle located at the southern tip of India is considered as “heaven on the Earth” by majority of foreign tourists. With 1,340 kilometers of magnificent coastline and an enviable choice of palm-fringed golden beaches with deep turquoise waters that stretch out into the deep azure of the Indian Ocean. Situated in the southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian peninsula by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, visitors are endowed with a unique and exotic experience in the spectacular island.

Sri Lanka’s beaches come in all styles and suit visitors of diverse tastes; popular surfers’ paradise of *Arugambay, *Trincomalee and *Mirissa that are popular vantage points for blue-whale watching, *Hikkaduwa, a popular location for boogie-boarding, snorkelling and scuba diving, *Batticaloa, with flat year-round warm-water including shallow-lagoons, *Pasikudah, a spectacular location to view the amazing sunset in all its glory also considered as a “pin up of picture postcard beaches” due to its soft white sand with translucent water and *Kalpitiya well-known for “dancing dolphins.” Hence, visitors are spoilt for choice in spectacular Sri Lanka with year-round destinations to suit individual taste and budget…

At any given month, there will be a location where the weather is perfect for visiting a beach. The perfect period to visit western and southern coasts is during the period December-April, whereas beaches on the eastern coastal belt are ideal from May to October.

Located 2.5 kilometers away from *Point Pedro bus station and an hour from Jaffna City, Sakkotai Cape (also spelt as “Sakkotei Cape”) is located on a rocky coast at the perimeter of Point Pedro. Dotted along the attractive stretch of the north coast of Sri Lanka, Sakkotai Cape is located at the northernmost point of the island in close proximity to Point Pedro. Situated towards west of Point Pedro Lighthouse, in close proximity to a telecommunications tower and to the east with a concrete flag of Sri Lanka constructed at the edge of the shore to indicate Sakkotai Cape, it is easier to identify the location.

With a drive along the shallow northern shoreline, visitors can skirt the northern edge of the island and according to some visitors, their phones “picked up cellular signals from India, too.” On a clear day, India’s southern coastline can also be seen in the distance.

Situated on the edge of road between *Kankesanturai and *Velvettithurai, the location is marked by a monument stone (constructed by Sri Lanka Army) with a Sri Lankan Flag painted on it. The permanent signpost erected here reads as follows: “Unity in Diversity is the Strength of Sri Lanka.” The location can easily be reached in any vehicle. There is a small army camp on the beach and it is necessary to obtain permission from the Camp to visit Sakkotai Cape.

Arugambay – Located 117 kilometers (73 miles) south of Batticaloa and known locally as “Arugam Kudah”, Arugambay is situated in the dry zone of Sri Lanka’s southeast coast. Arugambay is a historic settlement of the ancient *Batticaloa Territory.
Batticaloa – A major town and commercial center in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. Batticaloa is located on land between the lagoon and the Indian Ocean, Batticaloa District is flourished with three lagoons, Batticaloa Lagoon (large estuarine lagoon in Batticaloa), Valaichchenai Lagoon and Vakarai Lagoon.
Hikkaduwa – Popular due to its natural attractions including the ocean with crystal clear water, a coral garden and home to marine turtles and exotic fish, Hikkaduwa is a seaside resort town in southwestern Sri Lanka. Shallow waters located opposite Hikkaduwa Beach shelter Hikkaduwa National Park. Tourists visit this exotic beach destination for water sports such as surfing, snorkelling, boogie boarding and scuba diving.
Kalpitiya – A coastal town located in the western region of Puttalam District, Kalpitiya peninsula consists of 14 islands primarily known for its waterfronts and attracts large numbers of local and foreign tourists throughout the year, especially, for watersports and watching dolphins.
Kankesanturai – Colloquially known as “KKS”, it is a port suburb, a fishing division as well as a resort hub of Jaffna District in Northern Province.
Mirissa – One of the popular beach destinations in southern Sri Lanka, Mirissa is a great surfing location and its waters are swarming with marine life, turtles and blue whales.
Pasikudah – A coastal resort town located 35 kilometers northwest of Batticaloa, considered as “the pin up of picture postcard beaches” due to its soft white sand and translucent water. Between May and September, this location is considered as the best site for a beach holiday.
Point Pedro – Located near the northern most point of Sri Lanka facing Bay of Bengal, the name of the place is derived from the Portuguese “Punta das Pedras” meaning Stony or Rocky Point.
Trincomalee – Situated on one of the world’s finest natural and beautiful deep-water harbors, Trincomalee is a port city located on the northeastern coast of Sri Lanka. Trincomalee has attracted seafarers, traders as well as pilgrims from Europe, Australasia, East Asia, Africa, China and the Middle East for centuries. With a population of approximately 126000 people and located in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka, Trincomalee is also a major tourist attraction and a port city visited by large numbers of local and foreign tourists, annually.
Velvettithurai – At times, shortened as “VVT” or “Valvai”, Velvettithurai is a coastal town in Jaffna District on the northeast coast of Jaffna Peninsula, in Northern Province.