Giragala Village , Sri Lanka

Giragala Village
Sri Lanka

Imagine your self here......

Mirissa is one of the oldest and most legend-filled fishing villages in Sri Lanka. A kilometer long cup shaped beach embraces Giragala (' Parrot' ) Rock on the eastern end , all the way to the Palmy hill of Sunset point on the western. In between is the most intimate and beautiful beach on the island. the surf is big enough to thrill, but not to scare. Off the rock on either end is some of the islands best snorkelling . Untouched corals and rocky pillars lie just under the surface. Through them iridescent schools of fish swim, from tiny little fish tank guppies to angelfish the size of dinner plate and blue fish as fascinated with you as you are with them. Mirissa has it's history too . Near Giragala Rock is a defile between land and sea only a few dozen meters wide. For two thousand years armies passed back and forth as one king rebelled against another. This defile became known as Bandaramulla, "The place of the Heroes" . Today it is sorrounded by a peaceful Buddhist vihara . There the monks will be delighted to talk to you .

About Giragala Village.....

Located at Giragala Rock on the east end of Mirissa bay , this resort of cabanas and rooms is the finest unobstructed views of the entire harbour , especially the resplendent sunsets to the west. To the left is a sheltered sandy bay perfect for children . Directly out front are spectacular rocks where waves break , leaving quite tidal pools where local fisherman stilts and throw their lines out , where their children come to hunt anchovies and dinner-sized octopi (don't worry , they are harmless!) Snorkelers in the waters south of Giragala Rock find many varieties of fish -even sea turtles now and then ! Despite it's intimacy and untouched quality , Mirissa is surprisingly easy to get to . The Giragala Village resort is just after Kilometer post- 150 after Colombo . You can catch a Matara Intercity Express bus ( 4 hours , 80 Rupees ) from the Matara Bus Stand near the FortRailway station , ask the conductor to let you down at Giragala Village . If you decide to take the Colombo-Matara train ( 5 Hours ) , the nearest station is Weligama , 5 Km from Giragala Village . Tuk-tuk drivers will ask 200 rupees for the trip but you can bargain it down .

Latest attraction at Giragala - Whale watching!

Pictures of Giragala