Nilaveli
Sun, Sea and Sand
Nilaveli, 16 km north of Trincomalee on Sri Lanka's eastern coast,
is a small fishing village, but its attraction is the
inviting soft white sand beach, which is safe for
swimming outside the period of the northeast monsoon
(December to March). The beach is a stunning location
for bathing, basking and snorkelling, helped by the Screw Palms,
with their prop-like roots, which grow securely in the
sand and provide some shade. The lack of large numbers
of tourists and a limited number of places to stay means
there is the added bonus of the absence of persistent
hawkers on the beach.
Nilaveli's beach is deserted, and sea eagles circle overhead in
search of prey. The hospitality of the local people,
mainly Tamil refugees, is all the more touching considering
their extreme deprivation, which is slowly being alleviated
since the ceasefire was declared in February 2002. Here,
however, in contrast to the beach resorts of the west
coast, they are not after your money. You might also
come across people collecting shells, who sell what
they collect to visitors, both Sri Lankan and foreign,
staying in the Nilaveli beach area.
What to See and Do
The narrow Pigeon Island, just a few hundred metres offshore,
is covered with rocks but has some sandy stretches and
offers worthwhile snorkelling to view corals and fish.
It has potential for good diving, too. The island is
apparently named after Blue Rock Pigeons which were
found here, the eggs of which are prized by Sri Lankans.
There are no facilities and little shade on the island,
but fully-serviced day trips can be arranged through
Tikalanka Tours.
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