Unawatuna’s natural pool
by Nilma Dole
Have you heard of Janaka’s? If
not, you’ve not been to one of the hip and happening places in Unawatuna!
Just close to the Unawatuna town lies the private hot spot of Janaka run
by dude whose name as the title suggests - Janaka Ekanayake. Tucked away
in a lovely part of the Unawatuna coast, Janaka’s guest house has a
scenic cabana where you can wake up and be greeted by a perfect coastal
sky.
The ambience and the backdrop makes you feel like you’re in a gem of
paradise. Tarzan and Jane will definitely move out from their jungle
‘mongol’ to dip their toes in the warm soft sand of Unawatuna and will
chill sipping ‘thambili’ the whole day and will let their hair down the
whole night. A cool hideaway in a neat place on the beach, you will find
the secret natural swimming pool made up of rocks at the base of the
beach.
 Many snorkellers will find it beneficial to swim at a shallow depth.
For those who want to chill by the beach, take a warm dip and sink your
senses in complete bliss. If you’re in for some mode of action, check
out Happy Banana and several places to sway to the rhythm of the beat.
Janaka’s also has fabulous food including the fresh fish catch of the
day. Settle down to relaxing and mingling under the stars and take a
breath of fresh sea air to caress your cares away.
Notably, the description of the beach paradises in Valmiki’s epic
Ramayana highlights Unawatuna eloquently: “A seashore dotted with
thousands of trees, coconuts, and palms dominating, strings of houses
and hermitages along the coastline, human beings and superior beings
such as Gandharvas, Siddhas, and ascetics, living in them and countless
bejewelled celestial nymphs thronging the shore, the coast
intermittently visited by heavenly beings, Gods and demons.”
On a cool and clear day just before sunset, notice the green turtles
bobbing their head up and down the Indian Oceanic waters feeding on the
corals and little fish. Some words of caution, be careful with them
since they’re scared of irritating humans so be gentle and don’t be
spooky.
Off the coast of Unawatuna, beneath the Indian Ocean lies a number of
coral reefs, shipwrecks, and a great variety of watery life. Despite the
tourist throng, turtles sometimes wade onto the shore to lay their nests
and eggs, and at times, as if to lay first claim to the sandy shore now
invaded by the tourists and dotted by restaurateurs, even go right into
the beach front restaurants. Lucky if you spot one though! And of
course, it’s sure fun swimming with the turtles! |
