Mirissa is a city , situated in the southern coast of Sri Lanka . Mirissa is in the way between Matara to Galle . It is mostly famous for dolphin and blue whales watching . This is situated in the whales way of migration from the Arabian sea to bay of Bengal . So when this animals migrate , they passes through mirissa bay .Specifically blue whale passes from Februry to May. This is the peak season for Whale Migration . In this time you may see lots of Whales in the sea but in other time , chances are less for whale watchers . Here also you can engage in turtle watching , snorkelling and surfing . This place is also famous for surfing in Sri Lanka . The water is very clean and you can also spot some crabs and other small sea animals in the beach .
I was walking in the beach and saw this amusing story . Suddenly in the beach I saw a broken bear canister was moving . I was curious to see what was actual story . When I pull the canister then I saw a crab was behind the bear canister . It was like the shade for this crab. In the first picture crab with the canister and 2nd picture without it .
In the fishing harbour , there is this types of boats which trip for whale watching every day in the morning .Among them I heard from all local people that “Raja & Whales ” are most famous . Their charges are also high , almost double than a normal boat . For whale watching, you have to buy tickets from any of the tour companies one day before but on spot, booking is also possible according to the availability of tickets . Best time to visit whale watching is from Februry to May , still it depends on luck …. if you can see it or not. Still there is a good chance to have a glimpse of blue whale . You can also see lots of dolphins and turtles here . I visited mirissa in December and I saw lots of turtles mating in the Sea and group of dolphins playing inside the sea but rare whale.
The Whale watching journey starts from 6:30 am to 7:00 am from the fishing harbour and continue around 2-6 hours . For one day in group journey expenses is in between 6000- 15000 LKR /person . They will arrange breakfast , mineral water , safety jackets and sea sickness medicine . In those ships, there is upper deck and the lower deck . From the upper deck you can enjoy the panoramic view well but jerking is more in the upper deck . Lower deck is comparatively stable but too much noisy . Most of the time I was in the upper deck .
First day our journey started around 7 am from the Mirissa dock . In the morning our breakfast fills with a sandwich , bioled egg , a banana , veg pattis and a water bottle. Just after the boat starts they give sea sickness tablet to those wanted. In our boat, there is around 50 people . I was roaming around the upper deck and talked to our captain . He says that near the dock depth of the water is around 100 – 200 meter . We have to cruise to the place where depth is almost 2 km . That means from the sea surface to the sea floor , it is 2 km distance . In this place mostly the blue whales can be seen . They used sonar to detect the animal . This blue whales is up to 26 meter in length , makes it the largest animal in the world which weights more than 100 elephants .
Today we see lots of dolphins , sea turtle but unable to find the Whales . Our boat roam around the deep sea to shallow water but unable to spot blue whales. After 4 hours of sea journey , we come back in the dock with empty hand . As in the first day I was unable to see whale , so I try to plan one day more for this whale watching. After reaching to the dock once again I booked For the next day . Now I booked a ticket and come back to my Hotel . Though we unable to watch the whales still the journey was good and sea experience was very nice . I stayed in sagopearl guest , the place was homely and hospitality of the host was amazing .
In the evening I went toward Coconut tree Hill . This is a beautiful spot with lots of coconut tree on a elevated landscape . Here you can enjoy beautiful sunset and also the panoramic view of the sea . View of the sea from the coconut tree hill is amazing . You find lots of people gathered in the evening in this place for relax . In this place you see , lots of people surfing in the rough sea . From mirissa city , it is 3 km toward Matara city . In the way there is small street going in the right side toward coconut hill . Here situated some cafe where you can enjoy food and also coconut water .
Next Day in the morning also I gathered in the Harbour on same time . This time the boat was smaller in size and staff seems like more professional. After boarding the boat , they first give safety information about the boat and also about whale watching. Boat left the dock for whale watching around 7 am . Today we were lucky . Though we can not watch it from very close , still we see it from a distance . We only see little bit of whale blow and the triangular spike on their back . Sometimes it appears from one side of the boat and sometime from another side . It is just a 2-3 sec show . After sometime our boat lost the tracking of the whale and once again we roam in the sea for search of the Whale . After 2 hour of sea voyage we come back to the land . I would say , I am not satisfied with the whole whale watching journey still I admit there is good chance to see whale in mirissa .
In the Mirissa I saw this tree with beautiful white spikey flower . This flower looks like white chamar(a item used in hindu worship ) . I don’t know the name of the tree , If you know please write in the comment .
Being a touristy place , price is higher for both the Food and accommodation in mirissa . if you want cheap food just cross the boundary of the mirissa settlement , you can have a local restaurant . In the first day I stayed in a guest house “Birds nest ” , room was in the first floor and made of bamboo and wood . Very nice place to stay . Here most of the people are fisherman , with their boat they go deep into the ocean . From here lots of fish were exported to other part of sri lanka . In the heart of the settlement, there is a cargills shops , but rates are in a littlebit on the higher side . In this city after 8 pm you find very less people on the road and road doggy are very disturbing . This doggy always bark seeing unknown people , just very disturbing.
Nearby Ahangama beach is mostly famous for surfing and Unawatuna beach is famous among the foreigners for party . In mirissa in the beach there is a place , Turtle egg conservation point , where in the months of january – februry lots of turtle eggs are laid under the sand . After 2-3 month baby turle come out into the world .Srilankan coast guard helps this baby turtle to safely go into sea . There is also a turtle watch point , but I don’t find any turtle . Best place to see turtle in Whole sri lanka is in Hikkadua beach which is 60 km from here toward colombo .
How to reach Mirissa ?
If you are coming from foreign countries first you must get down in Colombo airport . From there first you have to reach to colombo fort bus stop . From there you will get buses toward matara which buses will go through mirissa . From colombo to mirissa bus distance is almost 180 km . You also get buses toward mirissa from different places like galle , nuwara eliya and ella . If you don’t get buses for mirissa then board buses for galle which is available from any part of sri lanka .
You can also reach mirissa by train from colombo fort toward matara . But train station is little far from the city centre .
Gallery of mirissa
