A preserved gorgeous nature all around, some original colorful cultures and some truly hospitable people are the 3 gems you can expect to meet when visiting our district.
To move around and get connected with our Nature, Culture and People, you can participate in one of our “3-in-1 tours”.
These excursions and activities are organized by East N’ West on Board, which means the team that has developed welcometobatticaloa.com website.
WHY TRAVELLING WITH US?
To build the website you are currently browsing, we have travelled extensively in Batticaloa district and explored a good number of its beautiful off-the-beaten-track locations. Moreover, we have discovered that the first Beauty of our district is its Hospitable People.
It is therefore natural that we do our best to put you in touch with our local communities, for you to discover their ways of life, have a good chat under the tree, learn about the local cultures and religions, etc.
By travelling with us, you might end up leaving the main road and take smaller paths, getting an in-depth experience of our Nature, Culture and People.
You also contribute to our aim which is to ensure that local communities benefit from 
the presence of travellers. Fishermen, cooks, farmers, handicraftswomen, drivers and guides, boatmen… We work with around 50 families providing different services to make your stay with us enjoyable and unforgettable. Book an excursion or an activity with us, experience the local lifestyle, meet our people and create one day of income for them…
Get a glimpse of our different excursions by reading the brief presentation displayed below. You can also download a full description of the excursions by filling the contact form below on this page. Plenty of excursions’ photos are available on www.eastnwestonboard.com/gallery.
BICYCLE RIDES IN AND AROUND BATTICALOA
Here we take you for the day, with a guide to show you around the small lanes and hidden treasures of the neighboring villages… The bicycle rides are around 12 to 35 km long, the distance being split in various stretches of 3 to 5 km, at your rhythm… For people who would be unable to ride bicycles, we can do the same itineraries by 3-wheeler, but bicycle is more fun!
Palamunai Colours
In 'Palamunai Colours', you will explore the southern part of Batticaloa, riding along the beach, visiting the fish market. You will meet handloom weavers, making colourful sarees and sarongs. You will discreetly observe the midday prayer at the local mosque and interact with the believers. Your lunch will be prepared by a local family, and will reflect the typical food of the community. After a tasty meal and a relaxing chat with your host family, you will go through Kattankudy, a bustling Muslim town famous for its history and numerous businesses, visit its Heritage Museum, and might still have a bit of time to visit the beautiful Al-Aqsa mosque.
Tour Highlights:
- Visit to a Hindu temple
- Visit to the fish market
- Ride along the beach
- Discovering handloom handicraft
- Observation of prayer at a village mosque
- Lunch with a local family
- Visit to Kattankudy Heritage Museum and Al-Aqsa Mosque
Get a glimpse of Palamunai Colours by watching our presentation on Youtube:
Towards Mylambaveli
In “Towards Mylambaveli”, the slow pace of travelling by bicycle will enable you to discover the villages and nature paths surrounding Batticaloa. After a quiet visit of the bird sanctuary, you will participate in an offering ceremony at the Hindu temple, while your lunch is prepared by a local family. After a healthy village lunch and a funny chat with your host family, you will visit the nearby organic farm, its fruit trees, coconut estate and cattle. You will then ride back to Batticaloa along a stunning deserted beach and observe birds, wildlife and fishermen as you peacefully move along our gorgeous lagoon.
Tour Highlights:
- 35km bicycle ride in surrounding villages
- Visit to the bird sanctuary
- Pujah in a Hindu Temple
- Lunch with a local family
- Visit to a local farm –
- Relaxation at Savukkady beach
- Visit to the Lighthouse area
- Ride along the beach and lagoon
Get a glimpse of Towards Mylambaveli by watching our presentation on Youtube:
THEME DAYS IN BEAUTIFUL BATTICALOA
Meet Batticaloa’s inhabitants and let them teach you some of their talents: Cooking, fishing or local history, glean some secret advice from passionate people… Spices, fish, local history or life memories, we are sure that you will return home with many stories to tell to your loved ones…
Let’s Cook and Fish!
In our tour “Let’s cook and Fish!”, you will learn good recipes of delicious curries to bring back home and get in touch with local fishermen willing to share their ancestral way of fishing with you… In more detail, the day starts with a visit of our small permaculture project, before riding by bicycle to Batticaloa market. You will then reach the family that will teach you Sri Lankan cooking, take your lunch with them, and after a relaxing chat, ride along our enchanting lagoon before meeting the fishermen on the lagoon for a refreshing fishing experience…
Tour Highlights:
- Eductour of Rûmi's Eco Garden
- Visit to Batticaloa market
- Cooking class
- Lunch with a family
- Bicycle ride along Batticaloa lagoon
- Fishing experience with local fishermen
Get a glimpse of Let’s Cook and Fish by watching our presentation on Youtube:
Historic Batticaloa
Now, let’s explore History and Religions… Our tour “Historic Batticaloa” brings you to old buildings in Batticaloa, Kattankudy, Navalady, throughout 450 years of history and the vestiges of 3 colonial powers. We will guide you into the cultural and religious diversity of our local communities, by visiting worshipping places of 4 different faiths (Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism). We’ll break for lunch in a local family, where you’ll get a flavour of traditional Batticaloa food, and interact with your host family. After lunch, you’ll get a glimpse of the scars of the recent war and tsunami as well as visit the Heritage Museum of Kattankudy… if time permits!
Tour Highlights:
- Visit to oldest local buildings
- Insights into the Dutch, Portuguese and British architectures
- Lunch with a local family
- Visit to religious buildings of 4 faiths
- Scars of recent history (war, tsunami)
- Heritage Museum of Kattankudy
Get a glimpse of Historic Batticaloa by watching our presentation on Youtube:
DISCOVERY OF VILLAGE LIFE IN RURAL BATTICALOA
Let’s leave the main road… Let’s guide you inland, in-depth, to off-the-beaten-track rural villages. Luxuriant paddy fields, untamed wildlife, secret ponds, mighty rocks, cultivation areas… are just part of the experience. Be welcomed by the villagers, share a moment of their life, enjoy a village lunch and get to know their livelihood…
Boating in Unnichai
In the excursion “Boating in Unnichai”, you will leave the coastal area to reach rural villages. Depending on the season, you will be able to observe the farmers and cultivation areas, paddy fields or vegetable gardens on the way. When reaching Unnichai, local boatmen will take you on board in their traditional fishing boats for a ride on the lake. You'll then visit the village Hindu temple and feel its peacefulness, before enjoying a village lunch in a family. In the afternoon, you'll be invited to walk and chill out around Unnichai immense water tank or observe the buffaloes and birds around, before a farewell cup of tea with your host family. Enjoy the beautiful simplicity of village life…
Tour Highlights:
- Ride in the countryside
- Observing wildlife on the way
- Boat ride with local fishermen
- Visit to a village Hindu temple
- Lunch with a local family
- Chilling out / Walking around Unnichai Tank
Get a glimpse of Boating in Unnichai by watching our presentation on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sms_zsWHzh8
A day in Kudumbimalai
'A day in Kudumbimalai'will start by leaving the main road for the previously war affected inland rural area. Wildlife might surprise you on the way, with its lazy buffaloes, grazing cattle and wild birds. You will climb the 1.750 ft-high Kudumbimalai mighty rock and enjoy a breathtaking view of the nowadays peaceful surroundings. For lunch, you’ll be invited to share the usual village food of a local family, and will surely have a small walk around to see the villagers’ activities and hidden pond. After a quick visit to the military museum, you’ll be on your way back in the wilderness again for an off-the-beaten-track tuktuk ride.
Tour Highlights:
- Tuktuk ride in a remote rural area
- Bird watching
- Climbing Kudumbimalai rock
- Lunch with a local family
- Interacting with villagers
- Visit to the military museum
- Observing wildlife on the way
Get a glimpse of A day in Kudumbimalai by watching our presentation on Youtube:
DOWNLOAD THE FULL DESCRIPTION OF YOUR FAVORITE EXCURSIONS HERE!
To download our excursions’ details, please fill the form below:
BICYCLE RENTAL IN BATTICALOA
If you plan to travel on your own in our area, you can get a bicycle for rent in our centre. We rent brand new city bikes and mountain bikes, with recommendation of itineraries for our guests to get the best out of their cycling day. Map is provided free of charge in our office to indicate the main points of interest around. More info on this page: Bicycle rental.
LINKING WITH EXISTING SERVICE PROVIDERS
Bird watching, Boating, Diving, Cooking, Climbing, Swimming, Farming, Camping, Performing, Fishing, Reading, Trekking, Relaxing, Snorkelling, Volunteering, Cycling, Meditating, Singing, Exploring… Whatever your dream holidays look like, we’ll try our best to link you with the activities you want to practice here.
ADDITIONAL FACILITIES:
As a registered travel agency, we also provide services such as guests’ transport, hotel bookings, accommodation in homestays, all-island tours, vehicle rental etc. For full information, please visit our page: www.welcometobatticaloa.com/east-n-west-on-board/.
Pictures of our tours can be found on our website: www.eastnwestonboard.com/gallery
A library is available at our Batticaloa office, with books for adults and children in English and French.
Sales of local handicraft and of postcards of Batticaloa district at our office.
Free tourist information to share our knowledge about local places of interest, to recommend itineraries, to help you to find a restaurant in town, etc.
To book a hotel, rent a bike or book a taxi, choose a daily tour or get an idea about how to keep yourself busy and joyful here, please contact us. We'll be happy to help!
LOCATION and CONTACT DETAILS:
Location: Our office is situated in Kallady, the beach side of Batticaloa, in a small lane ending on the beach. From Batticaloa town, cross the famous Kallady Bridge, and turn to Saravana Road (the 2nd road on your left). Proceed on this road till you find the irrigation department building on your left (at around 650 m from the junction). Turn left on Beach road (also called Thiruchentoor road, Navalady road). Proceed for another 650 m on this road, you will pass in front of a Hindu temple (Thiruchentoor Murugan Kovil), and take the 2nd lane on the right (beach side) after the temple. There are huge solar panels on the house at the corner of our lane, you can’t miss them! Welcome to our office…
Address:
East N’ West On Board (pvt) Ltd.
58/1 Thiruchentoor Beach Road – Kallady
Batticaloa
Tel: +94 65 222 60 79
Mobile: +94 77 01 33 999
Email: eastnwestonboard (at) yahoo.com
Website: www.eastnwestonboard.com
Facebook Page: Here
Google map link: Here
East N' West On Board! is a Sri Lankan private limited company registered as a travel agency by the Sri Lankan Tourism Development Authority under the reference SLTDA/SQA/TA/01547.
