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Meridiela.

Hummanaya Blowhole

A sea blowhole at Kudawella on the south coast that fires spray far above the rocks on a good swell.

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WhereSouthern
Nearest cityTangalle
Best seasonMay to September
Time to allowAn hour
Getting thereAt Kudawella, about 20 km west of Tangalle
EntryCharged

At Kudawella the sea has cut a channel under the rock that ends in a vertical shaft, and when a swell drives water into it the air and spray are forced up through the hole with a roar, which is what the name refers to. On a good day the jet goes well above head height and occasionally much higher. Between waves nothing happens at all, so the visit is a matter of waiting on the rocks and watching the sets come in.

What you actually see

  • The spout - spray forced up through the shaft on each good swell.
  • The roar - the sound the blowhole is named for.
  • The rock platform - the coastal shelf the shaft opens through.
  • The fishing harbour - Kudawella's working harbour alongside.

When to go

May to September, during the southwest monsoon, brings the biggest swells and the strongest spouting. In calm conditions it barely works. Rough sea days are the best and the most dangerous.

Honest expectations

On calm days the blowhole does almost nothing and visitors leave disappointed. The rocks around it are wet, sharp and unfenced, and people have been swept off. Touts at the entrance are persistent.

Nearby

Tangalle is east, and Dickwella is west.

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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.

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