Hummanaya Blowhole
Southern Province
Photo by Dan arndt via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
About Hummanaya Blowhole
The Hummanaya blowhole at Kudawella fishing village, between Dickwella and Tangalle, is one of Sri Lanka's most entertaining natural spectacles. Seawater forced through a submerged channel in the cliff erupts through a narrow rock fissure with a deep 'hoo!' sound - the 'humma' that gives it its name - shooting spray anywhere from a few metres to over twenty when the swell is right. It is often described as the second-largest blowhole in the world, and while such rankings are hard to verify, a big eruption on a strong-swell day is genuinely thrilling. A short walk through the village and up a stepped path leads to the viewing area above the cliffs, where you can watch fishermen working the rocks below between eruptions. Time your visit for the south-west monsoon months when the sea is at its most energetic.
Top Activities
- ✓Watching the blowhole erupt
- ✓Cliff-top coastal photography
- ✓Kudawella fishing village walk
- ✓Combine with Hiriketiya and Dickwella beaches
- ✓Fresh fish lunch in the village
Nearby Attractions
Closest Places in This Guide
Straight-line distances; allow considerably longer by road, especially in the hills.
Travel Tips
Counter-intuitively, rough-sea monsoon days give the biggest jets.
Wait through several small spouts - big eruptions come in cycles.
Wear grippy footwear; the rock path gets wet and slippery.
Quick Info
Best Time
June to September (biggest eruptions)
Weather
Blows biggest during the May–September monsoon swell; calmer Dec–March.
Estimated Daily Budget
5.9806°N, 80.7328°E
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