Tour Guide, Kandy, Sri Lanka
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Kudawella blowhole (Hummanaya) is situated in the coastal fishing village of Kudawella (which means small beach) in the Hambantota district, 160 kilometers to the south of Colombo and 22 kilometers from Matara.
The blowhole itself is a natural crack in the rocks, and when the wind blows in the right direction, the water shoots up the cliff and into the air.
The water that shoots up above the cliffs in the monsoon seasons is more than 25 meters.
The first part of the name Hum-manaya was derived from the whooshing sound of the sea water whistling through the natural fine hole from beneath a massive rock in the sea. It creates a beautiful sight of a fountain.
However, the most spectacular display of the blowhole can be seen during the south west monsoon, especially in June each year. The outlet is at the top of the fissured cliff about 70 feet above sea level. Sometimes, the fountain shoots up to a bigger height, depending on the strength of the waves.
The museum close to the site provides information to visitors with details on dolphins on the payment of a fee. The Ministry of Tourism spent Rs.11 million on the museum project with the revenue derived being channeled to develop infrastructure facilities in the Kudawella hamlet.
The families of fisher-folk earn an additional income by selling an assortment of local food items to visitors.