Off the beaten path around Bentota

This page is about less-frequented places of interest in the
southwest of Sri Lanka.

Find a list of links to dozens of off-the-beaten-path destinations
all over Sri Lanka here...

Bentota Beach

Popular tourist attractions in the southwest of Sri Lanka

There are a lot of tourist destination along the southwestern coastline between Colombo and Galle and its tropical hinterlands. Bentota is the number one destination for motorsports. The nearby Beruwela has the largest bed capacity of all beach resorts in Sri Lanka. Hikkaduwa is famous for it’s coral reefs. In between those two beach holiday hotspots, there are various attractions such as Madhu Ganga wetlands, Ambalangoda masks, Meetiyagoda moonstones, soice and herbal gardens, turtle hatcheries in Kosgoda and Induruwa and elsewhere, last not least the wonderful tropical lanscape gardens of the brothers Bawa, namely Brief Garden and Lunuganga Estate. For those interested in hiking, excursions to the reainforests of Sinharaja, Kanneliya or Bodhinagala are highly recommendable. Many beach holiday makers enjoy a day tour to Kitulgala for white water rafting.

Lonesome places in the hinterland of Sri Lanka's southwestern beach resorts

2**stars & not overcrowded

Ratnapura is the gem city. Some holiday makers like to go there for seeing gem mines or exhibitions or for shopping. We propose to combine such a visit in Ratnapura with seeingsome attractions that are in its immediate surroundings or on the way from the coast, for example the Saman Devale not far from the town centre.

Kuruwita, 13 km north of Ratnapura, has several nearby attractions, of which Bopath Falls is frequented by many weekend travellers. But most of them are Sri Lankans, as this is a waterfall close to Colombo. Only 1 km further north are the very rarely waterfalls known as Dodam Ella.

1*star & almost secret

Batadombo Lena 4.5 km northeast of Kuruwita is an important achaeological site where bones of the prehistoric Balangoda man have been found. The rock shelter below a picturesque escarpment is now used as a resting place of locals who work in the surrounding rubber plantation. The 1.5 km uphill footpath from the car park to Batadomba Lena is scenic, with some sections crossing natural rain forest. This is a destination worth considering a detour when you are in the Kuruwita region anyway.

2**stars & almost secret

Divaguhawa is well-known among pious Buddhists as one of the places on the island that were visited by the Buddha. The first chapter of the Mahavansa chronicle mentioned he stayed one day at the foot of Siri Pada (Adam's Peak) after visiting the mountain during his third visit to Sri Lanka. The Kandyan tradition of 16 places visited by the Buddha has it that this was in a cave. Only recently, the Batathota Lena was identified as this cave. To archaeologists it is known as a site where remnants of the prehistoric Balangoda culture have been found. Divaguhawa is a very large cave room, including separate temples for Hindu deities. From the cave openong, you have an impressive view to Adam's Peak.

1*star

For those interested in a cultural-leaning day-excursion, we recommend to visit the giant stupa of Dedigama and the forest hermitage of Salgala, which are not farer away than Kitulgala.

A very rarely visited archaeological site is the island’s largest rock shelter, which is known as Pahiyangala. It’s named after the 5th century pilgrim Faxian from China. Today, a large reclining Buddha can be seen in one of the rock shelters.