Dondra Point

Dondra Point to the east of Matara is the name of the small peninsula forming the southernmost tip of the island of Sri Lanka. Dondra Point, also known as Dondra Head, is marked by a lighthouse from the colonial period. A famous Hindu shrine once located close to the extreme point was destroyed by Portuguese Christian fanatics in 1687. Buddhists venerated Lord Upulvan at Dondra Point, too. Only some ruins are left, a Buddhist Devale desicated to Upulvan alias Vishnu, situated close to the main road A2, is a modern pilgrimage site. Dondra is an anglicised abbreviation of the original Sinhala name Devundara. The temple, which was one of the five holiest Shiva shrines, was alos known as as Devinuwara, which means „city of god“.