Places to Visit in Bentota

If you’re on the lookout for sun-drenched, dreamy landscapes surrounded by the bluest waters, you can head to Cinnamon Island. It is situated in the town of Bentota, and you can see the process of peeling, oiling, harvesting, and rolling of cinnamon on this island. You can also enjoy adventurous water sports activities here like scuba diving and surfing.

Galapata Vihara is an ancient Buddhist temple situated close to the River Bentota in Sri Lanka. From the pathway to the stone archway, most of the temple has been carved from rock. The temple is known for holding Lord Buddha’s third disciple’s tooth relic, which is buried in the Stupa.

Ambalangoda is a charming seaside town situated on the southwestern coast of Sri Lanka. It is home to beautifully preserved Victorian buildings, and you can enjoy traditional ‘devil dance’ performances here. The town is known for its picturesque beaches where you can soak up the sun and relax.

Whether you’re seeking pounding surf or shallow waters, Moragalla should be your ideal destination. It is an uncrowded, intimate paradise with sparkling sand and clear blue waters. You can enjoy some of the most adventurous water sports activities here like windsurfing, diving, and snorkeling.

Diyakawa Water Sports is one of the most popular water sports centers where you can have unlimited fun, frolic and entertainment. From sofa rides to Jetski, tubes to banana boat rides, deep-sea fishing to canoeing, snorkeling to scuba diving, speed boat cruise to river cruise, water ski to surfing, you can enjoy tons of water sports activities over here.

If you’re looking for an incredible way to encounter wildlife and nature, the Madu Ganga River Safari should be your ideal choice. The river covers one hundred and fifty acres of land and comprises fourteen mangroves out of the twenty-four mangrove species that are found in Sri Lanka. It is the best place to watch traditional fishing and prawn farming methods.

If you wish to visit a magical place that resembles a fantasy novel, you can head to Brief Garden. Situated inland from Bentota town, it is considered the home of Bevis Bawa, the brother of Geoffrey Bawa. The Garden spans twenty acres and has around one hundred and six different kinds of trees and hundreds of other fauna that are still being counted today.

An extraordinary experience amidst an ordinary setup lies 65 kilometres from Colombo and is named Bentota beach. Soak yourself in the ordinary golden sand while enjoying the marvellous sound of the mighty Indian Ocean crashing against the shores. The mesmerizing view of the sea will leave you speechless. If you are planning to break the monotony of the routine just try your hands at adventure sports found alongside the palm trees.

Highlights: You can visit Kasgoda Turtle Hatchery and also go on a boat cruise on the Bentota River.

Getting there: Bentota is very well connected with the cities and is very easily accessible. You can ride from Galle or you can take a ride from Colombo. Bentota is approximately 101km south of the airport from Colombo

Turtle Hatchery was started by the Sri Lankans with a view to protect the turtles from extinction. Earlier, people usually fishermen used to collect the turtle’s eggs and sold it to whoever would pay the higher price. With the commencement of the Turtle Hatchery these eggs were fed and cared for until they were 2 to 4 years old. You can find different species of turtles such as Green Turtle, Leatherback and Olive Ridley. Despite their extinction turtles are still caught by the fishermen for fish and shells which is indeed a very lucrative market.

Location: 10 to 15 minutes tuk tuk ride south from Bentota

Highlights: You should visit the Kasgoda Turtle Hatchery where you can spend an interesting time watching the baby turtles grow.

Things to keep in mind: Avoid disturbing the nesting turtles with light.

Price: Approximate price starts from 500 LKR.

Madu River, located in Bentota, Sri Lanka, is a mesmerizing waterway renowned for its natural beauty and cultural significance. Stretching over 900 hectares, this enchanting river estuary is a biodiversity hotspot, teeming with diverse flora and fauna. Visitors can embark on scenic boat tours, navigating through mangrove tunnels, and witness vibrant birdlife and unique aquatic species.