Joanna James
Tangalle is in the southern province of Sri Lanka and a widely popular tourist destination. The area boasts of natural beauty and places with cultural significance. Here is a list of the places you must visit before you leave the area.
The Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary is located about 30 mins away from the town of Tangalle. The landscape of the bird park is ideal for bird watching and photography as well as nature safaris. There are lagoons, scrublands, and mangroves in Kalametiya. You can witness a myriad of exotic birds who are endemic to Sri Lanka in here. Climb the boulders in the park for the best vistas.
This is another park where you can spot birds. The Bundala Park is home for many migratory waterbirds during winter. There are more than 195 species of birds here. Apart from birds, you can also see elephants and alligators in the park.
The Amanwella Beach is only 8 minutes away from the town of Tangalle. Many Sri Lanka luxury resorts the likes of Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort are located in the vicinity of the beach. This is one of the best places in Tangalle to watch the sunset and surf the waves of the Indian Ocean.
The lagoon is 30 minutes away from the town of Tangalle. Here, you will find a large number of mangrove trees along with exotic animals such as monitor lizards and water birds. The Tangalle Lagoon is ideal for kayaking. This is a must-visit place for anyone travelling to Tangalle. Tip- the sunrise from the lagoon is spectacular so board a kayak early in the morning to enjoy the view.
The Madunagala Hermitage is located in a forest few kilometres away from the town of Ambalanthota. It will take you more than an hour to reach the hermitage from Tangalle. It is challenging to get here but once you do, it will be worth it. The temple here is more than 2000 years old. Make sure you start your journey in the morning because visitors are not allowed to leave the temple or other human settlement after 6.00 pm. This is because the jungle surrounding the hermitage is haunted by elephants, leopards, bears and other dangerous wild animals.
The Turtle Watch is a result of the NGO, Turtle Conservation Project. In here, you can see turtle nests and turtles coming to the shore to lay eggs. There are only 5 species of turtles that come ashore here. Make sure you go on a weekday to avoid dense crowds.
This is a safari that is ideal for nature lovers and enthusiasts. The biodiversity here is very rich and it is rare to find such a system anywhere else in the world. There are more than 5 types of mangroves, 72 species of birds, 52 fish species and more than 25 types of animals here. Don't forget your camera because the trees here have incredible shapes and you will regret not capturing them.
This is another popular tourist destination in Hambantota. You will have to travel for 1 hour and 3 minutes to reach here. The hot water wells are tucked between two large paddy fields. Enjoy the scenery while treating yourself to a hot shower.
The town of Mulgirigala is 30 minutes away from Tangalle. It is also known as 'little Sigiriya'. You will have to climb up some 500 steps to reach the temple. Once you get to the top you will see several caves. Ancient Buddha statues are found inside each cave. The temples are over 2000 years old.
Sri Lanka is an oval-shaped island and Dondra is its southernmost point. It will take you around 50 minutes to get here from the Tangalle. This is an important place in Sri Lanka. Don't forget to check out the ancient Vishnu kovil in the vicinity.
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