Joanna James
As one of Sri Lanka's most convenient beach holiday hotspots, Bentota attracts countless visitors from home and abroad. Here are 6 attractions all visitors must explore during a trip to the area.
Tipped to be one of the most stunning beaches in all of Sri Lanka, Ventura Beach is one of the key reasons most travellers head to Bentota in the first place. The golden sanded beach is not only one of the most pristine seaside locations on the island but the entire area offers tourists the chance to engage in a plethora of water sports activities as well. Those who love to swim and snorkel will find Ventura beach offers the ideal water conditions for both these activities. Tourists based at 5 star hotels in Bentota the likes of Cinnomon Bentota Beach and similar venues will also find it is a short drive away from their resort home.
Ideally situated a mere 11km from the heart of Bentota city centre lies on of the area's main conservation hubs. Dubbed the Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project, the institution aims to protect endangered sea turtle species from extinction by saving eggs laid on the beach from its natural predators and releasing hatchlings back into the ocean in due time. Those who tour the venue will find many of its turtle inhabitants are tiny hatchlings and eggs which are displayed and contained in large tanks. Those who wish to participate in releasing hatchlings or collecting turtle eggs buried in the beach can volunteer for these activities beforehand.
A mere kilometre away from the centre of town the Madu Ganga River is an attraction that's best explored on a river safari across the water. Home to some of the island's most breathtaking mangrove forests, the river is a vast body of water that's spread out over 150 acres. A whopping 14 mangroves of the twenty four mangrove varieties present in the country are found here and the eco system supports colourful flora and fauna species found nowhere else in Sri Lanka. Amateur botanist and nature lovers will surely enjoy an hour long boat ride across this scenic landscape during a trip to Bentota.
While Sri Lanka's fame as one of the world's leading cinnamon exporters is well known, there are few locations or attractions in the island that allow travellers to experience the process of cultivating and preparing some of the globe's finest cinnamon for export. Cinnamon Island offers tourists the chance to witness the various processes involved in growing, cutting, harvesting and preparing cinnamon to be used as a spice with live demonstrations by a local family that lives on the island and has been engaged in the industry for generations.
As one of the chief horticultural attractions near Bentota, no trip to the seaside hub would be complete without exploring Bevis Bawa's picturesque botanical experiment. Contained within what once served as his residence, the Brief Garden can accurately be described as a landscapist's dream destination. Only 9km away from the town of Bentota, the beautifully landscaped gardens are abloom with flowers of a dozen hues. Featuring a sundial and an outdoor bathroom as well as several other structural anomalies including a Japanese style garden, this sprawling space is a reminder of Bevis Bawa's visual imagination.
Regarded as the prime venue for water sports activities in Bentota, visitors who head to the Diyakawa Water Sports Centre can sign up for a host of water bound activities including jet skiing and banana boating.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
