Joanna James
Tipped to be the most accessible beach hotspot from Colombo, Bentota is a seaside hamlet with so many possibilities. From exploring the area's finest cultural attractions to visiting its lesser-known highlights, here's a rundown of Bentota's main points of interest.
The main highlight of this bustling beach town is its main beach area; it is the main reason that most travellers head to Bentota in the first place. Bentota Beach is not only bordered by properties such as the Avani Bentota and other similar hotels in Bentota, but also seafood restaurants and beach bars. Families, solo travellers, and couples will relish the charming atmosphere of this beach with its calm waters that are ideal for swimming and for snorkelling activities. You can work on your tan with a book in hand or splash around till sundown at this picture-perfect beach paradise.
The brainchild of horticulturist Bevis Bawa, Brief Garden is one of Bentota's top attractions due to its simplistic beauty and sprawling grounds full of blooms. Ranked among the most unique horticultural attractions on the southern coastal belt, the brother of revered architect Geoffrey Bawa created a private oasis in the course of his life and implanted sculptures and paintings done by his own hand in strategic locations all across the garden. Bevis Bawa's residence is also open to visitors as it offers tourists a glimpse into the travel-obsessed lifestyle of the collector and artist.
As a key landmark on the Bentota River, visitors can enjoy a tour of Cinnamon Island by signing up for a boat cruise along the river. Famed for its cinnamon trees and plantations, travellers can learn the basics of how some of the world's finest cinnamon is cultivated and harvested using methods that have gone out of practice in other nations. Demonstrations of the many uses of cinnamon in local cuisine and Ayurvedic treatments are also part of the experience. As the home of a single family, the island and the cinnamon plantations hark back to a simpler era in Sri Lanka's history.
Nature lovers and marine life conservationists alike will enjoy a visit to the Bentota Turtle Hatchery. This conservation hub dedicated to protecting sea turtles from extinction is one of several hatcheries occupying the coastal areas Down South. There are 5 endangered types of sea turtles occupying the waters off the coast of the island and the goal of the hatchery is to protect the eggs laid on the beach until the hatchlings can travel back to the ocean in due time.
No trip to Bentota would be complete without paying homage to this ancient Buddhist temple. It is one of the few religious points of interest located in Bentota; the main attraction for most visitors is the temple's 30-metre-tall Buddha sculpture. The murals and other spiritual paintings covering the temple's inner sanctum are other notable features of this temple with a rich historic legacy.
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.
