Joanna James
This laid-back coastal town of Bentota is great for day trips from Colombo! You get to explore ancient temples, laze around on the beach and tag along with turtle rescuers! Here is a list of the attractions and fun stuff you can do while there.
The beach at Bentota is among the best on the southern coast and popular with day trippers from Colombo. This stretch of beach has many 5-star hotels in Bentota and restaurants to keep you further entertained. Water sports such as windsurfing are also quite popular. The golden sand remains free from pollutants and plastics. However, the waves can get rough during the rainy seasons, so be careful. You can try the likes of Cinnamon Bentota Beach when looking for options to stay close to the beach.
The temple was founded in 1734 by a Buddhist monk and is a significant Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka. The temple is also a monastery for educating newly ordained monks in the Theravada Buddhist tradition. It is situated close to the southern coast of Bentota in the Kalutara District.
The temple grounds have a beautiful, 160-feet-tall statue of the Buddha in a seated position, which is one of the tallest of its kind in the world. Inside, there is a bell-shaped stupa with numerous symbolic decorations around the structure.
The Bodhi tree is over 300 years old, and the relic chamber features many statues of the Buddha and his disciples. It is also the oldest structure on the temple premises. Its walls are adorned with beautiful paintings illustrating scenes of the Buddha's life and past lives.
After visiting the temple, you can stroll through the Brief Garden. It is 10 km away from Bentota and is the home of Bevis Brava, brother of famous Sri Lankan architect Geoffery Bawa. The garden has been open for visitors since the 1970s. Capture the fantasy-themed architecture that tastefully blends with its natural surroundings. The beautifully sculptured gardens and the impressive colonial house is the ideal location to spend a tranquil evening.
Enjoy an afternoon in Bentota in the cool shade of the mangrove forests that frame the banks of the Madu River. A rive tour will take you to see cinnamon estates and the small islands lying on its route. You can find more than 60 land crops along the river. The most novel of them is 'Satha Paha Doowa', translated to Five Cent Island from Sinhalese. It is the tiniest island on the Madu River and barely has enough room for the Hindu temple on it. This river is locally famous for its crocodile population, though sightings are rare! Although you may witness a flickering doctor fish along the way.
The Kosgoda Turtle Conservation Project is located 20 minutes from Bentota. Here you will find a team of dedicated staff striving to protect endangered turtles. All four varieties of turtles visit the shore close to the hatchery. You can find Leatherback turtles, Olive Ridleys, Hawks Bill and the Green turtles here. The workers patrol the beaches at night to locate nesting turtles. The workers rescue the eggs and bring them back to the hatchery to be released once safely hatched. You will see baby turtles and many adult ones, as the site acts as a home and hospital for injured turtles.
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A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
