Joanna James
A major spice trading hub during ancient times, Bentota is a resort town on the Southwest Coast of Sri Lanka with a lot of charm and incredible beauty. The golden sands of Bentota Beach backed by swaying coconut palms and clear turquoise waters entice throngs of visitors to revel in a beach holiday.
Situated 10 km from Bentota in the town of Beruwela, this is the garden and former home of the Late Bevis Bawa the famous landscape architect of Sri Lanka. The extensive gardens represent a magical garden of foliage, blooms and trees offering a wonderful place to lose oneself for a period just wandering and admiring the beauty of the surroundings. These 20-acre gardens possess not only flora and fauna but ponds, fountains and murals. All these make up a masterpiece of landscape architecture and represent a must-explore site as often felt by visitors at Induruwa Hotel.
This is a scenic safari on the Maduganga or Madu River towards the southern part of the historical Galle District in the south of Sri Lanka. The area surrounding the river is swampy marshlands covered in rich mangrove forests which play a vital part in the prevention of erosion. Cormorants and Kingfishers are a common sight on this tour with many other exotic birds spotted on occasion. Butterflies also add colour to the journey whilst lizards, crocodiles and snakes are also present.
With quite a few scenic beaches in the Bentota region, Bentota Beach takes pride in place with a wide sandy and windswept beach with strikingly tall palms drawing visitors from Villa 700. The secluded beach with safe waves is a boon for families with children. Just behind the beach flows the Bentota River providing a natural habitat for birds, iguanas and crocodiles which fascinate nature lovers. There are plenty of bars on the beach to get refreshments after water sports and other excursions on the beach.
This conservation centre is a unique place to visit to witness the conservation efforts taken to protect sea turtles from predators such as crabs, birds, dogs and even humans. It is also a hatchery dedicated to the proper breeding of this endangered species. Volunteers are used to conducting beach patrolling at night to ensure mother turtles can lay eggs in conducive conditions and any eggs laid are safely carried to the hatchery. A visit here is suitable for even children to get an understanding of the need to protect these endangered creatures and is a unique experience of kindness for animals for all members of the family.
A cycling tour in Bentota is an exciting one not merely a paddling ride. Covering approximately 30 km in a maximum period of 5 hours with short breaks, this is a scintillating excursion through beautiful fields of paddy, crossing meandering rivers on a ferry, bikes and all. Cross tea and rubber plantations with tea puckers and rubber tappers toiling at their tasks. Admire the sleepy monitors on the riverbanks you pass by as you listen to the sounds of birds. A light snack and the water of a freshly cut king coconut will revive you for the next stretch. Pass beautiful village paths, and cinnamon plantations and reach a scenic lagoon where you stop for a break and refreshments and commence the last bit of the tour through villages to the hotel in Bentota or the pre-agreed point.
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