Bentota

Bentota lies at the finishing end of the “Golden Mile” which is an hour’s drive from Colombo. Famous for its prime beaches Bentota is today one of Sri Lanka’s most sought after tourist destinations. The town of Bentota actually, sits on an estuary, where the river and the sea meet. This makes the area quite famous for water sports like windsurfing, scuba diving & snorkelling.

Things to do at Bentota (Bentota City Tour)

1. Kande Vihara Buddhist Temple-(4.8 km from City Center)

This sacred Buddhist temple in Kalutara District, Sri Lanka about 4.8 Kms away from the Bentota city Center. The temple has got its name ‘Kande vihara’ (Mountain temple) as it is built on top of a hill.The temple has been formally recognised by the Government as an archaeological site in Sri Lanka.

The temple comprises the Stupa, Bodhi Tree, Relic Chamber, Image House, Upulvan Devalaya and the other main Devalas including Kataragama and Pattini Devalaya.Bodhi Tree, preaching hall and the Seema Malaka are situated outside the Vihara premises. The Stupa has been built in bell shape and erected within an octagonal Shelter.

2. Madu River Boat Safari-(19 km away from the City Center)

Madu River Boat Safari: The Madu Ganga is a shallow water body in south-west Sri Lanka, which enters the sea at Balapitiya. This beautiful river that nestles alongside Whispering Waters, is considered as Sri Lanka’s second largest wetland consisting of 32 islands including two main islands providing shelter to 215 families.

Together with the smaller Randombe Lake, to which it is connected by two narrow channels, it forms the Madu Ganga wetland. It has high ecological, biological and aesthetic significance, being home to 303 species of plants belonging to 95 families and to 248 species of vertebrate animals. Madu Ganga is possibly one of the last remaining tracts of pristine mangrove forests in Sri Lanka. The inhabitants of its islets produce peeled cinnamon and cinnamon oil

3. Turtle Hatchery – (12 km away from the City Center)

Turtle: The turtle hatcheries of Kosgoda operated by the Wild Life Protection Society of Sri Lanka; was established in 1981 to protect Sri Lanka’s turtles from extinction. The hatcheries pay fishermen for eggs that they collect at night along the long sandy beaches. Visitors are shown the huge tanks filled with these new born but lively hatchlings. After being fed the hatchlings are taken to the sea and released when they are 2-4 days old. They are not always released during the safer hours of darkness. Although October to April is the main laying season, some eggs can be found at Kosgoda throughout the year.

4.Beruwela Fish Market & The Light House.(08 km away From the City Center)

This Fishing is considered as One of the busiest fishing market is in Sri Lanka.Early Morning you can leave from the hotel with your personal Chauffeur and See the early morning Fish auction.Select & buy your own fish and Let your hotel chef to cook it for you.

5. Beruwala Lighthouse

Beruwala Lighthouse located on Barberyn Island. Barberyn Island an 3.25 ha (8.0 acres) island situated 0.8 km offshore from the town of Beruwala on the south-west coast of Sri Lanka.The lighthouse is a 34 m (112 ft) high round white conical granite tower.

06. Brief Garden(Bawa Garden) – (08 km away from the City Center)

A mini botanical garden closed to Bentota,This has been very famous among the world tourists because of its beautiful garden escapes and the famous Architecture Bavis Bawa’s designs.Located in a very beautiful small village closed to Bentota.You can see plenty of beautiful  paddy fields,Rubber estates & real village lives during this tour.Also after the visit enjoy a true Sri Lanka cup of tea at the Garden.

07. Water Sports – (.5 km away from the City Center)

One of the most famous Beach destination Bentota provides a great variety of water sports activities for the Travelers.Both the Bentota River and the Golden Beach Bentota add an extra value for your day.All type of water sports can be done year around during your stay at Bentota.

08. Lunu Ganga – (04 km away from the City Center)

Lunuganga Estate was the country home of the renowned Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa. Started in 1947, the garden led Bawa, a lawyer called to the Bar at the Inner Temple in 1940, to decide to become an architect. As he went on to become Sri Lanka’s and one of Asia’s most prolific and influential architects, the garden at the Lunuganga estate remained his first muse and experimental laboratory for new ideas. He continued to change and experiment with its spaces and structures throughout his life until his final illness in 1998. Left to the Lunuganga Trust on his demise in 2003, the gardens are now open to the public and the buildings on the estate are run as a country house hotel.

The garden at Lunuganga sits astride two low hills on a promontory which juts out into a brackish lagoon lying off the estuary of the Bentota River. In 1948, when Bawa first bought it, there was nothing here but an undistinguished bungalow surrounded by ten hectares of rubber plantation. Since then hills have been moved, terraces have been cut, woods have been replanted and new vistas have been opened up, but the original bungalow still survives within its cocoon of added verandas, courtyards, and loggias

Enjoy an delicious Lunch at the Garden.