Matara Travel Guide

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Matara

Hikkaduwa Beach © Sri Lanka Tourist Board

Matara is the largest town on Sri Lanka’s popular south coast, hosting the terminus of the railway line from Colombo. Today it is a quiet town, but in past centuries was a thriving port central to the spice and gem trade with the East and Holland. The original town was established on a narrow peninsula in the estuary of the Nilwala River, which was fortified by the Dutch. The original walls still stand, containing some rather dilapidated old buildings dating from the Dutch colonial era. Matara is scenically attractive, surrounded by paddy fields and tea estates on the fertile river floodplain. The area also boasts some sandy, safe beaches. These assets have ensured that the town is a popular tourist destination removed from the trouble spots in the north of the island, where civil unrest remains a threat.

Attractions

Star Fort

During their occupation of Sri Lanka the Dutch built a small outpost fort on the north bank of the Nilwala estuary at Matara in the form of a five-pointed star, in order to guard the river crossing. The fort, dating from 1763, now... see full details

Laughing Buddha © suchitra prints

Wewurukaimala Temple

Not all Buddhist temples are ancient, nor are they all conservative affairs. The colourful, somewhat garish, modern Wewurukaimala Temple at Dikwella village near Matara is quite an eyeful, featuring hundreds of brightly painted and gilded models depicting scenes from the life of Buddha, and... see full details

Excursions

Beaches

The southern beaches of Sri Lanka are the most popular for tourists, the main season extending from October to April when the monsoon has moved on and the sea is calm and tranquil under bright blue skies. Bentota is one of the loveliest... see full details

Galle

The port town of Galle, about 60 miles (100km) south of Colombo and a short distance west of Matara, is steeped in the heritage of the Dutch presence in Sri Lanka, dominated by the 36-hectare (89-acre) Dutch Fort, built in 1663, with its massive ramparts on... see full details

Yala National Park

Elephants are the most often-spotted inhabitants of the vast Yala National Park in the southeast of Sri Lanka, east of Matara, but they share the reserve with 130 different species of birds and other creatures like sambhur, spotted deer, sloths, crocodiles, monkeys, wild boar... see full details

Events

Galle Literary Festival

The Galle Literary Festival allows visitors the opportunity to appreciate the works of Sri Lankan and international authors, take part in literary discussions and enjoy other activities. Set in and around the UNESCO World Heritage city of Galle, writers from around the country and the world come together for an international celebration of writing, photography, music, ecology, architecture and food! During the day the Galle Literary Festival features writing workshops, panel discussions, topical debates, poetry readings, cooking classes, theatre workshops and literary lunches, while during the night there are poetry slams, jazz performances, late night movies, art showings and photographic exhibitions. There is even a comprehensive children's programme that focuses on art and eco workshops, creative writing and debating.

Venue: Galle
Date: January to February 2010, TBA
Time: Wednesday 6pm till late; Thursday 10am till late; Friday and Saturday 9.30am till late; Sunday 9.30am - 3pm
Website: www.galleliteraryfestival.com

Forum