Bentota: things to do and places to see
On Sri Lanka's coast, Bentota belongs to Galle District in the Southern Province. The town occupies the south bank at the mouth of the Bentota River.
Things to do in Bentota
Water sports are among the activities available in Bentota. Ayurveda, a healing tradition with ancient origins, is also offered here. The town is associated with toddy, which is produced from coconut nectar.
At Galapatha Raja Maha Vihara in Bentota, the temple has a medieval rock inscription and carved stone door pillars from the Kandyan period. A rock inscription at Galapatha Viharaya, dated to the 12th or 13th century, records the name Bhimatittha.
Brief Garden lies about 10 km inland from Bentota. It was the home and garden of Bevis Bawa, whose work was in landscape architecture. After leaving the Army, Bevis Bawa settled at Brief and enlarged the gardens. Brief Garden has been open to the public since around 1970.
Architect Geoffrey Bawa formerly used Lunuganga as his country home. The estate stands beside Dedduwa Lake in Bentota. Its earlier uses included cinnamon cultivation during the Dutch period and rubber cultivation during British rule. Geoffrey Bawa gave it the name Lunuganga, meaning salt river in Sinhala. The gardens at Lunuganga now admit the public.
Bentota in Sri Lanka
Bentota is about 65 km south of Colombo and about 55 km north of Galle. Bentota is served by the Coastal Line railway linking Colombo and Matara. Bentota Halt is a station of modest size, with most trains calling at Aluthgama instead. Aluthgama is 2.5 km to the north of Bentota. The A2 road also passes through Bentota on its route between Colombo and Wellawaya.
Bentota has been linked to the ancient place called Bhimatirtha. During the 17th century, the Portuguese constructed a small fort where the Bentota River meets the sea.
Beaches and turtle projects
Induruwa beach has a turtle hatchery a few kilometres from Bentota. At Kosgoda, about 10 km south of Bentota, the turtle hatchery is a community project centred on watching turtles. Kosgoda is on Sri Lanka's southwestern coastline.
A guided tour of Sri Lanka's southern coast lasts 6 days. It includes a visit to Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery, an excursion to watch whales in Mirissa and a guided city tour of Galle Fort.
Tours to Galle and Kandy
A private tour of Yala National Park and Galle runs for 3 days. Included are a private vehicle with air conditioning, a guide who speaks English, admission and viewing at the Elephant Transit Home, a jeep safari in Yala National Park, a guided city tour of Galle Fort and a Madu River boat ride lasting approximately 3 hours. Lunch in Tissamaharama and lunch in Galle are also included.
A private tour of Kandy, Sigiriya and Dambulla lasts 4 days. It includes 3 nights of accommodation, with 2 nights in Kandy and 1 in Sigiriya, plus lunches at local restaurants in Kandy and Dambulla. Admission to the Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya, Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Dambulla Cave Temple is included, along with visits to the Giragama tea plantation and factory and the Matale spice garden.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Bentota in Sri Lanka?
Bentota is a town on the coast of Galle District in Sri Lanka's Southern Province.
What activities does Bentota offer?
Bentota offers water sports and the ancient healing tradition of Ayurveda.
Which gardens are associated with the Bawa architects?
Brief Garden was the home and garden of landscape architect Bevis Bawa, while Lunuganga was architect Geoffrey Bawa's country home.
Where are the turtle hatcheries?
There is a hatchery on Induruwa beach, a few kilometres from Bentota, and the Kosgoda turtle project is about 10 km south of Bentota.
Is Bentota connected by rail?
The Coastal Line links Bentota with Colombo and Matara, although most trains stop at Aluthgama rather than Bentota Halt.
