About Bentota

Country: India | State: Sri Lanka

Ideal Trip Duration: 1-2 Days

Nearest City to Bentota: Colombo (104 Kms)

Best Time to Visit Bentota: October to April

Peak Season: December to February

At a distance of 55 km from Galle, 89 km from Mirissa, 104 km from Colombo, 180 km from Kandy, 195 km from Ella, 209 km from Nuwara Eliya, 231 km from Sigiriya and 262 km from Anuradhapura, Bentota is a coastal town in Galle district of Southern Province in Sri Lanka. Known for its sandy shores, it is one of the popular beaches to visit in the island country as part of Sri Lanka Tour.

Located on the southern bank of the Bentota River, Bentota is a quaint town surrounded by sandy shores, pristine waters and lush green landscapes with the dominance of tall palm trees. Interestingly, the name 'Bentota' is derived from Ben, a demon who once ruled the Tota or river bank. It is considered to be the prime beach resort of Sri Lanka as the National Holiday Resort Complex is associated with the Bentota Beach.

The place is known for its sun-kissed beaches, lagoon, dive sites that offer the best views of coral reefs, century-old Buddhist temples, gardens and long stretches of coconut trees. Its glorious sun-kissed beaches make the town a perfect destination for families to spend quality time on the beach. Bentota Beach, Brief Garden, Moragalla Beach, Cinnamon Island, Kande Vihare Temple, Galapata Vihara, and Madu Ganga River Safari are the top places to visit in Bentota. Bentota is home to the majestic marine turtles. The community-run hatcheries in the area are doing their bit to help propagate marine life.

Bentota is also the place for some water sports like snorkeling, deep-sea fishing, and scuba diving. Also, this quaint town is a favorite wedding and honeymoon destination for Sri Lankans and foreigners alike. Apart from this, the coastal town is well known for its toddy production, an alcoholic beverage made from coconut nectar, and the rejuvenating Ayurveda therapies that the scenic village offers. The creation of the Bentota National Holiday Resort Complex has boosted the economy of the town with five star and luxury hotels opening their properties at the beachfront.

Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo, is the closest airport which is about 109 km from Bentota. From there, one can either travel by public transport or book your seat on a domestic flight. If you choose the latter option, the nearest domestic airport is the Bentota River Airport. Bentota Railway Station is well connected by trains with Colombo, Galle, Matara, and Aluthgama. While, Aluthgama is the nearest big railway station, which is around 4 km away from Bentota. Bentota is well connected by bus with Colombo, Galle, Matara, Aluthgama, and Mirissa.

October to April is considered to be the best time to visit Bentota when the temperature is pleasant and ideal for water sports activities and sightseeing at the lovely seashores. From May to September, Bentota is drenched in rains, the sea gets pretty violent, and water sports are not encouraged then. But since this is the off-season, one will get cheap rates for flight tickets and hotels during this period.

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Other Info
Internet Availability: Average
STD Code: 0094-034
Languages Spoken: Sinhalese, Tamil, & English
Major Festivals: Details Not Available
Notes/Tips:
None

How to Reach Bentota

By Air

Nearest Airport: Colombo - Bandaranaike Airport (109 Kms)

By Train

Nearest Train Station: Bentota Railway Station (0 Kms)

By Bus

Nearest Bus Station: Bentota Bus Stand (1 Kms)

Top 10 Places to Visit in Bentota

#1 of 10 Places to Visit in Bentota

At a distance of 500 m from Bentota Railway Station, Bentota Beach is a stunning beach situated in the coastal town of Bentota, Sri Lanka. It is one of the popular beaches in Sri Lanka and among the prime places to visit in Bentota.

Along the mighty Indian Ocean, the Bentota Beach is a long stretch of pristine golden sands lined by palm trees swaying gently in the breeze. The crystal clear waters, a relatively untainted, tranquil and family-friendly atmosphere, plenty of water sports, clean surroundings make Bentota Beach a preferred spot for unwinding for locals and tourists alike. The sunset at the beach is nothing short of gorgeous.

Apart from stunning views of the sea, tourists can also enjoy some exciting water sports at the beach during the peak season when the currents are moderate. Bentota is a true dream destination for the die-hard divers and there is a range of scuba diving and snorkeling stores in the vicinity, while the majority is operated by industry certified .....

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#2 of 10 Places to Visit in Bentota

At a distance of 8 km from Bentota Railway Station, Brief Garden is a beautifully laid out garden situated at Kalawila near Bentota. It is one of the beautiful gardens in Sri Lanka and among the must-visit Bentota Tourist Places as part of Sri Lanka Packages.

The beautiful Brief Garden was designed by Bevis Bawa, the brother of Sri Lanka's most famous architect, Mr. Geoffrey Bawa. This legendary garden is the country home of Bevis Bawa and was the garden that inspired his brother, Geoffrey Bawa to create Lunuganga Garden. Bevis acquired it from his mother in 1929 and converted it into an artistic paradise. Here he hosted many elite Sri Lankan artists, from Laki Senanayake to Ena de Silva and even international luminaries like Sir Laurence Olivier, Vivien Leigh, and Australian artist Donald Friend.

Opened to the public in 1970, the Brief Garden is designed in a concept similar to that of Japanese gardens. The estate, which was formerly a rubber plantation, today is a combination .....

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#3 of 10 Places to Visit in Bentota

At a distance of 11 km from Bentota Railway Station, Geoffrey Bawa Gardens is a beautiful garden located at Dedduwa. It is one of the most attractive gardens in Sri Lanka and among the top places to visit in Bentota while holidaying in Sri Lanka.

Popularly known as Lunuganga Garden, the garden was architected by Sri Lanka's most famous architect, Geoffrey Bawa. The estate had been used as a cinnamon estate during the Dutch era and then a rubber plantation under the British. In 1949, Geoffrey Bawa bought it from its owner intending to convert the estate bungalow into a weekend house and create a tropical version of a European renaissance garden. Even today, one can visit the cinnamon farms and various other cinnamon harvesting rooms inside the garden.

The 15-acre property is located on the banks of the Dedduwa Lake, in Bentota. Bawa named the estate Lunuganga, which in Sinhala means Salt River. The Lunuganga Estate is where Geoffrey Bawa poured forty years of his life into creating .....

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#4 of 10 Places to Visit in Bentota

At a distance of 9 km from Bentota Railway Station, Sea Turtle Hatchery is a turtle conservation center located along the coast of the Indian Ocean at Kosgoda. It is one of the must-visit places in Bentota during your Sri Lanka Tour.

The Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project was started by Dudley Perera in the year 1981. The main aim of the project is to conserve the sea turtles and protect them from predators like birds, dogs, and crabs. It is one of the 18 hatcheries in Sri Lanka devoted to the proper breeding of this endangered species. Visitors can get to see up to five endangered species out of seven species of margin turtles in the world here. The place is especially suitable for kids but provides to be a once in a lifetime experience for all.

The volunteers patrol the beach at night to make sure that any mother turtles have proper conditions to lay eggs. They also carry the eggs back to the hatchery to make sure they hatch properly without any harm from predators and .....

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#5 of 10 Places to Visit in Bentota

At a distance of 4 km from Bentota Railway Station, Kande Viharaya is Buddhist Temple situated at Aluthgama. It is one of the treasured monuments of Sri Lanka and among the top places to visit in Bentota.

The temple has got its name 'Kande Vihara' meaning Mountain temple, as it is built on top of a hill. The temple was founded by Karapagala Dewamitta Thero in 1734, under the guidance of Udugama Chandrasara Thero who was then chief incumbent of Galapatha Raja Maha Vihara. In 1904 the Kshethrarama Pirivena, an educational institution for monks, was attached to the temple. Renovated several times under state patronage, Kande Viharaya is today formally recognized as an archaeological site.

The most important attraction of the temple is the gigantic Buddha statue unveiled in 2007. At 160 feet tall, the statue depicting the Bhoomisparsha Mudra is the tallest sitting Buddha statue in the world. Also, the temple comprises the Stupa, Bodhi Tree, Relic Chamber, Image House, Upulvan .....

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#6 of 10 Places to Visit in Bentota

At a distance of 4 km from Bentota Railway Station, Moragalla Beach is a stunning beach located at Moragalla. Situated between the crowded Bentota Beach and Beruwala, this is one of the popular beaches in Sri Lanka and among the top place to visit in Bentota.

Moragalla Beach is a haven for beachgoers who seek a secluded beach holiday in Sri Lanka as it is mostly calm and not crowded. This a stretch of sandy haven adjoins the estuary of the Bentota River, otherwise known as the Bentara River. The sea around the Moragalla is quite shallow due to the underwater coral reef that lies not far from the coastline. It has clear blue water and is a perfect place for sports activities such as windsurfing, diving, and snorkeling, among others. The lovely clean sandy beach is great for long walks and to watch the mesmerizing sunset.

Right in front of the beach, there is a small hill that seems like an island but actually, it is the tip of the panhandle that forms the Bentota Beach. There .....

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#7 of 10 Places to Visit in Bentota

At a distance of 4 km from Bentota Railway Station, Galapata Raja Maha Vihara is a Buddhist temple situated in the coastal town of Bentota, Sri Lanka. It is one of the ancient Buddhist temples in Bentota and among the prime places to visit as part of Bentota Tour Packages.

Also known as Galapata Buddhist Temple, this temple dates back to the 12th century CE. Legend claims that it was built by a minister of Parakramabahu (1153 -86 CE), who was responsible for most of the wonders at the medieval city of Polonnaruwa. However, the temple faced serious damage during the Dutch invasion in the 16th century and was subsequently rebuilt giving it a newer look. However, one will be fascinated by the mural paintings, Jataka stories painted on the walls and the Avasaya that has a hint of colonial architecture attached to it even today.

True to its name (meaning built-in stone), most of the temple is built from rock right from the pathway that leads to the temple to the welcoming stone .....

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#8 of 10 Places to Visit in Bentota

At a distance of 19 km from Bentota Railway Station, Madu Ganga River Safari is one of the top things to do in Bentota while holidaying in the island country as part of Sri Lanka Tour Packages.

Situated at Balapitiya, Madu Ganga is the second biggest wetland in Sri Lanka. Abundantly rich in biodiversity, the river covers at least 150 acres of land and consists of 14 mangroves out of the 24 mangrove species found in Sri Lanka. The Madu Ganga wetland is considered to be one of the last remaining tracts of mangrove forests. It is the best place to watch prawn farming and traditional fishing methods. It is also home to 300 species of plants and about 250 wildlife species which makes it a haven for the ecologists and the botanists.

Visitors can book themselves for boat rides and bird-watching rides. Accompanied along with trained professionals and local fishermen, the Madu River safari begins at the mouth of Madu River at Balapitiya, which lasts between 1 to 2 hours and visitors .....

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#9 of 10 Places to Visit in Bentota

At a distance of 39 km from Negambo, 116 km from Kandy, 126 km from Galle, 150 km from Mirissa, 161 km from Dambulla, 167 km from Nuwara Eliya, 202 km from Anuradhapura, 205 km from Ella, 230 km from Polonnaruwa and 395 km from Jaffna, Colombo is the commercial capital and the largest city of Sri Lanka by population. Located in the western province of the Island, it is one of the must-include places in Sri Lanka Tour Packages.

With rich colonial heritage and very scenic and popular attractions, Colombo is arguably the most popular tourist destination in Sri Lanka. Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, the legislative capital of the country, is within the urban area of the city, hence Colombo is often called the capital of Sri Lanka as well. It is also the administrative capital of the Western Province and the capital of Colombo district. The name 'Colombo', is believed to be derived from the classical Sinhala name Kolon Thota, meaning 'port .....

Distance (From Bentota): 104 Kms
Trip Duration (From Bentota - Including Travel): Full Day
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#10 of 10 Places to Visit in Bentota

At a distance of 72 km from Nuwara Eliya, 92 km from Sigiriya, 110 km from Dambulla, 116 km from Colombo, 129 km from Ella, 137 km from Polonnaruwa, 140 km from Anuradhapura, 183 km from Trincomalee, 223 km from Galle, 245 km from Mirissa, and 321 km from Jaffna, Kandy is a scenic city located in central Sri Lanka. It is the capital of the Central Province of Sri Lanka and among the must-include places in Sri Lanka Tour Packages.

Set on a high plateau in the midst of the thick tropical forests and the tea plantations is the city of Kandy, the second-largest city in Sri Lanka. More popularly known as the hill capital of Sri Lanka, Kandy is known for its spirituality and laid-back charm due to which the colonial town is frequented by tourists as well as Buddhists, especially of the Theravada School. The well-planned town of Kandy added value to its legacy and never changed its roots for the sake of development. It was declared a .....

Distance (From Bentota): 180 Kms
Trip Duration (From Bentota - Including Travel): Full Day
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