Ayurveda Walauwa

BENTOTA

Bentota beach is a famous beach resort at a distance of 62 km to the south of Colombo. The city enjoys a strategic location at the junction of Bentota River and the sea providing with plenty of opportunities of water sport opportunities such as windsurfing, water-skiing and catamaran rides. This Sri Lankan coastal city is made famous by its golden beaches making it a popular tourist attraction, especially among the foreign tourists. The beach city's population is estimated around between 25,000-50,000.

Bentota beach city gained popularity among honeymoon couples and became known for oysters during the 19th century. Earlier accommodation was limited to the British rest house located at the mouth of the river, the Bentara Ganga. Today Bentota beach city hosts quite a few world famous hotels. It is house to the 100-acre National Holiday Tourist Resort complex, consisting of several major tourist hotels, a shopping centre, and exhibition centre. Bentota's wide beach provides with ideal opportunities for swimming and all types of beach sport.      
 
River Bentara Ganga in the Bentota beach city is perfect for outdoor activities like sailing, windsurfing, and water-skiing. River cruises are also organied which give an opportunity to observe a variety of fauna associated with such an environment, such as crocodiles. Visitor’s can give a visit to one of the cultural attraction of the 12th century Galapat Vihara situated five kilometres upriver. The city enjoys a tropical climate year round and the best time to visit Bentota is between October and April, when the sea is safest for swimming.

Before the era of mass tourism and the consequent construction of the National Tourist Resort of Bentota, the first foreigners to stumble upon this charming spot, must have been Arab merchant sailors, who also discovered Beruwela in the 11th Century a little further north.

However it was the Portuguese who in the 17th Century, built a small fort at the mouth of the Bentota or Bentara Ganga. This wide river marked the southern extremity of Portuguese held territory in the island, as Dutch sails appeared on the horizon further south. The Dutch used the fort during their rule, as a resting place for stagecoaches plying between Colombo and Galle.

Later the British converted this simple halt into a rest house for travelers. Its idyllic location and tranquility made it a popular haven. By the 1970s, the rest house had become a hotel, opening the door to the commercial strip marking the resort today.

THINGS TO DO AT BENTOTA

Sri Lanka is often described as the ‘pearl in the Indian Ocean’ and with an abundance of marine life, living corals and tropical gardens it’s easy to understand why.
Scuba diving and snorkelling and etc ..is available at Bentota – a great way to explore Sri Lanka’s coastline.

Make a visit to the Brief Garden in Kalawila. Laid out over five acres, this paradise boasts a range of unusual tropical trees and plants.

Don’t miss a tour of Kaneliya’s rainforest, with its lush waterfalls and rare birds and animals.

You can also take a tour of the tea plantations at Udugama.

Historical attractions include the Buddhist Temple at Kalutara,

The old fort is the main attraction of Galle and very well known. The Portuguese built it in the 16. th. Century. Today it is an museum and you should really use the opportunity. Here you will also be able to buy lace, embroidery, batik etc. here for a very cheap price.If you get hungry, then you can find an old and very nice English restaurant (Closenberg) with a wonderful view on the outskirts of the city.

Take a Boat trip to the top of Adams Peak, where you can see a small temple, which is not kept well, but the view up is great. You will sail approx. 20 km on the river and you will surely be able to watch a lot of different birds, varans, mangrove and of course an impressive, beautiful and various nature.You will stop at Galatara, at a place where the river just has a width of 3 meters.From here you will have to walk approx. 1 km to Adams peak, which is 320 steps to the peak.