The south coast of Sri Lanka is one of the most beautiful places in Asia. The region has stunning, diverse attractions, making it one of Sri Lanka’s most rewarding areas to visit. Gateway to the south and one of its highlights is the atmospheric old port of Galle, Sri Lanka’s best-preserved colonial town; beyond Galle stretch a string of picturesque beaches in the world, including Unawatuna, Weligama, Mirissa, and Tangalla.
Moreover, nearby, the little-visited town of Matara, with its picturesque Dutch fort, provides a further taste of Sri Lanka’s colonial past, while ancient Tissamaharama makes a good base from which to visit two of the country’s finest national parks: the placid lagoons and birdlife-rich wetlands of Bundala, and Yala, famous for its elephants and leopards.
A fascinating religious center lies beyond Tissamaharama in Kataragama, whose various shrines hold sacred significance to Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims.
