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10 BEST PLACES TO VISIT ON BENTOTA TOUR

Sanjeewa Padmal (Seerendipity)

Bentota beach Sri Lanka can cater to any kind of holiday budget with its wide range of facilities and amenities. Bentota is located at the southern tip of the western province and it is situated about 60 km from Colombo while the distance from Colombo… Bentota beach can cater to any kind of holiday budget with its wide range of facilities and amenities.

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Bentota

Bentota is a waterfront town in Sri Lanka, situated in the Galle District of the Southern Sri Lanka. It is roughly 65 kilometers (40 mi) south of Colombo and 56 kilometers (35 mi) north of Galle. At an elevation of 3 meters (9.8 feet) above sea level, Bentota can be found on the southern bank of the Bentota River mouth. The name of the town is gotten from a legendary story which guarantees a devil named ‘Bem’ controlled the Tota or stream bank.

Economy

Bentota is a popular tourist destination with a Large number of tourist hotel that caters to any type of a budget. It is a watersports destination. Ayurveda is an antiquated form of medicine that is also provided by Bentota. The manufacturing of toddy, an alcoholic beverage created from coconut nectar, is renowned in Bentota. On Induruwa beach, there is a turtle hatchery.

What are the 10 best places to visit on a Bentota trip?

  1. Exploring the pristine beaches of Bentota
  2. Madu River safari
  3. Lunu Ganga, the Beautiful Garden of Geoffrey Bawa
  4. Visiting Sea Turtle conservation centre
  5. Visiting the Mask Museum of Ambalangoda
  6. Exploring Sinharaja RainForest
  7. Visiting Galle Fort
  8. Visiting the Kande Vihara Buddhist temple
  9. Doing water sports
  10. Visiting Kachchimale mosque

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Bentota beach Sri Lanka

Bentota beach Sri Lanka is undoubtedly the most popular beach holiday destination on the island of Sri Lanka (Sri Lanka beach holiday resorts) and large numbers of beach holiday lovers gather here every day.

Bentota Beach (22 idyllic beaches of Sri Lanka) is a heaven for beach holiday lovers and attracts hundreds of thousands of sun worshippers every year. Perhaps, Bentota beach is the best beach holiday destination in Sri Lanka.

A large number of hotels are located in the Bentota beach resort area, while a large number of other Bentota hotels are located outside of the resort. Even though the availability of accommodation is great at Bentota beach, travellers can still face difficulties finding accommodation here due to the high demand. During the peak season from November to April, it might be difficult to find accommodation here, especially if you go for a last-minute booking.

The options for accommodation are endless in Bentota Beach Sri Lanka, there is no other place like Bentota with so much variety of accommodation facilities in Sri Lanka. Whatever your budget, you are able to find quality accommodation at Bentota beach. From luxury boutiques, and hotels to cheap dormitories type of accommodations are ample here.

Bentota beach attracts nearly half of the international travellers who are heading to Sri Lanka beaches. Bentota beach resort is a highly developed holiday destination and provides all the facilities needed for travellers.

It provides a wide range of accommodation facilities starting from homestay accommodation to luxurious boutique hotels. Even though Bentota beach does not provide a shopping area it is very close to the city of Alutgama, where you can do all your shopping.

You do fall in love with the unspoiled coastline, but it is not only the beaches that enable you to have a memorable holiday at Bentota Beach Sri Lanka but also the rich natural wealth of Bentota and the surrounding area.

The countryside of Bentota beach is also remarkably interesting and it is a wonderful affair to take a stroll in the direction of the interior of the country from your residence quarter on the beach. You may have taken a stroll along the coastline but what you see in the interior has a totally different contrast.

The vegetation and terrain differ greatly from the beach areas as you drift deeper into the country. After all, even the beach holiday should not essentially be a beach-hopping only, spice it up with the addition of several interesting activities and sites to make it a memorable beach holiday with unique experiences. After all, hanging around the beaches the whole day long might bored you, isn’t it a good idea to explore and relax in one of the least crowded yet beautiful parks on the island?

Where is Bentota?

Bentota is located at the southern tip of the western province and it is situated about 60 km from Colombo while the distance from Colombo international airport is around 110km. Due to the recently constructed southern highway, you can reach Bentota within 1-hour drive from the airport.

History of Bentota

The historical location of Bentota is described in old messenger poetry (sandea kvya). A group of five historic temples include the Galapatha Viharaya in the area. The Portuguese constructed a tiny fort in the 17th century near the mouth of the Bentota River (Bentara Ganga), known in Sinhala as Parangi Kotuwa, or the Portuguese fort. The river delineated the southernmost point of Portuguese-controlled land in Sri Lanka. After that, the Dutch allowed the fort to deteriorate, turning one of its substantial structures into a colonial rest house for Dutch officers traveling between Colombo and Galle. The rest home was afterwards transformed by the British into a coastal sanatorium. The colonial secretary of Ceylon (1845–1850), Sir James Emerson Tennent (1804–1869), wrote in his book Ceylon, An Account of the Island (1859) that the rest house at Bentota, which is located in a small park and is heavily shaded by towering tamarind trees on the point of the beach where the river meets the sea, is one of the coolest and most pleasant in Ceylon. Early in the 19th century, the British built a permanent bridge (Bentota Palama) to cross the river in order to transport coconut products from the far south to the capital.

How to Go to Bentota Beach Sri Lanka

The most foreign tourists, who plans a holiday in Sri Lanka arrives at the Katunayake international airport, all planes that arrive on the island land at Katunayake international airport while some flight lands at Mahinda Rajapakse international airport in southern Sri Lanka.

It is very easy to reach Bentota beach from both airports due to its location on one of the busiest main roads on the island. Bentota beach is located halfway on the Galle-Colombo main road. There are plenty of options to travel to Bentota from all sides of the country.

One can use public transport such as buses to reach Bentota beach without any trouble. It might take more time than private transport but still worth it due to the extremely cheap rate of the ticket.

The train is another alternative to expensive taxis. All trains on the southern coastal belt, regardless it is an express or slow trains, stop at Bentota beach.

Bentota beach is located about halfway on the southern coastal railway line. It takes around two hours to reach Bentota beach from Colombo and the time takes to travel to Bentota beach from Galle is around two hours.

The distance from Galle to Bentota is 85 km and can easily be reached by public transport or private transport. If you start the journey from Colombo there are plenty of public buses. All buses heading to destinations in Southern Sri Lanka (Matara, Galle) can do the job. All trains plying to Galle and Matara from Colombo can also be used to travel to Bentota.

The distance between Bentota and Kandy is 178 km and it takes around 4 hours to reach Bentota from Kandy by taxi. It will take around 5 hours to reach Bentota from Colombo if you choose public transport to travel to Bentota from Kandy.

Bentota weather

Bentota is a popular holiday destination on the west coast of Sri Lanka. Therefore, Bentota inherits all the qualities of west coast cities such as Colombo, Galle and Hikkaduwa.

What to wear in Bentota?

Bentota is a warm beach holiday destination, where the temperature and humidity are high. The lightweight, cotton dress is the best attire to wear in Bentota. A cotton t-shirt and cotton shorts are the perfect dresses during your stay in Bentota. However, please don’t go to the cities and walk on the main roads if you only wear a swimming suit.

When is the best time for the Bentota beach holiday?

The best time for a beach holiday in Bentota is from November to April.

High-temperature hovering around 35 degrees Celcius, high humidity of about 90% and constant water temperature of 32 degrees Celsius. However, if you head to Bentota for a beach tour, you should be aware of the monsoon weather pattern. The monsoon occurs in Bentota from April to November and this is the main rainy season in the area.

Sri Lanka beaches are one of the most sought-after spots among holiday lovers around the world. And these scenic beaches are included in most Sri Lanka road trips. The beaches are perfect hideouts for leisure travellers and allow them to have peace and tranquillity. Most Sri Lanka beaches are away from the hustle and bustle of major cities, especially beaches along the west coast such as Bentota beach.

Bentota water sports

Bentota is one of the most popular water sports centres on the island. The Bentota beach resort is surrounded by the sea as well as the Bentota river allowing the guests to engage in various water-based fun-filled activities. The combination of river-based water sports, as well as sea-based water sports, can be practised here. Boating, fishing, surfing, diving, snorkelling and most other water-based activities can be performed here.

Easy day trips from Bentota Sri Lanka

Bentota beach is surrounded by many interesting places of historical and natural importance. Bentota beach is conveniently located giving easy access to a large number of interesting places such as Galle, Matara, Kandy, Colombo, Sinharaja, Kitulgala, Alutgama, Yala, and Udawalawe.

If you are interested in organizing day tours to see important historical and natural attractions in and around Bentota beach, it is possible with local tour operators and they are more than happy to organize it for you. You can get the assistance of seerendipity tours, you are always welcome to contact us at any type of tour arrangement in Sri Lanka.

Bentota beach is not only popular for beach hopping but also for water sports, due to its location Bentota beach has become a water sports centre on the island.

The wide and shallow Bentota river and the ocean on the other side of the resort provide the best conditions for all types of water sports. Water sports are one of the favourite activities for travellers who visit Bentota beach.

Diving, snorkelling, surfing, boating, fishing, banana boating, kitesurfing, canoeing, and kayaking are some of the popular activities here. The sea around Bentota provides you with several diving hotspots for scuba diving and snorkelling.

If you are a nature lover and wish to see some of the interesting nature reserves during your holiday at Bentota beach, there are several places to enjoy the rich green world of Sri Lanka within a short drive from Bentota. Kanneliya, Sinharaja rain forest is the most popular place to enjoy the rich forest vegetation here.

Don’t forget to take a boat ride along the Bentota River and head on to the country’s interior. This river cruise would be a lifetime experience for you. You would be able to see the rich mangrove forests on the river banks and a large number of aquatic bird species. Water monitors, crocodiles and monkeys are common animals here.

Other than being popular with a very suitable setup for beach holidays, there are many other reasons to visit this holiday destination that you may be not aware of. Following are some of the reasons that make Bentota an interesting holiday on the west coast of Sri Lanka.

Places to visit in Bentota beach Sri Lanka and the surrounding area

Madu River Boat Ride

Several kilometres south of Bentota beach Sri Lanka in the direction of Galle on the Galle-Colombo main highway is another important place for nature lovers. It is none other than Madu Ganga or Madu river, the one and only Ramsar wetland on the island, which was named a Ramsar wetland due to its ecological importance.

Madu Ganga is the 2nd biggest wetland in the country and one of the best places to explore the country’s depleting mangrove forest cover. There is a large number of animals in the river and the most seen animals are crocodiles, land Monitors, and monkeys.

This mangrove forest harbours a large number of species of fish, vertebrates, and avian fauna too. The best way to explore this natural wonder is to take the Madu riverboat ride, which lasts about 2 hours and it gives you the maximum pleasure of exploring the untamed mangrove wilderness at Madu Ganga.

Galle-Bentota one day tour

The unique location of Bentota beach resort is one important reason for its popularity as a beach holiday destination in Sri Lanka. This picturesque location is well developed for the tourism industry and provides all types of recreation facilities for visitors.

Holidaymakers who choose Bentota beach are well on their way to engaging in various fun-filled water sports activities. Surfing, kite surfing, canoeing, swimming, snorkelling, banana boating, they have it all here. Other than being very resourceful for the watersport activities Bentota River which flows into the sea near the resort enhances the natural beauty of Bentota beach.

Bentota River

Bentota River forms the border between the western and southern provinces of Sri Lanka. The gently moving water mass of the Bentota River flows into the ocean in Bentota. This river is a gateway to the interior of Sri Lanka. It is suitable for medium-sized boats and you can navigate hundreds of kilometres to the interior of the island.

The natural vegetation along the borders of Bentota River gives you the pleasure of enjoyment of the least disturbed natural riverine habitat of the island. Keep your eyes glued to the surrounding because you have the opportunity to spot a large number of aquatic bird species, animals such as crocodiles and monitors, and fascinating mangrove forests.

Bentota beach Sri Lanka – what is the climate like?

Bentota’s climate is identical to the climate of other places in southern and northeast Sri Lanka. Bentota climate is warm, sunny and humid most of the time. The holiday vibe may be wiped out during the South-Wet monsoon from May to October due to the heavy rain in Bentota.

The best time to travel to Bentota is From November to April during this period Bentota’s climate is warm, sunny and very suitable for outdoor activities. The sea is very inviting and suitable for all possible recreation activities such as fishing, bathing, diving, snorkelling etc.

Watersports

Water sport is an integral part of Bentota beach, Sri Lanka and it is a well-known pastime for visitors to Bentota beach Sri Lanka. Other than the ocean the calm clear waters of the Bentota River are very suitable for various sports events such as Banana boating. The boathouses around Bentota are equipped with all the instruments and trainers to enable the travellers to have a safe, enjoyable and memorable time with various water sports.

City hopping Aluthgama

Alutgama is the major city near several popular beach resorts such as Bentota, Induruwa and Beruwala on the west coast of Sri Lanka. This bustling city offers shops and stalls to buy virtually everything that you need for the day to day life. The city is best known as a tourist city due to the gathering of foreigners. But Alutgama is best known among the tourists for the weekly market. It is a typical authentic local market and a very interesting experience for foreigners. However, if you visit the market on any other day of the week you have a calm and quiet atmosphere and still a possibility to buy various types of goods in the low crowded shops.

The people of the surrounding area gather here on the day of the market to buy things such as books, toys, souvenirs, plastic items, music, vegetable, fruits, groceries, clothing and antiques. The visitors can smell the various fast food items such as grilled wade, fish cutlet, egg cutlet, and fish bun, through the street market enticing the visitors to taste them.

The weekly market is a leading attraction in the city of Alutgama and is attended by a large number of street vendors and farmers in the area. People love to make their purchases at the weekly market due to the very affordable prices resulting in the concurrence of the vendors. The quality and freshness of the food are also at a very high level in the weekly market than in the regular city market of Aliutgama.

The narrow road which leads to Matugama from Alutgama turns in the inland direction from Galle-Colombo Main road in the middle of the town. About 100 meters from Galle road is the spot of the weekly market. This is a place to bargain. Vendors rally on either side of the road and have their goods on a table or temporary shelter. It is a common sight to see the purchasers in discussion with street vendors in order to get a good price for products.

You will come to the very beautiful countryside with patches of forests, paddy fields, swamps and villages after a few meters walk from the market in the direction inland. You will be delighted with the beautiful scenery along the way.

Historical places to visit from Bentota beach Sri Lanka

There are many historical places around Bentota beach Sri Lanka and the nearest such place is Kande Vihara. Kande Vihara is a Buddhist temple with more than several centuries-old histories and one of the most visited religious sites on the west coast of Sri Lanka. Kande Vihara is visited by a large number of devotees every day and it is a very suitable place to mingle with the average folk of the island.

Things to do in Bentota-Exploring colourful Beaches

Things to do in Bentota for Nature lovers-exploring mangrove forest of Madu

Madu river estuary located just south of Bentota beach and just before the sleepy town of Ambalangoda is Sri Lanka’s most popular wetland complex and among the top 10 places to visit in Bentota. The waterways are running through the many dozens of islands, which are in the range of a few square feet to many hundreds of square kilometres. The big islands are inhabited by a large number of families. The largest island is occupied by 200 hundred families.  Rich plant life in the wetland shows a huge diversity and the mangroves dominate the flora scene here.

Koggala beach, more than two miles of sandy beach near the town of Galle, is backed by Madolduwa estuary, which is one of the largest lakes with a patch of mangrove forest in it. Boating is the only way to reach this creepy island, where the visitors can see a large number of Flora species as well as many avian fauna species.

Lunu Ganga, the Beautiful Garden of Geoffrey Bawa

Lunu Ganga is Located about 6 km from Bentota on Bentota-Elpitiya main road, this 15-acre expanse of landscaped gardens and beautifully manicured lawns was created by the world-renowned architect Geoffrey Bawa. The garden is incorporated with artistic displays and sculptures that take visitors by surprise. The park is a hidden secret and a fantastic escape from the beach areas, unlike other tourist attractions such as Sigiriya, Dambulla and Kandy you do not encounter hordes of tourists here.

This romantic private garden shows the traditional formal garden style combined with the innovative ideas of veteran architect Geoffrey Bawa. Although this comparatively small garden does not have huge expanses of lawns and fountains like in many other parks, the underlining intimacy it has with the immediate surrounding is priceless.

The garden is given a classic artistic twist with the addition of numerous sculptures; the Garden of Geoffrey Bawa orientates around 3 themes nature, architecture, and artifice. A considerable part of the garden is set bordering the Bentota River, allowing you to sit on the shores and spot the passing of aquatic bird species.

The garden was once occupied by Mr Bawa and it was elaborated to please his personal taste. The centrepiece of the garden is the house of Mr Bawa, the garden has a unique layout and atmosphere among the gardens of Sri Lanka. Co-existing and complimenting the nearby river, this amazing garden truly lives up to its name. The garden entices you to have a compelling and impressive walk amidst the green foliage while taking a glimpse of the architectural works of Mr Bawa.

Simply taking a stroll in the garden enlightens visitors on why this beautiful garden deserves one’s attention. Perhaps the most distinct aspect of this expanse of greenery is its isolation from the hustle and bustle of the city. The garden of Bawa is truly an asset for the west coast beach resort. This hidden gem allows for a fantastic beach resort to be the leading beach holiday destination, while also providing a relaxing spot for its visitors to unwind.

This 2-day Sri Lanka tour includes 2 most important tourist attractions in southern Sri Lanka Yala and Galle Fort, on this 2 days private tour you will be visiting many tourist attritions such as the Madu River estuary, Yala national park, Galle Fort, Moonstone Mines, sea turtle conservation project, Galle fort as well as Yala wildlife reserve. The tour includes a full-day safari at Yala national park with a picnic lunch. The tour includes entire ground transportation places to visit in Sri Lankan, a live guide, accommodation, and all taxes

Things to do in Bentota for wildlife lovers -visiting Bentota Turtle sanctuary

Visiting a sea turtle conservation centre, taking a whale watching trip from Bentota, exploring the underwater world in the sea, and bird watching are some of the activities available for travellers in Bentota.

In this chapter, we discuss observing endangered sea turtles. Sea turtle farm is one of the many interesting places to visit in Bentota and a large number of travellers, who are relaxing in Bentota beach resort, are not forgetting to drop into one of the sea turtle farms. Sri Lanka is visited by several species of sea turtles, especially from November to April.

Sea turtles are heading to the west coast beaches of Sri Lanka for laying eggs at night. Sri Lankan beaches are visited by 5 different species of endangered turtle species. Some people in the area have the habit of consuming these eggs. Therefore many organizations have established turtle hatcheries and by those eggs from the people and release the babies to the sea. One can visit these hatcheries and see the turtles that are of different ages.

The Sea turtle is one of the most attractive endangered marine creatures listed on the IUCN red list. Sri Lanka marine conservation centres are actively engaged in protecting this animal. Most of these conservation centres are located along the west coast of Sri Lanka near the beach resorts such as Bentota, Kalutara, Hikkaduwa and Galle. 

Visitors are welcome in these conservation centres and should pay a nominal fee for the entrance. The entrance fee and donations of the visitors are the main sources of funds for these conservation centres. Usually, the Sri Lanka road trips include several sites along the west and southern coast and a sea turtle farm is one of them.

There are seven Marine Turtle species recorded in the world and Sri Lanka is the home to five of the seven species. Green turtles, leatherback sea turtles, olive ridley turtles, Hawksbills and Loggerheads marine turtles are the five species that come to the beaches of Sri Lanka for nesting. Marine turtle species are mainly recorded in the areas of the south and southeast part of the island, where most marine turtle conservation centres are located. A vast area of seagrass beds and coral reefs in this region provide important nesting and foraging grounds for Sea turtles.

Even though all marine turtles are declared protected animals in Sri Lanka, under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (FFPO, 1938 amended in 1972) still the exploitation of meat, eggs and other products of turtles have recorded in some parts of the island. It is an offence to capture, kill, injure or possess marine turtles or their eggs.

Declining sea turtle populations are a major concern for conservation biologists at the moment and today even though the marine turtles are protected globally. Banning the international trade of sea turtle products from the local government resulted in a considerable decline in slaughtering the of marine turtles, but still, the marine turtles and their eggs continue to be exploited in some parts of the country without any hindrance.

Turtle eggs are still eaten or sold by the local community in some areas while the incidental capture of marine turtles in various fisheries along the northwestern, western and southwestern coast of Sri Lanka has been reported. This is widely recognized as an important issue in the conservation and recovery of these threatened and endangered species.

Action Plan for Sri Lanka was prepared in 2005 as part of a comprehensive, concerted and integrated effort at a national level and it highlights the socio-economic benefits of sea turtle conservation.

to the Action Plan, the involvement of the local community in sea turtle conservation, providing alternatives to the coastal communities through developing their talents and increasing awareness of the sustainable use of natural resources has been increased in Sri Lanka.

This study was conducted to assess the knowledge of villagers about marine turtles, their attitude toward the conservation of marine turtles and the prevalence of consumptive use among the villagers in six villages along the northwestern, western, southwestern and southern coasts of Sri Lanka.

In addition to in-situ conservation programs in the selected areas, long-term turtle awareness programs are being conducted in and around these high nesting villages by non-governmental organizations such as TCP in collaboration with the Department of Wildlife (DWL), Sri Lanka.

Awareness programs, conservation programs, and strict enforcement of laws prohibiting consumptive use along the coastline, specifically in villages in the western and northwestern areas, have reduced the exploitation of marine turtles. However, it is important to recognize that the majority of the coastal community is poor and the level of education is low.

Considering the poverty of the community involved in sea turtle exploitation, it becomes critical to shift conservation efforts towards these local communities, particularly the Fishers in some parts of the country, who are often in the position to make choices directly impacting the fate of marine. Many proposed protection measures in the Action Plan are associated with highlighting the socioeconomic benefits of conservation and of sustainable use of natural resources, as well as initiatives providing viable, sustainable livelihoods.

Places to visit in Bentota-Mask Museum of Ambalangoda

Ambalangoda is located several kilometres from Bentota and it is the centre of mask carving in Sri Lanka. Visiting the mask museum is one of the best things to do in Bentota if you have a cultural and historical buff. 

The history of mask carving in Ambalangoda is going back several centuries; even today it is the most important city for mask carving. There are several museums in Ambalangoda showcasing traditional masks of Sri Lanka and handicrafts.

The museum has a large collection of masks dating back many thousands of years and some of the exhibits are not to be found anywhere else in the world. Ambalangoda mask museum offers the best opportunity for people who look for traditional Sri Lankan masks.

Sinharaja rainforest’s day tour starts from Colombo and other major tourist hotels on the West Coast. The travellers will be able to trek through the virgin rainforest of Sinharaja and encounter thousands of tropical trees, plants, veins, and orchids. Sinharaja harbours many hundred bird species too. You will get a guided walking tour of the forest with our nature guide, who explains to you the unique environment of the forest. The trip includes entire ground transportation, all entrance fees, a live guide, and taxes.

Exploring Sinharaja RainForest

Sinharaja is the last remaining rainforest of Sri Lanka and the most valuable patch of forest on the island. The forest is declared a world heritage site by UNESCO due to its importance to nature.

A Seerendipity tour organizes community-based environmentally friendly Sinharaja tour itineraries to explore the undisturbed fragile ecosystem around the rainforest with the participation of local people. These tours consist of canoeing, hiking, a walk through the buffer zone of the forest and a home-cooked traditional local meal for lunch.

Places to visit in Bentota – Galle Fort

In the beautiful coastal town of Galle majestically stands the cobblestoned old Dutch fort. It has welcomed many chic boutiques, hotels, motels, museums, and galleries and had become the heart of the tourist traffic in southern Sri Lanka. Don’t forget to explore this fascinating UNESCO world heritage site if you choose Bentota as your beach holiday destination.

Places to visit in Bentota-Kande Vihara Buddhist temple

Kande Vihara is a Buddhist temple and one of the most beautiful temples and important places to visit on the west coast. Kande Vihara is one of the most popular Buddhist temples on the west coast of Sri Lanka and is located very close to Bentota beach. This historical temple is dating back to the Kandyan period (18000s). It is believed to be constructed by King Rajadhi Rajasinghe. The main attractions of the temple are the Bo-tree, Dagoba, Shiva Devala, Relic house and the Image house. Kande Vihara is popular for its historical wall paintings and they are dating back several centuries.

Hikkaduwa marine sanctuary just south of Bentota beach is one of the 2 marine sanctuaries in Sri Lanka that harbour a large array of sea creatures.

Things to do in Bentota for Adventure enthusiasts

Choose you’re favourite from scuba diving, snorkelling, deep-sea fishing, canoeing, whale watching, jungle tours, trekking, hiking, and boating. The list of adventure sports goes on and on. If’s adventures do not sound good for you, get an arrack cocktail and make it your adventure of the day. Away from Bentota beach, towards the interior of the country travellers can find secluded mountains, patches of forests, jungle-clad mountains, a cascading waterfall, hidden water streams, caves, tea, rubber and coconut plantations.

Places to visit in Bentota Kachchimale mosque

Beruwala is the oldest Moorish settlement on the island and it is located only 5 km from Bentota. Beruwala became the first Muslim settlement in the 8th century AD with the arrival of a group of merchants from Arab. They are believed to have started the mosque, therefore Kachchimale mosque is considered as one of the important religious places to visit in Bentota. Today Beruwala is the location of the oldest mosque in the country, which is called “Kachchimale” mosque. Hundreds of thousands of Muslim devotees flock to the mosque at the end of the fasting month of Ramadan in order to pay their homage to the grave of sheikh Ashareth.

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