Popular Places to Visit in Bentota
2022 Febraury updated
Bentota, on Sri Lanka's southwest coast, is a popular tourist destination. Its long Bentota Beach stretches north, adjacent to Bentota Lagoon, where it becomes a sandy sliver known as Paradise Island. Canoe Rock is a coral-rich dive location and is one of the top places to visit in Bentota. The centuries-old Galapota Temple on the Bentota River includes a big Buddha statue. Lunuganga, the estate and gardens of architect Geoffrey Bawa, is located to the southeast. The Brief Garden of his brother Bevis is located in the northeast. One of the mandatory things to do in Bentota is enjoying the variety of watersports on offer.
How to travel
Distance from Airport – 110 km
By Road
110 km or 1 ½ to 2 hours
Colombo – bentota Express way – No traffic – include tolls
By Train - 110 km
Colombo – bentota Express train – 1 to 1 ½ Hour’s
Walk in to Colombo fort railway station and you can get tickets for 3rd class and 2nd class. (3rd class railway tickets price is very cheap)
3rd class is very crowded sometimes not recommended for tourists.
To pre-book a rail journey contact a travel agency
For more information, log in to – http://www.railway.gov.lk/web
By Air
Colombo – Benthota – 10 to 15 mins.
The following travel companies offer internal chatter flights and Helicopter tours
https://www.senoksl.com/travel-and-leisure/airport-and-aviation-services-sri-lanka.html
01 Kalutara Bodhi Temple
Location : Kalutara Bodhi Temple , 61 Sri Jinarathana Road, bentota, Sri Lanka
The Kalutara Chaitya is a Buddhist stupa in Sri Lanka's Kalutara District, just south of the Kalutara Bridge and is one of the top places to visit in Bentota. It is one of the world's few hollow Buddhist stupas, and its interior features 74 murals depicting various aspects of the Buddha's life.
Distance from bentota Airport
75 km or 1 ½ to 2 hour’s drive
Entry:
No need to buy tickets
Timings:
open 24 Hour’s
--> This is a Buddhist temple.
--> Be cautious of your dress.
--> You need to remove your hats and shoes before you enter.
--> Getting the service of an Area Guide or Higher Guide is highly recommended.
--> Avoid Full moon days and Sundays
02 Kande Vihare – Buddhist Temple
Location
Kande Vihara is a significant Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka's Kalutara District. Because it is erected on top of a hill near Aluthgama town, the temple is known as 'Kande vihara' (Mountain temple). The temple has been designated as an archaeological site by the Sri Lankan government.
Distance from bentota Airport
107 km or 1 ½ to 2 hour’s drive
Entry:
No need to buy tickets
Timings:
open 5.00 am to 8.00 pm
--> This is a Buddhist temple.
--> Be cautious of your dress.
--> You need to remove your hats and shoes before you enter.
--> Getting the service of an Area Guide or Higher Guide is highly recommended.
--> Avoid Full moon days and Sundays
03 Bentota Beach
Location
Bentota Beach is one of Sri Lanka's most beautiful and appealing beaches. It is 65 kilometers from the city of Colombo. Bentota Beach is one of Sri Lanka's most tranquil and soothing locations. Taking a stroll here is one of the most refreshing things to do in Bentota.
Distance from bentota Airport
108 km or 1 ½ to 2 hour’s drive
Entry:
No need to buy tickets
Timings:
open 24 hour’s
Visitors can enjoy boat rides on the Bentota river while having some adventure experiences and also can enjoy some exciting water activities at Bentota beach.
04 Calido Beach Kalutara
Location
The crashing of waves, foam-rimmed water and the pristine sands that emanate the heat of the sun is a heady combination. The spit of land is surrounded by tall, swinging coconut trees. It's a little slice of heaven; simply another beautiful day on Calido Beach.
The crashing of waves, foam-rimmed water and the pristine sands that emanate the heat of the sun is a heady combination. The spit of land is surrounded by tall, swinging coconut trees. It's a little slice of heaven; simply another beautiful day on Calido Beach.
Distance from bentota Airport
83 km or 1 to 1 ½ hour’s drive
Entry:
No need to buy tickets
Timings:
open 24 hour’s
This is a Public Beach. Try to avoid weekends, it is usually crowded.
05 Fahien’s Cave
Location
Fa Hien Cave, also known as Pahiyangala Cave, is a cave in the district of Kalutara, Western Province, Sri Lanka, named for an alleged historical resident, Buddhist monk Fa-Hien, according to a folk tradition. This legend, however, is not backed up by archaeological or historical data. Nonetheless, during investigations in the 1960s, 1980s, and 2013, Late Pleistocene human fossilized skeleton remains were discovered in the cave's sediments, making the site archaeologically significant.
Distance from bentota Airport
100 km or 1 ½ to 2 hour’s drive
Entry:
You need to buy tickets
Timings:
open 8.00 am to 5.00 pm
It's Very peaceful and historical, also a good place to study the human history of Sri Lanka. There are good places to bathe in the Kalu river near the cave.
06 Sinharaja Rain Forest
Location
The Sinharaja Forest Reserve, designated by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve and a World Heritage Site, is home to a variety of unusual plants and species. The area is home to a variety of indigenous Sri Lankan plants and animals. It is also the country's last remaining tropical rainforest, making it extremely important. This reserve is 21 kilometers long from east to west and 7 kilometers long from north to south, and it is densely covered with vegetation that forms a canopy.
Distance from bentota Airport
200 km or 4 to 4 ½ hour’s drive
Entry:
You need to buy tickets
Timings:
open 6.00 am to 6.00 pm
The number of waterfalls in Deniyaya entrance offered to you with the height from 100m to 450m roughly namely those are Brahman fall, Thattu fall, Doowili fall, Galoruwa, Urankotuwa.
Take precautions to get protection from leeches.
You can hire a guide from the entrance office and it is mandatory.
07 Kosgoda Turtles Hatchery
Location
The Kosgoda Turtle Care initiative seeks to conserve sea turtle eggs while also increasing hatching rates. They not only hatch turtles but also treat disabled turtles and those who have become weak as a result of fishing. All night long, their staff watches the beach for mother sea turtles emerging from the water to lay their eggs. They protect the mother turtle during the nesting process and transport the eggs from the beach to their hatchery once the eggs have been laid and are safely back in the ocean. Their aim is to get the baby sea turtles back to their natural home as soon as possible when they hatch. Watching a turtle hatching season is one of the best things to do in Bentota.
Distance from bentota Airport
116 km or 1 ½ to 2 hour’s drive
Entry:
You need to buy tickets
Timings:
open 8.00 am to 5.00 pm
Ask any question from the staff they will help you.
08 Srilanka’s Traditional Masks
Location
Sithuvili, a boutique antique, arts, and crafts business tucked away on Leybann Street in the UNESCO World Heritage site of bentota Fort, is hosting a hands-on course in Kolam mask carving. An artisan craftsman hosts the workshop, which takes you through the stages of the age-old tradition of mask carving from beginning to end. Kolam masks, Sanni masks, and Raksha masks are some of the masks worn in Sri Lanka. Your host will give you an introduction to Sri Lankan masks and the art of Kolam mask crafting. After that, you'll be given a thorough overview of the tools used to carve a block of wood. Kolam masks are mostly composed of 'kaduru,' a light wood that allows for easy carving and provides durability and lightness. After your master artisan draws the outlines and demonstrates the carving procedures, it's up to you!
He'll be by your side from start to finish if you're unclear about which angles to use or how much pressure to apply to the tools.
Distance from bentota Airport
154 km or 2 to 2 ½ hour’s drive
Entry:
you Need To Buy Tickets
Timings:
open 9.00 am to 7.00 pm
This is a Private experience. The Best place to get some experience on Srilankan Arts and Crafts
09 Benthota Resort Town
Location
Bentota, on Sri Lanka's southwest coast, is a popular tourist destination. Its long Bentota Beach stretches north, adjacent to Bentota Lagoon, where it becomes a sandy sliver known as Paradise Island. Canoe Rock is a coral-rich dive location. The centuries-old Galapota Temple on the Bentota River includes a big Buddha statue. Lunuganga, the estate and gardens of architect Geoffrey Bawa, is located to the southeast. The Brief Garden of his brother Bevis is located in the northeast.
Distance from bentota Airport
110 km or 1 ½ to 2 hour’s drive
Entry:
You need to buy tickets
Timings:
open 24 hour’s
You can select good quality beachfront 5 stars to 3-star hotels in Bentota.
Check the ratings of google and trip advisor as well
10 Sailing at Bentota
Location
Sri Lanka is not well-known as a sailing destination, but that is improving. The best boating spots on the west coast are Beruwela and Bentota. Bentota is also a hub for watersports due to the Bentota River and the Indian Ocean. Private tours on the Kalpitiya lagoon are provided on the northwest shore making it one of the top places to visit in Bentota for sports enthusiasts.
Distance from bentota Airport
110 km or 1 ½ to 2 hour’s drive
Entry:
You need to buy tickets
Timings:
open 7.00 am to 5.00 pm
Check the prices and compare before you make a decision.
Take all the safety precautions appropriately when you are on the boat
11 Tour on Bentota River
Location
Bentota is a wonderful tiny southern enclave with several attractions, the most notable of which being the Bentota River and its tributaries, which snake through beautiful tropical terrain and are best enjoyed on a river safari. Relax and take in the scenery while taking a boat trip along the river and through the mangroves. To top it off, there's jet-skiing, banana boat excursions, and a variety of other water activities to choose from.
Distance from bentota Airport
110 km or 1 ½ to 2 hour’s drive
Entry:
You need to buy tickets
Timings:
open 7.00 am to 5.00 pm
The tour is around 3 hours. You can talk to service providers before your arrival and negotiate the rates and the activities you want to involve.
12 Lunuganga Garden Tour
Location
Lunuganga is a Sri Lankan estate that was restored by the renowned architect Geoffrey Bawa from the time it was purchased in 1948 until his death. It is now a Teardrop Hotels-managed country hotel under the Lunuganga Trust's management. There are six different sorts of rooms, with the bentotary Studio being our favourite. The atmosphere is calm, and the sensation you receive while wandering through the estate is out of this world. The hospitality was great, and the COVID-19 health standards were followed to the letter, with visitors' temperatures being checked frequently.
Distance from bentota Airport
117 km or 1 ½ to 2 hour’s drive
Entry:
You need to buy tickets
Timings:
open 8.00 am to 5.00 pm
Make sure to talk to the property before your arrival and reserve a tour.
13 Benthota Bazar
Location
This bazaar, located in the heart of Bentota, is one of the best places to visit in Bentota. It features a small number of stores where tourists can purchase textiles, keepsakes, ornamental gift items, and carved wood and brassware.
Distance from bentota Airport
130 km or 2 ½ to 3 hour’s drive
Entry:
You need to buy tickets
Timings:
open 10.00 am to 6.00 pm
Most shops are government-approved so the prices are nominal and genuine. There is also a post office nearby where you can buy postcards and stamps.
14 Camping at Sinharaja Forest
Location
Sinharaja is a gorgeous tropical evergreen rainforest that looks to be undisturbed by people. In 1978, this renowned tourist site was declared as a World Biosphere Reserve, and in 1988, it was named a World Heritage Site. It is an art to visit and enjoy a rainforest. Because the way a rainforest works is a work of art in and of itself. Sinharaja has a complex and diversified ecology with five levels of the canopy. Each layer of the forest is a separate country unto itself. Hiking through the lush forest and following the natural routes will lead you to breathtaking landscapes, massive wooden trees, and flowing streams where you can observe the ecological evolution process.
Distance from bentota Airport
200 km or 4 to 4 ½ hour’s drive
Entry:
You need to Pay
Timings:
Check with service providers
There are several hotels and tour operators who provide camping sites and luxury tents hotel near the Sinharaja Forest border. You can contact them before your arrival.
15 Water Sport at Bentota
Location
Bentota is a popular place for adventure seekers in Sri Lanka. Bentota has risen to the top of Sri Lanka's tourism map because of its water sports, and it has more than enough to keep your vacation exciting.
A boat tour on the Bentota River, as well as other water sports activities such as water skiing, windsurfing, banana rides, wakeboarding, jet skiing, tube rides, sea diving, snorkelling, and surfing, are all must-dos while visiting Bentota. If you haven’t tried your hand at watersports before, there are courses available at several water sports centres to help you get started.
Distance from bentota Airport
110 km or 1 ½ to 2 hour’s drive
Entry:
No need to buy tickets
Timings:
open 7.00 am to 5.00 pm
There are 10 to 15 water sport service providers in Bentota. Please check the google reviews as well as trip advisor’s reviews before you choose a place.