South Sri Lanka

The province is bordered by Sabaragamuwa Province and Uva Province to the North, Eastern Province to the Northeast,
Western Province to the Northwest and the Indian Ocean to the South, West and East. The Province's capital is Galle. The Southern Province is a geographic area consisting of the
districts of Galle, Matara and Hambantota.

Destinations


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Galle

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Mathara

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Hambanthota

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Galle


1. Galle Fort

The Galle Fort is a historical, archaeological and architectural heritage monument with more than 400 years of history. UNESCO described it as a World Heritage site for its unique exposition of an urban ensemble which illustrates the interaction of European architecture and South Asian traditions from the 16th to the 19th centuries. Today, the Galle Fort is the largest remaining fortress in Asia built by European settlers. The Sri Lankan government and many Dutch people who still own some of the properties inside the fort.



Galle Fort

2. National Museum Of Galle

At a distance of 1 km from Galle Railway Station, the Galle National Museum is a museum situated inside the Galle Fort in Sri Lanka. Also called Galle National Museum, it is one of the national museums of Sri Lanka and among the top places to visit in Galle. The National Museum of Galle is housed in the oldest remaining Dutch building in the Galle Fort. It is a single storey colonnaded Dutch building built in the year 1656 as the commissariat store for the Dutch garrison and is subsequently served as a billiards room for the adjoining New Oriental Hotel (now the Amangalla Hotel). The building was renovated and converted into a museum by the Department of National Museums in 1986. Galle National Museum displays a wide range of archaeological and anthropological objects in s three galleries. The first gallery contains collections relating to the ancient village life including instruments used in cottage industries like Dutch lace crafting bobbins, traditional wooden mask carving, and collection of ornamental objects made up of turtle shells. The second gallery is dedicated to the colonial past of Sri Lanka that features artifacts and exhibits from the Portuguese, Dutch and British periods including coins, period furniture, weapons, and costumes.



National Museum Of Galle

3. Hikkaduwa Beach

The beach of Hikkaduwa was the first (the 1960s) beach discovered by tourists in Sri Lanka. The beach stretches over 4 kilometers and hosts many fun activities to keep the tourists engaged. These water sports include snorkeling, scuba diving, whale watching, swimming in the ocean and glass boats for the adventure seekers. The clear waters beckon the nature lovers who wish to take a dip inside the waters to witness the vibrant, colorful aquatic life. The coral sanctuary found along the coast of Hikkaduwa hosts gorgeous coral formations. Off the beach, there is a collection of small islets surrounded by beautiful coral formations. Many species of fish and large turtles are found here.



Hikkaduwa Beach

4. Sri Lanka national cricket team

Sri Lanka's national cricket team achieved considerable success beginning in the 1990s, rising from underdog status to winning the Cricket World Cup in 1996, under the captaincy of Arjuna Ranatunga. Since then, the team has continued to be a force in international cricket. The Sri Lankan cricket team reached the finals of the 2007 and 2011 Cricket World Cups consecutively. They ended up being runners-up on both occasions.[10] Sri Lanka won the Cricket World Cup in 1996 (vs Australia), the ICC Champions Trophy in 2002 (co-champions with India), and the ICC T20 World Cup in 2014 (vs India). They have been consecutive runners up in the 2007 and 2011 Cricket World Cups, and have been runners up in the ICC T20 World Cup in 2009 and 2012. The Sri Lankan cricket team currently holds several world records, including the world record for the highest team total in Test cricket.



Sri Lanka national cricket team



Mathara


1.Polhena Beach

The beaches in Matara are not very touristy. However, the Polhena Beach stands as an exception to the rule. The Polhena Beach may be hard to access, but it is worth all the navigation. Situated at a distance of 2 kilometers from the Matara City Center, the Polhena Beach has calm waters calling out visitors for a swim. The offshore coral reefs break the waves offering a serene sandy cove along the coast. Due to the romantic atmosphere of Polhena Beach, it enjoys the position of a popular honeymoon destination. It also acts as a weekend getaway for the locals.



Polhena Beach

2. Dondra Head Lighthouse

The Dondra Lighthouse is located at the Dondra Head on the southern tip of the Sri Lankan island. Touching a height of 160 feet, it is the tallest lighthouse in the entirety of Sri Lanka! The whitewashed monolith can be seen from every direction. Conceptualized by Sir James Nicholas Douglass, the structure is built in stone, which was imported from Cornwall and Scotland. The octagonal brick tower has a spiral staircase traveling to the top-most floor. The balcony offers the panoramic views including that of the Indian Ocean in the South and the Bulutota Mountain Range in the North.liya.



Dondra Head Lighthouse

3. Matara Paravi Duwa Temple

Situated on a small island. Matara Paravai Duwa Temple is a Buddhist temple that is as scenic as it is peaceful. Surrounded by the ocean, Matara Paravi Duwa Temple is home to Buddhist monks and ideal for soul seeking. You may find monks crossing the bridge and going inside the temple. You are requested to maintain silence and decorum at all times during your visit. The sound of crashing waves feels like a piece of meditative music to the ears. If you want to get away from all the hustle-bustle and flee to tranquil surroundings, then you should come to this place.



Matara Paravi Duwa Temple

4. Medawatta Beach

Matara is blessed with quite number of picturesque beaches, one of which is Medawatta Beach. What lures visitors to this place is the serenity and astounding views of the ocean. Once can relax here for hours strolling or sitting. The beach is outlined with hillocks. So, reaching this place might be a little exercise for you. This beach is mainly famous for surfing and has got a number of good hotels around too.



Medawatta Beach





Hambanthota


1. Yala National Park

The park consists of five blocks, two of which are now open to the public, and also adjoining parks. The blocks have individual names such as, Ruhuna National Park (Block 1), and Kumana National Park or 'Yala East' for the adjoining area. It is situated in the southeast region of the country, and lies in Southern Province and Uva Province. The park covers 979 square kilometres (378 sq mi) and is located about 300 kilometres (190 mi) from Colombo. Yala was designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1900, and, along with Wilpattu was one of the first two national parks in Sri Lanka, having been designated in 1938. The park is best known for its variety of wild animals. It is important for the conservation of Sri Lankan elephants, Sri Lankan leopards and aquatic birds.



Yala National Park

2. Mahapelessa Hot Springs

If you are looking for those places to visit in Hambantota district where you can sit back and relax, then this is it! It is because one of the unique experiences of taking bath in a hot spring is provided here. This place attracts several locals and tourists on a regular basis. There are 7 hot water tanks with 7 different water temperatures so one can choose from which to take bath according to their comfort. There is also a small park for kids and a place with animals- like rabbits, turkey, hens and fishes.



Mahapelessa Hot Springs

3. Birds Research Centre And Resort

This place houses magnificent types of exotic birds. One can even feed the parrots and interact with them or just see the amazing species of birds from all around the world. Some of the rare and endangered species of Asian birds can also be sighted here. There is also a restaurant inside in case you need to satisfy your cravings for Sri Lankan food.



Birds Research Centre And Resort

4. Mirijjawila Botanic Garden

This one of those places to visit in Hambantota, Sri Lanka where you can have the first-hand experience of nature. This botanical garden has a vast variety of plants; it is a great place to be at for plants lovers. Even though this place has an impressive flora collection, it is not highly popularised - as a result, the tourists are generally not aware of it. It is the perfect place to study the wide-ranging variety of plants for nature enthusiasts. One can hire a vehicle and even take a guided tour which would be more informative as the guides have thorough knowledge about the botanical garden.



Mirijjawila Botanic Garden

5. Kataragama

Kataragama is a sacred town for pilgrimage and a very famous religious place. It is one of the most sacred places in the country with a serene and calm environment. It attracts a lot of tourists every year who come to see the holy place and pay their respect to the deities. Other than marveling at the breathtaking architecture, it also draws peace-seekers since the place has very soothing vibes that are sure to calm and revitalize your senses.



Kataragama