Top Things to do in Southern Province
Countries
10 Budget-friendly Things to do in Southern Province That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in Southern Province, Sri Lanka including Turtle Point, Sinharaja Forest Reserve, Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications, Weherahena Buddhist Temple, Mulgirigala Raja Maha Vihara, Galle Fort, Sithulpawwa Rock Temple, Snake Farm, Goyambokka Beach (Sriyanga Sanjeewa), Tsunami Honganji Vihara.
Restaurants in Southern Province
1. Turtle Point
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 47 reviews
Reviewed By Breez_Mc - Stockholm, Sweden
The guy running this is really friendly and is super knowledgeable about the turtles that come to this bay. He also keeps an eye on the well-being of the local turtles and waits up most nights when they lay their eggs to protect them from people trying to steal them. One of the guys went out with us to show us the best spots and saw a beautiful big turtle :)
2. Sinharaja Forest Reserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 593 reviews
SINHARAJA RAIN FOREST is a world heritage and bio diversity hotspot which is also a major eco tourism destination in Sri Lanka. It is one of the few virgin forests left in the world. This evergreen rain forest, a UNESCO World heritage site, is one of the few virgin rain forests left to date. Damp mysterious and teeming with life, the Sinharaja forest reserve situated 120 KM South East of Colombo, is the last expensive stretch of virgin rainforest on the island. At just over 11000 hectares, line across the wet zone the Southern edge of the hill country, Sinharaja is an ecological treasure trove. It is staggering array of flora and fauna place it among the top bio diversity hotspot in the world. Sinharaja Forest Reserve - A UNESCO world heritage site - encompasses the largest single swath of remaining low land tropical rain forest in the country. Over 130 birds, species are found here including many of the 33 species endemic to the Sri Lanka. There also rich reptile population and myriads of insects species, many yet to be classified. Mammals scenes here including the purple faced langur monkey and the giant squirrel. Sinharaja is also home to the elusive leopard. It is preferable to explore Sinharaja on foot, which makes for the truly authentic jungle experience. Best starting point for visits are Deniyaya Mederipitiya to the East or Kudawa to the North.
Reviewed By malwana - Colombo, Sri Lanka
This is a very big rain forest and in a single tour we can see only a very small area. We stayed in Rainforest Eco Lodge and took the tour from there. There were many leaches but hotel provided us leach socks. Even the small kids around 4 -8 years old joined with us and they too enjoyed the tour.
3. Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,489 reviews
Reviewed By LesleynD - Perth, Australia
We visited Galle on a day trip from Negombo. It's very clean and surprisingly not many people around except many courting couples hidden in the nooks and crannies behind a strategically placed umbrella :) We have a lovely walk around the Clock Tower and enjoyed the views of the ocean, Internation Cricket Ground and activities going on around the fort. A few vendors around the place touting their wares but not pushy. Nice historic fort to visit for a few hours.
4. Weherahena Buddhist Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 141 reviews
Reviewed By pavanai2019 - Matara, Sri Lanka
We are Buddhist and we a like to go there.i think no ticket for local and foreigners people.we going day small children giving us to flower for praying.its very good.
5. Mulgirigala Raja Maha Vihara
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 714 reviews
Mulgirigala Is call as small sigiriya . it is situated just 15 KM far from tangalle . one of king was control the big rock long time ago . now its call mulgirigala Rajamaha viharaya.
Reviewed By DTGalle_1 - Sri Lanka, null
It's almost 16km away from Tangalle main city and only half an hour drive to the temple. you can park your vehicle next to the temple and need to climb around 500 steps to the top of the rock where you reach beautiful place you can see morning sunrise and evening sunset both. The temple is more than 150 years old and still it maintaining with good condition. It you're a foreigner you can always hire a guide who will well explain every valuable points. If you are passing by Tangalle this place is must visit
6. Galle Fort
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,404 reviews
Galle is located in the south of Sri Lanka. Close by are magnificent beaches, rainforests and other attractions.
Reviewed By K5433XUjanm - Ostrava, Czech Republic
Nice walk around the old fortifications, fine breeze from the sea :-) i do reccomend in the morning or evening :-)
7. Sithulpawwa Rock Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 88 reviews
Sithulpawwa rock temple is historically significant and identified as one of the greatest 2nd century sites of Buddhist scholarship. With a history of over 2200 years, this is an ancient place of worship in the Hambantota district. The modern name Sithulpawwa is derived from the ancient ‘Cittalpabbata’, ‘The hill of the quiet mind’.
Reviewed By 824sanjeewap
You have to climb a very steep stairway which is cut through a rock. When you go up you will be able to see a Dagoba which is said to have been built by King Kawantissa. In addition to this, there are more other small stupas. There is a specific cave temple that consists of beautiful ancient paintings that are believed to belong to the 3rd century BC. The drawings are done on a thin layer of plaster and have used red and yellow colors. It is stated that the rock temple which is a very sophisticated cave consisted of 12000 monks who attained the highest level in mind according to Buddhism.
8. Snake Farm
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 189 reviews
Reviewed By ladja211
The owner of the snake farm showed us a number of poisonous and non-poisonous snakes, introduced us to their life in nature. He also told us stories from his experience with snakes. Very interesting tour.
9. Goyambokka Beach (Sriyanga Sanjeewa)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 516 reviews
Reviewed By Stevieh01 - Wendover, United Kingdom
Came back here for the second year as this is my favourite beach in the world. Although the waves are powerful the natural breakwaters lead to a wash that reaches 20 metres so everyone can get in. Swim further out and you have regular 3 m waves. Great fun. The beach bars, particularly Bamboo do juice, food and beer. I’ve travelled to Thailand, Malaysia, Africa and other countries and I love this beach. Perfect sand. The deserted beach at Rekawa is lovely but you cannot swim due to the rip-tides.
10. Tsunami Honganji Vihara
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 611 reviews
Reviewed By seevalid - Colombo, Sri Lanka
Five of us visited Tsunami Honganji Vihara on 26th December 2019, exactly fifteen years after the 2004 boxing day tsunami - the most destructive natural disaster to hit Sri Lanka. Over 2000 lost their lives at this village, Peraliya. 1700 of these were caught hapless inside an express train that was plying from Colombo to Galle along the rail-track only a short distance from the sea. The train had halted as there were people on the railway line that was lying above the surrounding land filled with water from the first wave of the tsunami. When the train stopped people climbed on to the stationary train. The second more forceful wave swept the train off the ground along with the people. Most people on the train perished. Thousands of families were devasted in this village. There were many visitors at this temple on that fifteenth anniversary day to remember the lost and loved ones. We too participated in the Buddhist commemoration activities conducted in the evening. The yellow coloured compassionate serene statue standing in the middle of a lake is said to be the replica of the Bhamian Buddha in Afghanistan destroyed by the Taliban in 2001. The 30-metre statue gazes out into the Indian ocean that brought such destruction to that "Peraliya" coastal village. The statue had been built with Japanese assistance. Entrance is free. Since this is a place of worship visitors are required to be modestly dressed. Footwear are left at the entrance. Whilst there, we heard stories of the disaster from several survivors. It was a moment and a place for quiet contemplation remembering and imagining what it would have been for the unsuspecting victims!
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