What to do and see in Matale, Sri Lanka: The Best Places and Tips

February 10, 2018 Misti Hsu

Matale (Sinhala: මාතලේ, Tamil:மாத்தளை) often written as Mathale (pronounced Maathalé), is a large town in Matale District of the Central Province, of Sri Lanka. It is 142 kilometres (88 mi) from Colombo and near Kandy. Surrounding the town are the Knuckles Mountain Range, the foothills were called Wiltshire by the British. It is a mainly agricultural area, where tea, rubber, vegetable and spice cultivation dominate.
Restaurants in Matale

1. Euphoria Spice and Herbal

Kandy-Dambulla Road | Arunaloka Farm, Madawala Ulpotha, Matale 21000, Sri Lanka +94 77 270 9107
Excellent
86%
Good
11%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5 based on 190 reviews

Euphoria Spice and Herbal

We offer free Sri Lankan spice and ayurveda tours.Please book in advance for lunch and cookery classes. ( Please note that our restaurant is operated only on reservations). Location:If you are coming from Matale or Kandy, we are located 15km away from Matale in the Dambulla road in the town called "Madawala Ulpotha" infront of Temple Mahamewnawa. If you are coming from Dambulla, we are located 30 km from Dambulla in the Kandy-Dambulla road. We can also be identified as number 88.

Reviewed By Fiveowe - Boston

Stopped at Euphoria for lunch and a tour. Shal, the owner, and his wife are really sweet. They really just want you to have a good time. Our group was given a cooking lesson followed by a fantastic meal. We've been touring Sri Lanka for a week now, and the lunch at Euphoria was the best meal we have had. Most of the offereings were vegetarian, which made it even better. Shal will even offered to send us a few recipes. After lunch, we went for a tour of the spice garden. I would highly recommend a visit to Euphoria. Thank you, Shal.

2. Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic

Sri Dalada Veediya, Kandy 20000, Sri Lanka +94 81 2 234226
Excellent
45%
Good
35%
Satisfactory
15%
Poor
3%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 9 reviews

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic

Sri Dalada Maligawa (Sinhala: ශ්‍රී දළදා මාළිගාව) or The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located in the royal palace complex which houses the Relic of the tooth of Buddha. Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local politics because it is believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country. Kandy was the last capital of the Sinhalese kings and is a UNESCO world heritage site partly due to the temple. The temple which houses the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha is one of the holiest shrines in the entire Buddhist world.

Reviewed By 15traveladdict9 - Horsham, United Kingdom

The temple is beautifully decorated. The floral offering tables are full to bursting with blooms. Take time to notice the roof and wall paintings. You are allowed to take photographs inside the temple. The air is filled with incense and the scent of the flowers.

3. Sembuwatta Reach

No. 145 Elkaduwa Wattegama Road, Elkaduwa 21012, Sri Lanka +94 66 4 935768
Excellent
46%
Good
38%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
0%
Terrible
5%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 18 reviews

Sembuwatta Reach

Reviewed By Amila Dananjaya D - Kandy, Sri Lanka

It is a man made lake surrounded by tea plantation. The location is at its best when the visitors are less. They charge 200LKR per head to enter the premises and seems they improve / maintain the standard accordingly. They are offering overnight reservation of the place and that might be a goo experience. Access road from Elkaduwa is narrow. Road condition is bad for the last 4 kilometers but can't say worst. They were doing some work to improve the road quality when i last visited on Mid September, 2016

4. World's tallest granite Samadhi Buddha statue in Kurunegala

Rideegama, Kurunegala 60000, Sri Lanka
Excellent
72%
Good
21%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 42 reviews

World's tallest granite Samadhi Buddha statue in Kurunegala

Reviewed By Sapaya - Kandy, Sri Lanka

I recommend you not to visit this place on a holiday. It will ruin your mood as loads of people visit this place. This place is a ancient buddhist monastery but the crowd jumble the serenity. Visit this place when no crowd is there. You will feel serenity

5. Knuckles Mountain Range of Sri Lanka Trekking

Harasgama Road,agalawatta, Matale 20000, Sri Lanka 94714997666
Excellent
71%
Good
25%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 211 reviews

Knuckles Mountain Range of Sri Lanka Trekking

Knuckles mountain range from Kandy and its forest trails are the most suitable for trekking in Sri Lanka. It has many nature trails cleared trough the forest by forest department with campsites. For example Mini worlds end trails in the west and east, Pitawala pathena trail, Ash cave trail, Nitre cave trail, Knuckles summit trail are very exciting. Also there are interconnected footpaths of cardamom planters, toddy tapers, tea plantation workers, farmers and villages. Traditional villages of the Knuckles foothills with so mach of treks and short walks such as Last King of Kandy hide out place, Rathna water fall trek, Sitakotuwa limestone cave and waterfall trek. There are some camp sites in and around the Knuckles Range.

Reviewed By ChristianFrantz - Copenhagen, Denmark

Extremely scenic landscape lined with tea plantations. The road is narrow and driving speed is around 30 km/h. There are very few restaurants along the way. This is perfect place for hiking, but it is a clever idea to bring a local guide, as there...MoreThank you very much for visiting Knuckles Mountain Range. Ravi from Sri Lanka Trekking Team

6. Aluvihara Rock Cave Temple

Matale, Aluvihara | Aluvihara Junction, Matale Rd, Matale 21000, Sri Lanka +94 66 2 222533
Excellent
46%
Good
39%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
3%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 221 reviews

Aluvihara Rock Cave Temple

Reviewed By RanjanF - Wennappuwa, Sri Lanka

The temple was built by king Devanampiyatissa in 3rd century
B.C
During reign of king valagamba in 1st century B.C . philosophical Doctrine of buddhist was written by 500 monks on ola leaves . during day time and night time . the villagers were looked light from temple during night Therefore they called as a aloka lena [ cave of light] after its called alu lena finally alu viharaya . This is a cave temple and monastery

7. Ridi Viharaya

Ridigama Village, Kurunegala 60000, Sri Lanka
Excellent
71%
Good
26%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 26 reviews

Ridi Viharaya

Reviewed By Pamila75 - Kurunegala, Sri Lanka

Located few kilometres away from the Kurunegala town, this wonderful temple is a glory to piece loving mind. King Dutugemunu received silver for Maha Saya from this place, thus the name temple of Silver, or Ridi Vihara

8. Sri Muthumariamman Temple

680/17 Main Street, Matale 21000, Sri Lanka +94 66 2 222481
Excellent
42%
Good
39%
Satisfactory
17%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 173 reviews

Sri Muthumariamman Temple

Reviewed By profjoypc - Alnwick, United Kingdom

It was so good to be back in this place after a year away and to see once again this incredible Temple which is the tallest Hindu Temple in Sri Lanka and well worthy of its fame. It is dedicated to Mariamman, the goddess of rain and fertility. The Temple dates from 1874. It is gloriously decorated and is a superb place to appreciate for its artistry as well as being a wonderful educational place where one can learn about Hindu deities. Significant religious festivals are celebrated here as well as weddings. There is a very modest admission fee and appropriate Temple clothing and bare feet are required.

9. Kandy Garrison Cemetery

Temple of The Tooth, Kandy 20000, Sri Lanka +94 77 784 1066
Excellent
59%
Good
30%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 444 reviews

Kandy Garrison Cemetery

Reviewed By Nimitta - UK

This is very close to the Temple of The Tooth and a very peaceful spot. A very friendly young man who maintained the cemetery gave us an excellent and informative introduction to the place. Many British garrison members and their families buried here, many of whom died from malaria or cholera in the early days of the garrison, as well as one who was hit by a cricket ball! Well worth a visit.

10. Nalanda Gedige

Matale 21152, Sri Lanka +94 71 350 6861
Excellent
52%
Good
36%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
5%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 93 reviews

Nalanda Gedige

Reviewed By Priyantha P - Panadura, Sri Lanka

It was just 01km away from main A9 road close to Nalanda town.
One of the few places you can visit without paying entrance charges.
It considered as center of Sri Lanka.
Build in South Indian architecture and it housed Buddha's images.
It can be considered as one of the best preserved stone monument.

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