Matara, one of the most popular destinations of Sri Lanka is situated in the southern province of the country. Tourists from all over the world come to visit this city attracted by its scenic beauty. The city is famous for its lush paddy fields, verdant tea estates and the fragrant spice plantations stretching to the horizon. The Indian Ocean and the Nilwala River has blessed Matara with a thriving fish industry.
Matara is also popular for its safe and sandy beaches. Beach lovers from all over the world throng to it all the year round. Today, Matara consists of high buildings that are a center of many business activities. There are many reputed companies from Colombo that have their branches in the city. Getting to the city is very convenient as it has got good transportation network. The bus station facing the sea beach provides a lot of facilities for the tourists who come in and out of the city.
There are many popular tourist attractions in the city. Some of the main spots of sightseeing in Matara are enlisted below:-
Matara Fort: This fort was built by the Dutch around the year 1640 and is a fortification of a Portuguese garrison. In the fort, you will find many structures of the Dutch and British era. Most of these have undergone changes and the oldest of them is the famous Dutch church. This fort is built in a shape of a star and was meant to provide additional protection to the main fort across the river.
Dondraor Devinuwara: Dondra or Devinuwara is situated 6 kilometers to the east of Matara. It is a 40m high lighthouse, built in the year 1890 in order to provide guidance to the shipping route south of Sri Lanka. There is a popular shrine dedicated to Hindu god Vishnu at Devinuwara. This shrine is a popular local attraction.
Some of the interesting places situated nearby Mitara where you can go for an excursion are Weligama, situated 15 km from Matara towards Galle. The town is famous for its beaches. Tangalla, located 48 kilometers east of Matara, is also one of the most pleasant places in the region, where you can enjoy a lazy beach holiday.
Keep browsing travel.mapsofworld.com, for more information on Matara.
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