20 Attractions to Explore Near Bentota River Safari

45 Minutes away from Colombo near the Southern expressway, Bentota Beach area is recognized as a premier resort town with at least 15 Star class Hotels and many small boutique style hotels. The beach has many activities like speed boats and jet ski riding, windsurfing, boogie boarding, water skiing, kite surfing, to the rides on a banana boat.

It is reputed as the second best-surfing spot in Sri Lanka. The beach is known for its Coral Reef that visitors can access.

Bolgoda Lake is located 45 minutes' drive away from Colombo. It is the largest freshwater source in the western districts of Sri Lanka. Bolgoda lake offers options for water adventures such as kayaking, jet-skiing, and boating. The lake also provides breathtaking views in early mornings.

Galle Fort in the Bay of Galle was built first in 1588 by the Portuguese, then widely fortified by the Dutch in the 17th century. It is a historical, archaeological and architectural heritage monument. The fort has recognized as a cultural heritage by UNESCO.

Beddagana Wetland Park is situated in the Beddagana area of Ethul Kotte, it’s a paradise for wildlife and nature lovers. It is home to 40 species of butterflies, and 80 species of birds, it also has walking paths through lakes, ponds, and wetlands.

This is forest reserve is a biodiversity hotspot in Sri Lanka. It has been designated as a Biosphere Reserve in 1978 and World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988. The reserve's name means the Lion Kingdom.

Seethawaka Wet Zone Botanic Gardens situated on the Puwakpitiya-Thummodara main road, at Illukowita. The garden has an area of 106-acre and its home to a vast collection of endemic plants. The place has a summit that offers a nice view of the garden.

Colombo National Museum is the largest museum in Sri Lanka established on 1877. The museum reviews the history of Sri Lanka and its stages. In addition to this many manuscripts and artifacts dating back to ages, the museum also has a huge library housing valuable and old books.

Viharamahadevi Park is near to Beira Lake, it is the oldest and largest park in Colombo. The park includes a group of fountains, plants, and various trees in addition to the golden Buddha statue. The climate and nature make the park one of the most suitable places for walking and relaxation.

Gangaramaya Temple is one of the most important temples in Sri Lanka and one of the most popular places for tourists and locals. The temple displays Buddhist legends and their stories, also various statues and antiques. You can also see believers performing their religious rituals, It’s recommended to visit the temple in February, where many celebrations and events occur.

With 13 floors and height of 350 meters, Lotus Tower is the tallest self-supported structure in South Asia. Beside the magnificent structure the tower features a telecommunications museum, dining halls, luxury hotel rooms, and observation decks.

Galle Face Green is famous for its abundance of plants and trees. With an area of 5 Hectares, people can enjoy their favorite activities in nature, making it one of the most attractive places especially for families. Also, the beach is distinguished by its beautiful white sand and clear waters.

Beira Lake is in the center of Colombo city and sits close to Gangaramaya Temple. It is a perfect place for birdwatchers, photographers. For the people who are looking for relaxation, you can take a walk under the shade of the trees, and cross the bridge over to the island of lovers. There are restaurants near the area that serve delicious traditional Sri Lankan food.

Pettah Floating Market features various fruits, vegetables, traditional Sri Lankan clothes, and electronics at cheap prices. It is considered one of the most popular markets for locals and tourists, located on Pettah’s Bastian Mawatha.

Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara is a Buddhist temple. Although it was destroyed twice, it still retains its original form as it was. The Germans restored it in the 18th century. Locals believe that Buddha visited this temple, and that’s where the temple earned its fame.

Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque, also known as “red masjid,” was constructed in 1909. It is considered as one of the oldest mosques in Sri Lanka. The mosque went through expansion operations to accommodate 12,000 worshipers. The mosque is considered an architectural masterpiece, and it was built in the style of Saracenic, which combines Islamic and Indian architecture.

You will see fishers on the beach with fishing rods in hand seated on stilts without moving, a unique fishing method in this area. This is a great place to learn surfing.

Adam's Peak is located 2,243 meters above sea leavel in the south of central Sri Lanka. It is known for as Sri Pada, a sacred footprint, a 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) rock formation near the summit, which in Buddhist tradition is held to be the footprint of the Buddha, in Hindu tradition that of Hanuman or Shiva, and in some Islamic and Christian traditions that of Adam, or that of St. Thomas.

It is the best places to see one of the only recorded resident blue whale colonies in their natural habitat. You could also see dolphins on whale the watching trips from Mirissa and Dondra head on the south coast.

Negombo Beach is an amazing white sand beach. The beach offers a stunning sunset views, it also has some beach activities. There are a lot of local street foods restaurants around the beach. Just offshore of the beach are some well-preserved coral reefs and a 40-year-old shipwreck which is great for spotting colourful fish.