Matara is a major city in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. It's known for its beautiful coastal scenery, historical significance, and cultural heritage. The city is located about 160 kilometers south of Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. Matara has a rich history, with colonial influences from the Portuguese, Dutch, and British, and it's home to several historical landmarks, such as the Matara Fort and the Star Fort.
Location:Matara is located 160km south of Colombo, in the southern coast of Sri Lanka.
Reaching Matara: Matara can be reached by main Colombo-Galle-Matara motor road as well as by the railway line.
Setting: River Nilwala Ganga flowing into the Indian Ocean at the beach of Matara divides the city into two areas: the old town, set in the estuary of the river and the new town located in the main land. The six-lane Mahanama Bridge connects the mainland with the estuary.
New Town: New town of Matara in the mainland sprawls in all directions. Train station, banks, shops, cricket ground and Dutch Star Fort occupies prominent locations.
Old Town: Old town of Matara or the old colonial district in the estuary called Fort is home to old rest house, Dutch Reformed Church, bus station, market and a mosque.
Matara, the transportation hub of the region: Matara is the major transportation hub of the Southern province with well-organized bus station in the old town.
Accomodation at Matara: The preferred location of accommodation at Matara is Polhena and Medawatta beaches.
Polhena Beach & Medawatta Beach: While Polhena beach offer good snorkling opportunities, Medawatta is good for surfing.
Matara District, located in Sri Lanka's Southern Province, is renowned for its coastal beauty, rich history, and thriving local culture. Bordered by the Indian Ocean, it features stunning beaches like Polhena and Mirissa, which are popular for swimming and whale watching. The district's economy is driven by agriculture, particularly coconut and tea cultivation, as well as fishing. Historical landmarks such as Matara Fort and the Dondra Head Lighthouse highlight the area's colonial past. With its mix of natural attractions and cultural heritage, Matara District is a captivating destination for both locals and tourists.
About Southern Province
The Southern Province of Sri Lanka is a small geographic area consisting of the districts of Galle,Matara and Hambantota. Subsistence farming and fishing is the main source of income for the vast majority of the people of this region.
Important landmarks of the Southern Province include the wildlife sanctuaries of the Yala and Udawalawe National Parks, the holy city of Kataragama, and the ancient cities of Tissamaharama, Kirinda and Galle. (Although Galle is an ancient city, almost nothing survives from before the Portuguese invasion.) During the Portuguese period there were two famous Sinhalese poets called Andare who was from Dickwella and Gajaman Nona who was from Denipitiya in Matara District, composing poems on common man.
