City life · Matara
Matara: Star Fort and the Deep South Coast
By Days of Iru and Opa
Matara is a lively town at the southern end of the coast, mixing Dutch colonial remains with beaches and everyday Sri Lankan life. It makes a good base for the deep south.
Forts and temples
The small Star Fort and the larger Matara Fort recall the Dutch era, while Paravi Duwa temple sits on a rocky islet reached by a footbridge.
Dondra Head
Just east, Dondra Head marks the southernmost point of Sri Lanka, topped by the island’s tallest lighthouse.
Nearby beaches
Polhena has a sheltered reef pool good for snorkelling, and the surf and stilt-fishing coast toward Weligama is close.
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