Top Things to do in Southern Province
Top 10 Points of Interest & Landmarks in Southern Province, Sri Lanka
Discover the best top things to do in Southern Province, Sri Lanka including Dooli Ella, Flag Rock Bastion- Galle, Peak Dikwella View Point, Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications, Sithulpawwa Rock Temple, Tsunami Honganji Vihara, Tissamaharama Raja Maha Vihara, Matara Port Clock Tower, Dondra Head Lighthouse, Kirinda Viharaya.
Restaurants in Southern Province
1. Dooli Ella
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
2. Flag Rock Bastion- Galle
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By BillyK1980 - Melbourne, Australia
This has become a top spot for all tourists and locals for sunset. You will be with around 100-200 other tourists but it is a great time to walk around as it is much cooler
3. Peak Dikwella View Point
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
Situated in a 10 acre cinnamon estate, this is the most highest point in Dikwella area. There is a 40 ft three storied wooden tower to see the spectacular 360 degree view. You can see Dondra light house , whole coastal belt from Dondra to Tangalle also beautiful mountain view too. Also in the cinnamon estate you can see cinnamon processing , all sorts of trees and different kinds of birds too.
4. Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,489 reviews
Reviewed By LesleynD - Perth, Australia
We visited Galle on a day trip from Negombo. It's very clean and surprisingly not many people around except many courting couples hidden in the nooks and crannies behind a strategically placed umbrella :) We have a lovely walk around the Clock Tower and enjoyed the views of the ocean, Internation Cricket Ground and activities going on around the fort. A few vendors around the place touting their wares but not pushy. Nice historic fort to visit for a few hours.
5. Sithulpawwa Rock Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 88 reviews
Sithulpawwa rock temple is historically significant and identified as one of the greatest 2nd century sites of Buddhist scholarship. With a history of over 2200 years, this is an ancient place of worship in the Hambantota district. The modern name Sithulpawwa is derived from the ancient ‘Cittalpabbata’, ‘The hill of the quiet mind’.
Reviewed By 824sanjeewap
You have to climb a very steep stairway which is cut through a rock. When you go up you will be able to see a Dagoba which is said to have been built by King Kawantissa. In addition to this, there are more other small stupas. There is a specific cave temple that consists of beautiful ancient paintings that are believed to belong to the 3rd century BC. The drawings are done on a thin layer of plaster and have used red and yellow colors. It is stated that the rock temple which is a very sophisticated cave consisted of 12000 monks who attained the highest level in mind according to Buddhism.
6. Tsunami Honganji Vihara
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 611 reviews
Reviewed By seevalid - Colombo, Sri Lanka
Five of us visited Tsunami Honganji Vihara on 26th December 2019, exactly fifteen years after the 2004 boxing day tsunami - the most destructive natural disaster to hit Sri Lanka. Over 2000 lost their lives at this village, Peraliya. 1700 of these were caught hapless inside an express train that was plying from Colombo to Galle along the rail-track only a short distance from the sea. The train had halted as there were people on the railway line that was lying above the surrounding land filled with water from the first wave of the tsunami. When the train stopped people climbed on to the stationary train. The second more forceful wave swept the train off the ground along with the people. Most people on the train perished. Thousands of families were devasted in this village. There were many visitors at this temple on that fifteenth anniversary day to remember the lost and loved ones. We too participated in the Buddhist commemoration activities conducted in the evening. The yellow coloured compassionate serene statue standing in the middle of a lake is said to be the replica of the Bhamian Buddha in Afghanistan destroyed by the Taliban in 2001. The 30-metre statue gazes out into the Indian ocean that brought such destruction to that "Peraliya" coastal village. The statue had been built with Japanese assistance. Entrance is free. Since this is a place of worship visitors are required to be modestly dressed. Footwear are left at the entrance. Whilst there, we heard stories of the disaster from several survivors. It was a moment and a place for quiet contemplation remembering and imagining what it would have been for the unsuspecting victims!
7. Tissamaharama Raja Maha Vihara
8. Matara Port Clock Tower
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
9. Dondra Head Lighthouse
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 214 reviews
Reviewed By K4R1N - Wurzburg, Germany
We visited Dondra Head as stop during a day trip around Matara area. It’s the southernmost point of Sri Lanka, which is marked with a sign - selfie yourself there! And... If you’re around, go there! Though it’s unfortunately not possible to enter the Lighthouse. The coast line is beautiful and it has a lagoon with a fantastic picturesque beach to swim.
10. Kirinda Viharaya
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 67 reviews
Reviewed By Romenco - Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka
Kirinda Buddhist temple is one of the very ancient temples situated Kirinda in Sri Lanka. you have to climb up to reach this beautiful but historical temple. When you reach near to the temple, firstly you can see a Large Buddha statue in front of the temple. you will feel the peacefulness as soon as you see this Buddha statue. Inside the temple, you can see some statues of the great Kings of Ancient Sri Lanka. A very peaceful place to visit.
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