Southern most major town in Sri Lanka and
the terminus of the coastal rail line has
also been under the Portuguese and Dutch rule.
The star shaped fort at Matara is an unusual
and a unique structure. There are several
beautiful and less crowded beaches along the
coast between Galle and Matara and the closest
to the town is at Polhena. Another attraction
is a 25m high colourful Buddha statue built
at Veherahena Temple.
The temple is about 2 kM from the town centre
and about 1 Km inland from Pallimulla on the
main road.
Matara fort built by the Dutch
around 1640 is a fortification of a Portuguese
garrison. The old Dutch church is an interesting
and one of the oldest structures in the
Fort. There are many other structures in
the Dutch and the British era most of which
have undergone many changes. The star fort
built in a shape of a star has been built
to provide additional protection to the
main fort across the river. The moat now
restored and a drawbridge added recently.
Early British era market at
Nupe now serves, as a music-training centre
is an interesting building with Kandyan
roof tiles. |
Dondra
or Devinuwara 6km east of Matara is the southern
most point of Sri Lanka. A 40m high lighthouse has
been built in 1890 to provide guidance to the shipping
route south of Sri Lanka. The shrine dedicated to
Hindu god Vishnu at Devinuwara is a popular local
attraction. The annual festival held in July / August
is the major event of the temple.
About
15 kM from Matara towards Galle is a popular resort
town of Weligama. Here are many recently built hotels
for visitors in search of the sun and sand. The
rest house at Weligama is one of the oldest rest
houses in Sri Lanka. The Aggrabodhi Vihara about
1 Km from the rest house towards inland is an ancient
temple established in the 3 century BC. The temple
is mentioned in several ancient literature works
in 13th and 14th centuries confirms it's importance,
but had been destroyed by the Portuguese and many
of the existing buildings are of recent construction. 
Dikkawella
Wevurukannala Temple 20 kM east of Matara has one
of the most unusual objects for a temple. That is
a huge clock order invented in 1927 by a juvenile
offender in detention, but still in working order.
Ahangama
and Midigama are two stilt fishing locations in
the area. The fishermen rest on stilts fixed on
shallow water and use rods for fishing. This unique
method of fishing is still practiced today. 
Closer
to the Weligama rest house is a 4m tall 7th or 8th
century statue of a Mahayana Bodhisathwa (future
Buddha) carved in to the rock. The legend says the
statue has been built by a king whose skin decease
had been cured in this area. There are three variations
to the identity of the person who has instructed
the construction of the statue, either a local prince
or a Sinhalese king or an Indian king. The statue
depicts the influence of the Mahayana Buddhism in
the country at the time and the carvings are very
intricate and detailed. 
Beliatta
about 30 Km east from Matara is famous for the utility
and ornamental items of brass work and metal. Most
of the brass work sold in the other parts of the
country originate from two villages the area. There
is a sales centre run by the Department of Small
Industries at Angulumaduwa.