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.
Omgivelser: Floden Nilwala løber ud i Det Indiske Ocean ved stranden i Matara og deler byen i to områder: den gamle bydel i flodmundingen og den nye bydel på fastlandet. Den seks-sporede Mahanama-bro forbinder fastlandet med flodmundingen.
Ny bydel: Den nye bydel i Matara breder sig i alle retninger. Togstationen, banker, butikker, cricketbanen og det hollandske stjernefort er fremtrædende steder.
Gammel bydel: Den gamle bydel i Matara, også kendt som den gamle kolonidistrikt i flodmundingen kaldet Fort, huser det gamle gæstehus, den hollandske reformerte kirke, busstationen, markedet og en moské.
Matara – Transportknudepunkt:Matara er det vigtigste transportknudepunkt i Sydprovinsen med en velorganiseret busstation i den gamle bydel.
Overnatning i Matara: De mest populære områder for overnatning i Matara er strandene Polhena og Medawatta.
Polhena Beach & Medawatta Beach: Polhena-stranden tilbyder gode snorkelmuligheder, mens Medawatta er ideel til surfing.
Matara er en populær destination kendt for sine strande, kulturelle seværdigheder og det livlige lokale miljø.
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.
