Matara City
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.
Hiriketiya-stranden
En liten strand med utmärkta surfvågor, mycket grönska och flera trevliga ställen att äta och umgås på. Hiriketiya är en av de där lugna sydliga stränderna som – efter att ha blivit “upptäckt” av backpackers – inte längre är lika lugn. Lokalbefolkningen kan ångra att de inte hittade den tidigare, men turismen för med sig restauranger, hotell och aktiviteter utöver bad.
Hiriketiya, även kallad Hiri, är en hästskoformad vik på Sri Lankas sydkust, cirka 1 timme öster om Weligama. Om du planerar en resa längs Sri Lankas sydkust är Hiriketiya ett måste att besöka. Den avslappnade atmosfären är svår att slå, så om du söker ett lugnt liv, bege dig direkt till Hiriketiya Strand.
About Matara District
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.