Hambantota is a gorgeous coastal city in southern Sri Lanka, alongside Galle and Matara cities. It is located around 240 km far from main Colombo city. It is a beautiful city endowed with Mother Nature’s blessings to be rich in lovely beaches and wonderful nature. Hambantota is one of the major touristic cities in Sri Lanka with marvelous natural attractions, including several national parks filled with amazing wildlife.
Although Hambantota was an underdeveloped area before, recent mega development projects have turned the city into a major commercial hub. The infrastructure of Hambantota city was enhanced by adding a new airport and seaport. A new international airport was built in Mattala, just closer to Hambantota town. As well as, International Cricket Stadium and the International Conference Hall have built as a part of the new development plan.
The climate of the Hambantota area is totally different from Galle and Matara cities. Since it belongs to the dry zone and partly to the arid zone, it has a hot climate with an average temperature that fluctuates around 30 °C. This area gets significantly less annual rainfall, on average of 1,050 mm. The heavy rains fall only in April and October from inter-monsoons. The vegetation in this area is well adapted to the dry climate, with most of them are deciduous plants with small leaves.
Hambantota is the major salt-producing city in Sri Lanka. Therefore, you’ll see acres of long salt-producing evaporation ponds and large salt plains. The hot climate throughout the year is ideal for sea salt production. Since Hambantota has year-round dry weather, visitors need to protect themselves without exposing to too much heat. It is better to wear cotton, loose-fitting dresses and drink a lot of water during outdoor activities.
Access to Hambantota
By Air – Hambantota is one of the easiest cities to reach by air in Sri Lanka. Mattala International Airport is located in the town of Mattala, 18 km north of Hambantota. Opened in March 2013, it is the second international airport in Sri Lanka, after Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo.
By Road – The easiest way to reach Hambantota is via E1 Southern Expressway, which starts from Kottawa. You can easily reach Hambantota city within 3 hours from Colombo.
It is possible to reach Hambantota by A2 highway runs along the coast, which connects Colombo with Hambantota town through Galle and Matara. But traveling on this route takes a lot of time due to heavy traffic congestions on this road.
By Railway – You can use the southern coastal railway line to reach Hambantota city. But this railway line runs only until Beliatta. There is more than 60 km to reach the city and the remaining distance should be covered by another means of transport. Therefore, traveling to Hambantota by train is a rather complicated option than other methods.
Here you can find all the best methods to reach Hambantota from Colombo.
1. Visit the Lovely Tangalle Beach
Tangalle is widely famous as a heavenly beach paradise in the Hambantota area. Lonely Planet has ranked Tangalle beach as the number one destination you should not miss when you are in Sri Lanka. If you are looking for a quiet and peaceful beach far away from crowded places, beaches in Tangalle might be at the top of your list. The sceneries in Tangalle beach are really breathtaking and it is the most peaceful beach getaway in southern Sri Lanka.
The beaches in Tangalle are marvelous with turquoise blue water and miles-long palm-fringed coast. There are a number of secluded beaches in Tangalle, where you’ll find only a few visitors. Tangalle is one of the best places to capture the scenic beauty of Sri Lankan beaches. They are picture-perfect with outstanding beauty, looking like picture postcards.
They are excellent places for strolling, relaxing, or just walking around admiring the beautiful views. It’s possible to capture the most spectacular views of the sunset on Tangalle beach. There are many grand and luxurious hotels with premier facilities in the Tangalle area. As well as, a large number of restaurants and cafes located along the Tangalle beach to taste fresh seafood.
Tangalle area has several gorgeous hidden beaches, ideal for a secluded beach getaway. Though the water is deep blue and pretty, the waves are quite rough and strong in some places of the Tangalle area. Therefore, swimming at Tangalle Beach needs to do with care, only in safe places with a sheltering reef.
2. Enjoy Wonderful Nature at Rekawa Lagoon
Rekawa Lagoon is an important coastal waterbody located in Hambantota District. This lagoon is highly rich in biodiversity with a variety of flora and fauna. It margins by thick vegetation of mangroves and home to many kinds of fish, crustaceans, and birds.
The lagoon connects to the Indian Ocean with a 3 km long waterway. Since most parts of the lagoon encircle with a mangrove belt, crustaceans including shrimps and prawns are abundant in this lagoon.
If you love to enjoy the lovely pristine nature of Sri Lanka, you can go kayaking on the lagoon. It’s so peaceful and undisturbed place by commercial tourism. You’ll see many beautiful birds perching in mangroves and water monitors, monkeys, and many others during your trip. It is a good place for nature photographers.
3. Watch Birds at Kalametiya Lagoon
Kalametiya lagoon is a bird sanctuary located in the Hambantota district, 22 km from Tangalle. It is a protected area, declared as a sanctuary in 1938. Kalametiya bird sanctuary is margined by mangrove vegetation and it consists of many species of resident birds, migratory birds, and endemic birds. This lagoon supports pelicans, herons, egrets, open-billed storks, and large wintering populations of migratory birds.
Beautiful Kalametiya lagoon and beach is a tranquil and scenic place, an excellent location for bird watching and nature photography. The boat safari in the lagoon will bring you close to over 150 bird species. You can climb up the rocks in the middle of the bird sanctuary, and see the beautiful sceneries around. It will be a nice tour for nature lovers and you will feel the real feeling of nature.
4. Visit Yala Beach
There is a large stretch of beach in Yala National Park, where everybody can enjoy wonderful beach scenery during their wild safari. This unspoiled beach made more attractive by the presence of a huge stone outcrop called Patanangala rock. Yala beach isn’t a crowded or commercialized one. It will offer you a great opportunity to capture a shot of the wonderful pristine beach in Sri Lanka.
5. Enjoy Wild Safari in Yala National Park
Yala National Park is the most visited wild safari destination in Sri Lanka. It can easily reach from Hambantota town, less than 1-hour drive. Yala is home to 44 kinds of mammals including Sri Lankan leopard, elephant, sloth bear, wild water buffalo, and many more. Yala is home to a large herd of Sri Lankan elephants.
Among all of them, leopards are the major highlights of Yala national park. Since Yala has the world’s highest density of leopards, it attracts worldwide visitors who love these big cats. An estimated number of 100 individuals are roaming in the park, giving you lots of opportunities to capture lovely shots of these magnificent creatures.
6. Visit Udawalawe National Park
Udawalawe National Park locates nearly 1-hour drive from Hambantota town. It is the second most visited park in the country and a popular destination for elephant lovers. The park spreads over 300 square km around the Udawalawe Reservoir. The main feature of Udawalawe Park is the habitat surrounding this reservoir. It includes forests, marshes, and grasslands. The surrounding is home to many varieties of wildlife including birds, water buffaloes, and crocodiles.
Udawalawe is an important habitat for Sri Lankan elephants. Elephants attract to the park because of the abundant water supply from the Udawalawe reservoir. A large herd of Elephants about 250 believed to permanently reside in the park. The distinct feature of the park is the photogenic elephant families. Udawalawe is the best place to capture the iconic view of an elephant family with their cute baby elephants.
7. Visit Bundala National Park
Bundala National Park situates only 16 km from Hambantota town. It is one of the great places in Sri Lanka for bird watching. This park is an outstanding Important Bird Area in Sri Lankan wetlands. It is an internationally important wintering ground for migratory water birds.
Bundala harbors 197 species of birds, the highlight being the greater flamingo, which migrates in large flocks. Thousands of greater flamingoes in Bundala National Park is a magnificent view to see. Although Bundala is widely famous for birds, elephants, and other wildlife can be spotted in the park too.
8. Visit the Ancient Temple in Tissamaharama
Tissamaharama is a large ancient temple in the Hambantota district. King Kavantissa built it to house the sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha during the Ruhuna kingdom. This ancient temple is located between the Tissa town center and Tissa Lake. Tissamaharama Dagaba is 55.8 m in height and has a circumference of 165 m. This pure white, huge Dagaba in the sunset is very charming and it is one of the awe-inspiring places in Hambantota city.
You’ll see the Tissa Wewa, an ancient reservoir during the trip to Tissamaharama. It constructed in the 3rd Century BC, to irrigate paddy lands and supply water to the city. The embankment on the southern shore supports the Tissa-Kataragama main road. Besides, this road is lined by giant old Indian raintrees planted in the British era to provide shade. Tissa Wewa offers a wonderful picturesque background of the Sri Lankan countryside, with huge trees in the background.
9. Visit Beachside Temple in Kirinda
Kirinda is a small, quiet beachside town located 40 km away from Hambantota town. It is known for its historic temple called Viharamahadevi Temple. This ancient temple dedicated to Queen Viharamahadevi is the most prominent attraction of Kirinda town. There is a statue of Lord Buddha and a statue of Viharamahadevi in the temple. This temple attracts thousands of pilgrims, owing to its breathtaking sceneries of the surrounding ocean.
Locates on a huge rocky outcrop, it gives a sweeping view of the surrounding deep blue ocean. Certainly, it is located in a jaw-dropping dramatic location and you’ll find the beach sceneries around are magnificent. This lovely ancient Viharmahadevi temple in Kirinda is a wonderful place completely worthy to visit.
10. Visit Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya
Kataragama is a widely famous pilgrimage site and multicultural landmark deeply revered by both Buddhist and Hindu communities. It locates around 50 km far from Hambantota and can easily reach within 1 hour from the city. Kataragama Shrine is a famous Hindu shrine dedicated to the God of Kataragama. Also, it is one of the top Ramayana sights in Sri Lanka. This shrine is one of the most important places for people who are looking to get blessing for their family and business life.
Other than the Hindu shrine, the ancient Kiri Vehera is a major Buddhist stupa in the Kataragama area. This stupa is 28 m in height with a circumference of 85 m. This huge majestic stupa offers quite an amazing view to visitors. Since it is located just closer to the Hindu shrine, remember to visit the lovely Kiri Vehera during your trip to Kataragama.
11. Visit Ancient Sithulpawwa Temple
Sithulpawwa Temple is an ancient Buddhist monastery located in Hambantota, 18 km east of the pilgrimage town Kataragama. It is more than 2000 years old and believed to build in the 2nd century B.C by King Kavantissa. There are hundreds of caves and shelters around the temple complex that housed monks who came for education and meditation.
Sithulpawwa Temple locates on a huge rocky hill and views from the top are magnificent. There are ruins of stone Buddha images, Bodhisattva images and many more spread throughout the monastery premises. This ancient monastery is a sacred place for Buddhist devotees.
12. Ridiyagama Safari Park
Ridiyagama Safari Park locates around 20 km from Hambantota town. This is a huge park ideal for a wild safari. This is the first-ever Safari Park in Sri Lanka, spread in a vast area of 500 acres. You can travel in the park by safari bus or jeep while watching animals roaming freely in the park. There is no doubt this will be a marvelous experience for wildlife lovers.
This is a marvelous destination travelers should not miss in Hambantota city. Most of the gorgeous animals on the planet are living here. It houses African lions, zebra, Bengal tigers, Ostrich, Camels, Kangaroo, and various animals from other parts of the world. It is possible to see all of them in one day using the safari vehicles available in the park.
13. Mirijjawila Botanical Garden
Mirijjawila Dry Zone Botanical Garden is located at Mirijjawila in the Hambantota district. It is located on the Colombo-Kataragama main road, just 10 km from Hambantota town. Since it has the Mattala International Airport just closer, it is a convenient destination for tourists. Opened in 2013, this is the latest addition to the list of botanical gardens in Sri Lanka.
It has a vast area of 300 acres and there is a big collection of wet and dry zone plants including some rare medicinal plants endemic to Sri Lanka. This amazing collection is second only to Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens. It is one of the major attractions and must-visit destinations in Hambantota city.
This elegantly landscaped garden has large ornamental flower cultivation and commercial flower cultivation. There are big lawns and well-paved pathways to walk inside the park. The appearance of the lawns in the wet season and the dry season is quite different. They are brown in the dry period but turn to lush green in the rainy season.
Although this garden locates in a dry landscape, it would provide much relief and peace of mind to the visitors. Since the park is huge, the best way is to rent a buggy cart to explore the garden.
14. Hambantota Birds Park
Hambantota Birds Park is located around 16 km from Hambantota town in Nagarawewa. This bird park expands on a huge landscape of 35 acres. It dedicates to bird lovers and bird enthusiasts who study ornithology. This Birds Park is home to both endemic and exotic birds with over 180 varieties and around 3200 birds. It is the best opportunity in Sri Lanka to meet and interact with beautiful feathered friends.
Among the exotic and rare species, the most prominent are the birds bought from Amazon rain forests. As well as, there are several species of colorful Macaws and they will easily steal your heart by their attractive appearance. Cockatoo, Peacocks, Ducks, Love Birds, Parrots, and many more lovely birds are living here. If you are a bird lover, remember not to miss Hambantota Birds Park, while touring in the city.
To sum up, the above list shows the top things to do in the southern coastal city of Hambantota. We hope you’ll enjoy these activities while touring the city. In addition to these activities, don’t forget to try some yummy sweets including curd with treacle and Kalu Dodol which are highly popular productions of Hambantota. Welcome guys, Happy traveling to Hambantota city!
Text by Magnificent Sri Lanka. Images from Wikimedia Commons, Facebook and Holidify. All copyrights reserved by original authors.
