Kataragama

Kataragama situated in the southern extremity of Uva, dedicated to God Skanda, venerated by Buddhists and Hindus. It is 228km south of Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. Katharagama is famous for the Hindu Shrine (Devale) and Dageba (Buddhist Pagoda - Kirivehera). Lord Buddha and his third and the last visit to Sri Lanka were believed to have met the King Mahasena who ruled over the Katharagama area in B.C.580

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Wewurukannala Temple

In Dikwella, where there is one of the most extraordinary Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka. The Wewurukannala Vihara temple is dominated by an image of a seated Buddha. It is 160ft high, the largest statue in all of Sri Lanka and dates back to the time of King Rajadhi (1782 - 1798). The temple has three parts, the oldest being about 250 years old; however this is of no particular interest.

Blowhole

The Blowhole at Kudawella is a unique geological formation on the coast functioning as a natural spout gusting out a large column of water high up into the air with a loud noise. The ocean water flows underneath the shore, and then comes out of this hole due to pressure. Water shoots up every minute or so, and it gives a very serene feeling.

Mulkirigala

Mulkirigala is an imposing rock with remarkable cave temples located 21km north from the town Tangalle in the district of Hambantota. it is a rock temple that consists of a series of rock temples carved out of the face of a huge rock outcrop, during the second century B.C. In the last Heritage Splendor page, we featured the Ridi Viharaya If you compare these two temples, you may see that there are similarities between Ridi Viharaya and Mulkirigala.

Yala National Park

Yala is among the oldest and best known of Sri Lanka 's National Parks. Yala covers about 1297 sqkm or 129,700 ha. And it is the largest agglomeration of protected areas in the country. There is a substantial elephant population along with spotted deer, sambur, wild buffalo, sloth bear, jackal, mongoose, pangolins and crocodiles.

Kalamatiya Bird's Sanctuary

1 km away from Ranna on the Ranna-Kalamatiya road this sanctuary can be found. Kalamatiya area records about 15 species of birds of which 54 are migratory. There are four nationally threatened birds found within the Sanctuary. 38 species of reptiles, a large number of which are nationally and globally threatened. 41 species offish, about 20 species of mammals with 4 endemic and a large number of plants have been recorded within the Sanctuary.