An important transport hub and a major centre of commerce, Matara is one of the key cities in the South of Sri Lanka.
Although Matara is an ancient settlement, no traces of it prior to the colonial era survive to date. While the Portuguese established the town it was the Dutch who saw the advantages of the sheltered estuary of the Nilwala Ganga, built it up to an important axis for cinnamon and elephant trading. Today, Matara divides into two areas: the new town and the Old Dutch colonial district known as the Fort, separated by the river. While the beaches at Matara are indistinctive, the suburbs of Polhena and Medawatte offer excellent snorkelling and surfing. The giant Buddha statue at Weherahena and the Dondra lighthouse – the southernmost point of Sri Lanka are nearby sites worth visiting.
Snake Farm
Snake farm is the only farm of this type in Sri Lanka and it has a special dispensation to keep Snakes (not normally allowed in Sri Lanka) as the owner is a third generation ayurvedic practitioner and uses them to produce free herbal medicines to combat snake bites. However, it is not a snake farm, as its name suggests, but a conservation centre. The family has owned the property for 200 years and it was started by the current proprietor’s grandfather. If you are interested in snakes and would like to see, photograph, touch and increase your knowledge in snake, this is the place to visit to experience something you will definitely remember.
