STA Travel Bugs: Historical Bentota?
We recently spotted pinkgirlie in need of some guidance on a what there was to do in Sri Lanka’s Bentota.
Posting her query on the travellerspoint forum, pinkgirlie was aware of the water sports available, but was keen to discover whether there were any places of historical interest nearby.
Stepping into the breach is STA’s own Roger, with what I think most will find a fairly comprehensive answer - over to him.
Bentota is one of the best beach areas of Sri Lanka, with plenty of nightlife and some of the islands best hotels. There are a couple of temples nearby which are worth a look, but the main historical sights are in the centre of the island. The ancient cities and fortresses of Sigiriya and Anuradhapura are fabulous places to explore, but not particularly easy to get to from Bentota. You can get to Colombo easily enough by train or bus, and from there you can head north. If you have the time it’s worth spending a few days combining Kandy with the “cultural triangle” of ancient sites to the north. An easier trip would be to Galle in the south with its historic fort from dating from when the Dutch arrived in Sri Lanka in the 17th century. You could do this in a day trip from Bentota.
Roger
Stirling work!
