Bentota beaches. Water sports center. By transfer bus

Bentota is a city located on southwest coast Sri Lanka. It's one of the best romantic ones ever expensive resorts islands. Convenient geographical position, just 70 km south of Colombo, beautiful endless beaches, amazing nature, all this contributes to the great popularity of Bentota among tourists. The resort is especially famous among newlyweds. They go here to honeymoon travel or weddings are organized in local hotels. The city got its name from the river flowing into the ocean. Moreover, Aluthgama is located on the right bank, and Bentota itself occupies the left bank. Although usually travel agencies do not share them. Aluthgama is populated predominantly by Muslims, most of the shops, markets and banks are concentrated here. The village has hotels and its own railway station.

Bentota, shops.

The trading network of Bentota is represented mainly by small grocery stores, souvenir shops, kiosks and a market. Some stores position themselves as a supermarket.

For example Nebula Supermarket, although in fact it is only a supermarket by the standards of Bentota. This is a small shop with essential goods, open from 9.00 to 19.30. Another one is Aluthgama Public Super Market - a set of shops of all kinds, including cafes. Cargills Food City is the only chain convenience store with fixed prices and a variety of products. Works from 8.00 to 22.00. Wine shop with a selection of alcohol, air conditioning and price tags. Opening hours - 9.00 - 21.00.

There are many souvenir and jewelry shops and stalls scattered around the city.

Market.

A colorful oriental market, products, things, a lot of locals, tourists drop in, noise, din.

All shops, supermarkets and markets you can see on the map.

Bentota attractions.

A list of attractions and entertainment in Bentota, located within walking distance from the hotel or the center of the village. Everything worth seeing in Bentotta or the immediate surroundings can be seen on the map, the link to which is below.

Water sports center.

Malu Banna Water Sport Center is located on the banks of the river near the bridge. Water activities, boating, banana etc., good restaurant, riverside bungalows. This is one of the best if not the best water park in Sri Lanka.

If it is true that the town got its name from the river, then it is also true that the river is one of the most popular attractions in this area. This includes boating and other watercraft in a wide mouth, and excursions up the river with acquaintance with crocodiles, monitor lizards, elephants, birds and mangrove forests. Although riding a banana on a river upstream of which crocodiles live…

Restaurants, discos, nightclubs.

Bentota is apparently not the resort where you should go for a noisy nightlife, nightclubs and discos. If there is such entertainment, then they are concentrated in a couple of three hotels. And here good restaurants, especially seafood, in Bentota are available.

Turtle farm. Cosgoda.

A turtle farm is located 11 km to the south in the village of Kosgoda. Very interesting place, where you can see how huge females lay their eggs, how juveniles are born and how they are released into the ocean.

Temples.

Kande Viharaya Temple(Kande viharaya Temple) is located in Aluthgama, just 1 km from the highway to Colombo and 3.5 km from the center of Bentota. It is famous for the 48m high seated Buddha statue.

Temple of Bentar Galapata Raja Maha Vihara. The path leading to this temple passes through a stone arch, the pillars of which are carved with intricate Nari Lath motifs. Another attraction of the temple is a unique ancient stone water filter. But the most important shrine is the tooth of the Buddha, kept in Dagoba, erected on a rock outcrop.

Bathing place for the queen. A little further down the river you can visit another historical attraction. It is an oval rock with the inscription "Nissankamalla Raja Bisawa Isnanaya Kala Istania" (a place visited by the queen of Nissankamalla to bathe). This event took place in the II century AD. The temple is located 3.5 km from the center of Bentota.

Lunuganga Garden.

Lunuganga Garden is a European-style park, restaurant and hotel on the shores of Lake Dedduwa, the former homestead of local architect Jeffrey Bawa. Quiet, beautiful lawns beautiful lake and the restaurant is tasty and inexpensive. Guided visit and fee.

Buddhist monastery.

At the very end of the beach, in a place where a wide sandy spit covers the mouth of the river, there is a functioning Buddhist monastery. A beautiful place, islands, dagoba, positioned as a center for meditation, visiting is free.

How to get to Bentota

to Bentota from international airport Bandaranaike (Colombo), and since Sri Lanka is an island, usually everyone flies there, you can get there by taxi, bus, train or order a transfer.

Colombo (airport) - Bentota.

By taxi. Taxis can be taken directly from the counter at the Colombo airport, or at the exit, where there are a lot of people who want to provide you with this service. It will cost a lot (50 - 70 dollars), but it is simple and fast. The trip will take about 2 hours.

By bus. If you decide to use public transport, then you first need to take bus number 187 (price 100 rupees +50 for luggage) to the Colombo bus station. Next, transfer to the bus going towards Halle. They leave quite often, there are private (white) and state (red), with and without air conditioning, new and dead ones. The price is from 100 rupees, travel time is about 3 hours. Buses stop on demand, so try to get your bearings on the map and explain to the driver or conductor as accurately as possible where to get off.

By train. Train Station located next to the bus, where the shuttle 178 arrives from the airport. There are 5 flights departing from Colombo Fort station. The price depends on the class of the wagon and for the summer of 2018 is: 2kl 110 and 3kl 60 rupees, respectively. The schedule can be viewed here https://www.eservices.railway.gov.lk/schedule/homeAction.action?lang=en Further, you can take a tuk-tuk from the railway station. The price is 50-100 rupees.

Bentota, Sri Lanka: map, photo, things to do

Bentota is located on the southwest coast (Sri Lanka), 94 km from Bandaranaike International Airport and 63 km from Colombo. The city belongs to southern province, is part of the administrative region of Galle, but on some maps it is assigned to the Western Province due to the fact that it is located on their border.

The beautiful deserted sandy beaches of Bentota and the warm Indian Ocean attract tourists from all over the world to the resort. Bentota beach is deservedly considered one of the best beaches in Sri Lanka: a wide strip of shallow almost white sand, gentle entry into the water, smooth transition to depth. The resort town is located on open coast, but during the season the waves are not big.

Bentota Map

• to the north: Aluthgama, Beruwala, Maggona, Katukurunda, Kalutara, Vaskaduwa, Wadduwa;
• to the south: Induruwa, Kosgoda, Ahungalla, Balapitiya, Ambalangoda, Hikkaduwa.

Bentota, as well as neighboring Induruwa and Beruwala (Aluthgama) are famous beach resorts Sri Lanka, chosen by newlyweds from different countries peace. Also widespread in the area medical tourism: many Europeans of retirement age come to Bentota for Ayurvedic treatment and wellness courses, a wide range of which are provided here by hotels of medium and high price segments.

The mass tourist flow of guests to the island, and to Bentota in particular, is mainly Indians (spend short holidays and weekends), Arabs (more often come in the off-season), Germans and British elderly (for Ayurveda treatment), French, Danes, Swedes ( for the excursion program), Western and Eastern Europeans - for the wedding.

How to get to Bentota from Colombo Airport

From Sri Lanka International Airport, located in Negombo, you can get to Bentota using the services of a prepaid taxi at the airport. The official airport taxi stand is located at the exit of the arrivals area.

The taxi stand works around the clock, does not require reservation. The travel time to Bentota from the airport by taxi is 2 hours, the cost of the trip by car with AC is 7,100 rupees.

You can also get there by public transport, for this you need to take bus number 187 to Colombo at the airport, the ticket price is about 100 rupees, luggage - 50 rupees. It goes to the Pettah bus station, next to which is the Colombo Fort railway station. You can then travel by train or bus.

Note: suburban buses No. 2, 32, 60, etc. do not go along the highway, but along Galle Street, which runs along the coast, which increases the travel time to 3-4 hours, depending on the presence of traffic jams at the exit from Colombo. Buses along the coast run around the clock, at night the interval of their movement is 1 hour.

In order to use the train, you need to find the Colombo Fort railway station and take the train there. Only 2nd and 3rd class trains run on this route. Be sure to check if the train stops in Bentota, because. express trains pass it without stopping, in this case you need to get off at the previous Aluthgama station and take a tuk-tuk to Bentota.

The beaches of Bentota

Bentota attracts tourists from all over the world with its two deserted sandy beaches framed by coconut palms, stretching along the coastal bays from Beruwala to Induruwa: north and south beaches. The beaches of Bentota are one of the visiting cards of Sri Lanka, and therefore the government of the country has singled out this resort as an Ayurvedic and beach destinations, banning beach development and noisy events.

A distinctive feature of the beaches of Bentota from the beaches of other cities such as Hikkaduwa, Unawatuna, Weligama is the small number of people, the level of cleanliness and the lack of trade. The cleanliness of the beach as a whole stems from the lack of trade, as well as daily cleaning, which is carried out by the public services of the city.

North Bentota Beach

north beach located closer to Aluthgama and is a sandy spit on a peninsula separated by a river from the rest of the territory. The north beach is very clean, there are several expensive 4 * and 5 * hotels on it.

The beach area is cleaned daily in the mornings, the infrastructure is not very well developed: as such, there is almost no trade on the beach, just as there is no waste. In the southern part of the northern beach there is a rental of surf equipment and a surf spot where beginners are trained, in the northern part of the beach there is a windsurfing center, paramotoring and the Bentara River Temple.

South Bentota Beach

The southern beach is located near the border with Induruva and is a long sandy beach, on the shore of which there are several hotels of the middle price segment of 3-4 *.

The south beach is extremely sparsely populated, the infrastructure on the beach is practically absent, with the exception of the territory of several hotels. On south beach there is a rental of surfboards; it also has several restaurants. In the southern part of the beach, not far from the Saman Villas hotel, there is the only disco bar in the city, where parties are organized on Saturdays from October to April.

Bentota Photos

Nightlife in Bentota

As in general in Sri Lanka, night life, with the exception of the country's largest city Colombo and a couple of package tourist places, is absent. Basically, the local population of Bentota gets up at 6:00, at dawn, in order to have time to redo all their affairs before the heat sets in, and, as a result, they go to bed already at 10 pm. In addition, mostly Bentota tourists are people who prefer quiet, relaxing holiday, sports or ayurveda.

It is worth noting that, despite the fact that the Sinhalese themselves treat loud music exclusively with approval in the evening, it is not welcome at night, because. does not correspond to the rhythm of life of most ordinary working people, and therefore conflict situations may arise.

However, since 2012, under the pressure of the annually increasing tourist flow to the island during the period from December to April, local entrepreneurs have been forced to start holding nightly parties. Currently, parties are held in Bentota at a couple of large hotels located on the north beach, as well as once a week, on Saturdays, a party is held at the hotel on the south beach.

Infrastructure of Bentota: hotels, bars, restaurants

Bentota is a resort town with a well-developed tourist infrastructure. The city is a very popular place because there is a choice of decent European, including chain, hotels on the coast is quite wide and quite satisfies the needs of different budgets. On the coast, on the first line, there are mostly expensive hotels.

Further, in the direction inland, behind the railway that separates the first line of hotels, there is a large number of various mini-hotels and guesthouses of the middle segment. The village, off Galle Road, also has a large number of guesthouses and rental houses in the medium and economy segments.

Things to do in Bentota, attractions

Boat safari on the Bentota Ganga river
(River safary Bentota)

Lovers of a leisurely vacation are everywhere offered trips on a motor boat along the Bentota Ganga River, during which you can enjoy all the charm of the surrounding tropical nature, sailing through the mangroves, which make up a continuous plexus of small corridors consisting of dense aerial tree roots.

Impenetrable thickets are interspersed with the open spaces of the river, with its stunning landscapes, with populated banks, allowing you to look at the life and life of ordinary Sri Lankans and their leisurely ubiquitous huge neighbors - monitor lizards.

Crocodiles live in the river itself, which can sometimes be seen basking on boulders, in in large numbers protruding from under the water above the surface of the river at a distance from the tourist routes. Small flocks of medium-sized auburn monkeys are often found in the treetops along the river. You can see how the local people are doing fishing and weaving mats from coconut tree fibers in small huts on the banks of a calm river, smoothly flowing into Lake Dedduva. The average cost for a river excursion per boat for 1 hour is 3000 rupees.

Turtle farm in Bentota
(Bentota Turtle Farm)

On the border of Bentota and Induruwa, on the south beach, a hundred meters from the famous hotel "Saman Villas", there is a turtle nursery called "Turtle Farm".

Entrance to the farm costs 500 rupees, for this amount you will be given an individual tour of the farm. The farm has a small gift shop. Once every three days, a night release of small turtles is held, tourists, for a fee, can take part in this.

Lunuganga Manor
(Lunuganga garden)

Lunuganga Manor was built in 1948 on the territory of rubber plantations on the banks of the Bentota Ganga River. The estate is located on the territory of 7 hectares.

At the time of construction, the estate was a lonely building among the plantations on a narrow strip of land, resting at one end on a salt lake formed by the flow of the Bentota Ganga River. The name of the estate "Lunuganga" is translated as "salt river": "moon" in Sinhalese means "salt", and "ganga" - "river".

The estate has a beautiful garden, the various elements of which echo the famous gardens of the world in their style. On the territory of the estate, 14 bells of different sizes are installed in different places, making sounds of different tones - the original invention of the owner. With the help of these bells, Jeffrey Bava did not just call the servants, each of the sounds meant a specific request. Today, the estate is used for various artistic events.

Temples of Bentota
(Bentota Temples)

There are also many interesting sights in Bentota - Buddhist temples:

• Bentara Galapatha Raja Maha Viharaya (Benthara Galapatha Raja Maha Viharaya, Bentota),
• Benvehera Gane Purana Raja Maha Viharaya (Benvehera Gane Purana Raja Maha Viharaya),
• Bodhimaluwa Raja Maha Viharaya (Bodimaluwa Raja Maha Viharaya, Bentota),
• Kalyanaramaya Temple, Bentota,
• Udakotuwa Raja Maha Viharaya,
• Vanavasa Raja Maha Viharaya (Wanawasa Raja Maha Viharaya, Bentota).

A very interesting story at the Buddhist temples of the 12th century: Vanavasa Viharaya and Bentara Galapatha Raja Maha Viharaya. According to legend, these two temples are connected to each other and to other partially destroyed temples by underground tunnels. The temples are made in the Sinhala traditional style and represent unique monuments architecture.

Beach sports in Bentota

For fans of mobile types of recreation, modern tennis courts, volleyball courts, places for archery have been created. Periodically for open areas carnival processions, folk dances, unique concerts of ethnic folklore are organized.

For lovers aquatic species sports on the northern beach of the city, on the border with the southern beach, there is a surf spot where beginners can easily learn how to ride the waves. On both beaches of Bentota, surfboards can be rented. The cost of renting a board is 500 rupees.

At the bridge connecting Bentota and Aluthgama, there are several Water Sports Centers where you can rent motor boats and jet skis, you can ride a "banana". The cost of renting a jet ski is about 3000 rupees. in 15 minutes. There is also a paragliding facility near the coast. Cost 15 min. flight about 10,000 rupees.

Video from Bentota

Weather in Bentota

The climate of Bentota is warm and mild, day and night temperatures do not fluctuate much from month to month: during the day 30-33C, at night 24-26C, water temperature + 27/29C. Weather on the West Coast of Sri Lanka is divided into two seasons - dry and cool (November-March) and wet and hot (May-October). The best time to visit Bentota is during November - April.

The rainy season, although it lasts from March to October, does not fall all the time at this time, but for the most part at night, during the day, as a rule, they last no more than 20 minutes, 2-4 times a day. Rare heavy rains on the southwestern coast, lasting a maximum of 20-25 minutes, can continue throughout November and early December.

This is a continuation of the review of Bentota Beach. The second part of personal experience includes. What to see in Bentota. Beaches. Personal impression. And some useless advice. The first part was: how to get there, where to stay, where to eat, shopping and bank cards and money change.

What to see.

The famous Sigiriya. This is how most tourists see it.

In Bentota and the surrounding area there is not much that is truly interesting. We swam on the river, went to the local Buddha, a turtle factory and a waterfall. They wanted to, but did not get to the Lunuganga estate. You can view it both at one time and separately. We traveled at one time. Arranged with a local "guide". We traveled in tuk-tuks.
Bentota river.

The fisherman demonstrates his catch. Giant Jumbo Shrimp.

If as a way to kill time, then I rather liked the trip. We saw almost all the local wildlife: from tame crocodiles to chameleons. You swim several kilometers along the river and look at the shore. You wait until the guide or driver sees something in the thickets. You can't see anything in the mangroves yourself. As an excursion: for an amateur. If taken separately, then the boats are at the bridge.

Local Buddha.

Kandy Vihara temple in Bentota.

I liked it. Interesting wall paintings. I would advise you to go even if you have already been to similar places. Mainly because you don't have to travel far. 10-20 minutes by tuk tuk depending on where you live. Our host even offered to take us there for free.

This is how the whole temple is painted inside.

Turtle factory.

Here is such a miracle Yudo you can hold in your hands.

Of course there is an entrance fee. The guide paid for us. But like 500 rupees. Kids and impressionable girls will surely like it there. The farm is also easily accessible by tuk-tuk. Whether you need it or not, decide for yourself.
Waterfall. It's worth going only if you haven't seen the waterfalls yet. And even in this case, it is better to wait for a more interesting opportunity. Nothing special.

Manor Lunuganga. Photo by Anastasia Bobrovskaya.

So they didn't get to it. But I think that as a way to pass the time will do. It's not far to go either. We planned to drive into it when we went to watch the whales, but did not have time. The garden closes at 17:00. At least that's what our guide said.

This is how we saw Sigiriya. It just stopped raining.

Mandatory to visit. (This is a personal opinion). Full day trip. From early morning to late evening. But it's worth it. Truly the eighth wonder of the world. As an interesting addition to Sigiriya, a visit to the golden and cave temples of the Buddha located along the Dambulla path. At the same time you can ride on elephants. We rented a car for four for $100 plus a guide. The guide is in quotation marks, because he spoke so-so in Russian. More like a trip coordinator. However, a guide in Sigiriya is not really needed. There you need to look, not listen. It is better to read before the trip what kind of miracle it is - Sigiriya. Be sure to bring water with you. Climbing to the top, that's another attraction. Entrance fee $30. They paid in dollars.

Halfway is over. There are 1200 steps in total.

If you go by yourself, it is better to immediately discuss with the "guide" the arrivals at the tea factory and the spice garden. If you buy an excursion, then visiting these “sights” will be a must, but here you can avoid it if you wish.

Whale trip.

Decide for yourself if it's worth watching or not.

You need to go to the port of Merissa. An hour and a half drive from Bentota. In short, an excursion for an amateur. On the one hand, like a fool, they put you on a boat, give you a pill for motion sickness and ride on the sea for 3-4 hours. Seems like a pointless exercise. The whole point of the trip, if you're lucky, is to see the tip of the whale's tail. But on the other hand, there are not many people who have seen a live whale and there are not many places on planet Earth where these whales still swim. I can brag about what I've seen, although it's not good to brag. If you're lucky, you'll see more than a tail. We were lucky. By the way, they say that if you can’t see the whales, then the money for the tour is returned. I just don't know if it's true or not. Personally, I would recommend this tour.

Cows now graze near the once impregnable walls of the fort.

It is more convenient to go here if you are staying at Unawatuna or Hikkaduwa. Convenient means closer. You can just take a tuk-tuk. We stopped by when we were riding whales. From Bentota and other beaches (even remote ones), it’s cheaper to take a train to Galle, and then a tuk-tuk or bus.
I'll take a little break on the train. Really very convenient, very cheap and very curious way to get around.
Convenient, because with transfers you can travel by train all over the island. Colombo's main interchange hub. If you want a cheap and interesting trip to Kandy, you need to take a train to Colombo and transfer to another train.

Third class carriage in Sri Lanka.

Cheap because it costs a penny. We traveled from Bentota to Hikkaduwa in a third-class carriage for 25 rupees per person (about 13 rubles).
And curious, because you go with locals who stare at you, and you at them. And the train itself is colorful. Something between a train from the movies about the civil war and an electric train from the 90s. (Although this comparison is for those who remember it. The train, of course, not the train.) Doors and windows are wide open. Worn-out, shabby wooden benches. We were driving when there were not many people there and back, but I also saw trains 110% full
For the sake of objectivity, I will say that second-class carriages are only a little more expensive, but more civilized. There are also trains with sleeping cars for long distances.

This is how the fort looks from the sea.

Let's go back to the fort. Personally, as a boy, I liked it. At first it seemed nothing special, and I saw cooler, but then when I realized the scale, I changed my mind. I generally like to look at the work of distant ancestors. Whoever they are: Russians, Mexicans or Portuguese. Halle is a living confirmation of what they knew how to build for centuries. It has stood indestructible since the 17th century, and even survived when the tsunami hit the south coast in 2004. The surrounding houses were destroyed, but the fort survived. The locals even hid in it.
The two hours I spent there was not enough for me. You can safely go for the whole day. Combine excursions, beach, shops for the female half. Moreover, the fort is open around the clock and admission is free.

Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy. So we didn't get there.

Another excursion that we wanted to go on, but did not manage to go, is Kandy. If you have been or will be, then leave your opinion in the comments. I think the reviews will only be positive. If you take an excursion on the street or from a tour operator, then, as a rule, they combine Sigiriya and Kandy. Issue price from $140.

Beaches.

The main reason why you should go to Sri Lanka is the ocean and beaches.

Think seven times what you want from Sri Lanka before choosing a holiday destination. From right beach a lot depends.
We have been to three beaches. Or even three and a half. Because in Bentota they lived near two different beaches. First two days on the south beach. For some reason, it is not even marked as a beach on Google maps. The beginnings of a civilized life on it are only at the very end near Saman Villas. A cafe on the beach, about six free sunbeds, a good place for swimming and a huge deserted beach. My first impression is overwhelming - depressing. Stunning from the power of the ocean, as the waves were decent and the vastness of the beach multiplied by the desertedness. And the depressing thought is that like this, in splendid isolation, I will cuckoo here for 14 days.
South Beach is kind of unkempt. Maybe that's why he's not on the map. By the way, not far from this cafe there is a turtle farm. Easy to walk in 5-8 minutes.

Beach in Bentota. central part. Near Cafe Loft.

The beach in Bentota itself is much more civilized, although it is just as huge, three kilometers, and almost as deserted. In its northern part, it starts from the Bentota River and stretches to the five-star Taj Bentota Resort & Spa. The location near the hotel is most suitable for a beach holiday. A good entry into the sea, paid sunbeds, shady villages, in five to ten minutes there are several cafes. You can learn how to board. The school is right there.
Of all the entertainment on the beach on this side, there is a school, and by the river a hang glider for 50 bucks (half an hour of flight) and a helicopter for 1000. Although I think if you bargain, the price will be reduced.

Hikkaduwa.

Turtle feeding.

There were one day. So I only saw a little of it. As a beach, I didn't like it. But that's because I compared him to Bentota. Too narrow. But towards the end, it seems to be wider. We saw sea turtles there. They have been tamed (or trained) and at a certain time they swim ashore to the beach. Free attraction for vacationers. It's called: feed the turtle. The dimensions of the turtle are visible in the photo.
But Hikkaduwa itself seemed like a metropolis compared to Bentota. There are also shops, and discos, and other charms of civilization.

Unawatuna.

I was there, too, only a few hours, when I stopped by with friends who stayed there. Unawatuna liked at first sight. Compact, comfortable, lived-in. The depth starts almost at the shore. According to friends, the waves here are much calmer than in Bentota. You can swim anywhere. Yes, and life and day and night is much richer. Here they liked it more than in Bentota.

My personal impression of Bentota.

There are always waves for boarding in Bentota.

Bentota is a beach. Gorgeous, wonderful beach, but suitable only for relaxation. There is nothing more to do here. I even agree that this is indeed a paradise for lovers and honeymooners. But if you are neither, then you can get bored. Only rescued me good company. Vova, Alla, Natalie, thank you very much for this!
Do not believe in fairy tales about the developed tourism infrastructure in Bentota. This is if you sit in five stars. Everything is in order with the infrastructure there. But to go so far, and for such money, to sit in the "infrastructure" seems silly to me.

At the end, some useless tips for those who are going to Sri Lanka.

Golden Buddha in Dambulla.

1. Between a package tour and an independent trip, choose a trip. And it is better to go not to one place, but to several beaches. Live for five days on one, three on the other, and so on. Depending on the length of the holiday and the thirst for impressions.
2. Sri Lanka is an island. (You never know. Joke). And around the Indian Ocean. So, forget about calm swims in the sea. At best, you will be able to jump on the waves. Before the trip, read about rip currents. How to behave if, God forbid, you get caught. (This is no longer a joke. I don't have very good memories of them.)
3. And most importantly. Do not expect something unusual from Sri Lanka. If you have been to other Southeast Asian countries, then they are probably more interesting than Sri Lanka. And if you haven’t been, then it’s better to go to Thailand or Vietnam.

Our last sunset in Bentota.

But in general, I liked Sri Lanka. Maybe I will go there again, but no longer tied to the place and with the old company.

Have a nice holiday!!

Bentota is located in the southwest of the island, 101 km south of Bandaranaike International Airport. The distance from Colombo to Bentota is 62 km.

Indian Ocean

Weather in Bentota - when to go

The best weather here, and hence the season, is from November to April. There is almost no rain during this time. The ocean is relatively calm. Air temperature + 30-35, water - + 24-28 degrees.

May to October - low season, the sky may be gloomy, it may rain. The rainiest time is from July to September.

Bentota National Resort

Officially, Bentota has the status national resort Sri Lanka. Naturally, such a title in the country luxurious beaches could only get the very best of them.

A small distance from the airport, a good location - away from the noisy highway in Galle, and the majesty of the beach, surprisingly wide and long, and the presence of the Bentota River, which has become another center of recreation and entertainment, played a role here.

Fortunately, thanks to the status of a national resort, Bentota also received competent architectural planning.

Large hotels here are spacious, and the first of them - Taj Exotica, Lihiniya Surf Hotel, Bentota Beach Hotel - were designed by famous Sri Lankan architects.

Nothing was built here right on the beach (a rarity not only for Sri Lanka), so the coast has been preserved in its original beauty - just a strip of pure white sand, roasted by the sun, on one side shaded by the blue ocean, and on the other - by piercing green coconut palms . Dream beach.

Naturally, everything you can dream of on vacation is here - spa, restaurants, diving, Ayurveda and meditation opportunities. Where else should all this be, if not on best beach islands?

How Bentota works

My map is not very good, because it is black and white, but it is authentic, found in Bentota. Look here: where it says Bentota National Holyday Resort is tourist centre Bentoty. There are many large package hotels concentrated here.

Bentota ganga is the Bentota River, more about it below. Across the river is the town of Aluthgama - a local transport hub, since there is no bus station in Bentota.

The broken line along the beach is the railroad. The railway here is not wide and not scary, but it is there, and trains run along it. When booking hotels, pay attention to the reviews - whether it interferes with your vacation.

With my own eyes, I saw only one uniquely unsuccessful guesthouse, which is not worth settling in if you do not want to get trains just 100 meters from the bed - this is Susantas.

Bentota beach - what's with the beach

Despite the popularity of this resort, the beach here is quiet and not crowded. We did not see the usual sunbeds and umbrellas here. As a result, it is very unusual and pleasant for walking.

That is why Bentota is often called the most romantic beach in Sri Lanka, and that is why it cannot but attract honeymooners. In general, a popular place for honeymoons.

perfect beach

There are relatively few people on the beach, mostly where it is shallow and safe to swim.

The most crowded part of the beach

Few people on the beach - this does not mean that the hotels are empty. So where is everyone? During the day it is comfortable to relax under the greenery, palm trees and white umbrellas on the sun loungers around the pools. Or traveling along the Bentota River by boat.

Bentota River

Along with the ocean beach, there is another center of attraction here - the Bentota River. Along it are hotels and restaurants, you can take a boat ride along it in search of colored birds, crocodiles and monitor lizards basking in the sun.

The kingdom of the fearless monitor lizards

And also relax in the pleasant shade of the mangroves. Can you believe that there are crocodiles in this river? And they are here. So you can't swim in the river.

Mangroves on the Bentota River

Where to swim in Bentota

By the way, where can you swim? Gorgeous and truly exotic local reality: crocodiles, on the one hand, harsh ocean with another. The spirit is captivating.

As for the beaches in the southwest of Sri Lanka, there are either waves everywhere, or deep and dangerous undercurrents immediately off the coast. A calm sea can only be found in Unawatuna.

So the pools are relevant in Sri Lanka along the entire coast - it is in them that everyone bathes, and indeed this is the most civilized way to spend time in the water. If you are traveling with children or swim poorly, it is better to immediately focus only on hotels with pools.

If you want to plunge into the ocean, then it is better to watch where others swim, or ask the locals, for example, in a hotel. Usually people are afraid of waves. But they are just not dangerous, in such places it is usually shallow.

But if the water in the ocean near the coast seems calm, then it can be deep and dangerous due to undercurrents.

How to get to Bentota

Bentota can be reached by taxi or public transport. A taxi will be many times more expensive, but only because public transport in Sri Lanka is almost free by our standards.

The roads on the island are narrow and very busy in the Colombo area, there is a lot of transport in general and a lot of antediluvian, so you can’t get there quickly by bus. Trains are often delayed.

Therefore, if you have come for a couple of weeks and value time more than the $50 that you pay for a taxi, then it is better not to mess with public transport.

Taxi

For those who come to Sri Lanka for a short time and want to save time on the road, the fastest and easiest way to get to Bentota is by taxi.

It is better to go on a toll road, and you need to immediately tell the taxi driver about it, because by default you will be taken, most likely, along the usual one. On the toll road you will get there in an hour and a half, on the usual road it will take twice as long.

Taxi fare from the airport is $55, plus $6 for toll road. This is the usual price, but you can try to bargain.

Public transport - getting out of the airport in Colombo

You can also get there by public transport, for a maximum of a couple of dollars. The main thing is to adequately assess the time it will take on the road - since you will have to get there with a transfer - and strength, because you will have a long flight behind you.

It is better to prepare for the fact that the road will take half a day. There is no direct public transport from the airport to Bentota. Therefore, you need to get through Colombo.

But first you need to get out of the airport. Take the airport shuttle to the bus station (close there) and take the express bus number 187 to Colombo. Bus number 187 stops near the bus station and enters the Colombo Fort railway station, where it has the final station. Then you need to transfer to a bus or train.

Train

Here is the train schedule to Bentota from Colombo Fort station. Trains do not run very often - in the morning around 7-8, then at half past two and the last after 5 pm, until half past seven.

In general, if in the schedule you see a train that is convenient in time, then welcome.

There are many large package hotels in Bentota, and there are few opportunities for independent budget holidays. There are almost no budget options on this beach, 10-15 dollars per night. I won’t say that it’s not at all, you can rent a room in homestays, but they are rare here. Although we were even offered a small two-room house for only $200 a month.

You can study in detail the situation with Bentota hotels and their prices at Booking.com.

On average, prices for guesthouses and hotels start here from 30-40 dollars per night for very budget options. Similar quality housing in Hikkaduwa is cheaper.

If you're looking for a top-end option, then Bentota is the right place, because it is on this beach that you can find real luxury, including villas with private pools. However, it will cost at least 300-400 dollars per night.

If you have no desire to stay in expensive Bentota, this does not mean at all that you cannot walk along this beach. You can easily come here from neighboring Hikkaduwa, for example, by renting a motorbike, and spend the whole day here.

The best hotels in Bentota

Finding the perfect hotel in Bentota is not easy. Some of them stand on the banks of the Bentota River, which not everyone likes if you want to live on the ocean. Sometimes the fact that the hotel is on the banks of the river becomes a big upsetting surprise, which turns out already on the spot. So be careful.

Sometimes it happens that the hotel is at the mouth of the Bentota River and the water in the ocean is dirty. A lot of people don't like it either.

Well, some of the hotels are very close to the railway. The worst hotel I've seen in Bentota, Susantas, where the trains go right behind the wall of the bungalow, literally 50 meters away. That's really what on vacation can lead to shock.

5 stars

Saman Villas

The very best and a nice place on this beach. This hotel is at the top of the most authoritative English guide Lonely Planet.

View pool, villas with private pools, beautiful bungalows, isolated hotel area, etc.

Lonely Planet describes it like this: "There are no words that can describe the luxury of this place." So it's very expensive, but guaranteed to be proven, the best place on this very best shore Sri Lanka.

view more detailed description hotel and prices can be .

Of the 5-stars, I will not even recommend anything else here, because all this will be a compromise.

If you like big hotels, then you can see Vivanta by Taj Bentota. But this is already a huge hotel by local standards. And for the price of an average room Taj, in the previous hotel, Saman Villas, you can get a villa with a private pool overlooking the ocean.

Another very stylish place, in case all the rooms in Saman Villas are occupied, is Paradise Road The Villa Bentota.

4 stars

Whispering Palms Hotel

This is a very good hotel if you want to live on the ocean, since many hotels in Bentota are located along the Bentota River.

The hotel is new, which is very important in Sri Lanka, since many of the hotels are mercilessly operated, but rarely renovated.

Formally, the hotel belongs to the Induruwa beach, but Bentota is a few hundred meters along the ocean.

This hotel is popular and runs out of vacancies from time to time. So there will be a few more good hotels to be able to choose.

More about the hotel, prices, book -.

Dalmanuta Gardens

The hotel stands on the river, but deserves the closest attention. Here you can get Ayurvedic treatment of a very high level.

The hotel is very small, only 9 rooms. Relaxed atmosphere, tropical garden, very beautiful pavilions on the river, a separate bridge leads to each of them from the shore. There are transfers to the ocean, though only twice a day.

This hotel is a multi-year TripAdvisor winner in the Traveler's Choice category. But its disadvantage is that it is almost constantly full, and it is difficult to book a bungalow during the season.

You can read more about the hotel description and prices, as well as book.

Club Villa

Another good hotel in case there are no empty seats in the previous ones -.

3 stars

Rockery Villa

Small (only 6 rooms), modern hotel, opened in 2014. It is not worth it on the beach, but they take you to the beach by tuk-tuk for free, where the owners have an agreement with one of the cafes - they give sunbeds for free.

Very reasonable price for Bentota and good conditions, which is a great value in Sri Lanka. More about the hotel.

Sea Rock Villa

Ideal value for money. Small (5 rooms) nice hotel on the beautiful ocean coast.

If we don’t save up for Saman Villas by the next season, then most likely we will go here. I have seen so many hotels in Sri Lanka, this is definitely the nicest place. All the details .

Budget hotels in Bentota

Canal Villa Bentota

In Bentota, one of the problems is the railway running along the beach. Therefore, if you choose something else, then be sure to look at the location and reviews. Here is an example.

Another such example is the rather popular Susantas. One of the problems with this guesthouse is that when you check in, you might not suspect the rails, because they go behind the back wall of the building. And when the railway passes 100 meters from the bed, it is very unpleasant.

Especially carefully look at the location and reviews of budget hotels.

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Colombo is the commercial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka. According to the Brookings Institution, Colombo metropolitan area has a population of 5.6 million, and 752,993 in the city proper. It is the financial center of the island and a popular tourist destination. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, the legislative capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital since Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is within the urban area of, and a satellite city of, Colombo. It is also the administrative capital of Western Province, Sri Lanka and the district capital of Colombo District. Colombo is a busy and vibrant place with a mixture of modern life and colonial buildings and ruins. It was the legislative capital of Sri Lanka until 1982.- Wikipedia

Things to do in Colombo

• Galle Face Green

  The Galle Face is a 5 ha ocean-side urban park, which stretches for 500 m along the coast, in the heart of the financial and business capital of Sri Lanka, Colombo. The promenade was initially laid out in 1859 by Governor Sir Henry George Ward, although the original Galle Face Green extended over a much larger area than is seen today. The Galle Face Green was initially used for horse racing and as a golf course, but was also used for cricket, polo, football, tennis and rugby.

• R. Premadasa Stadium

  R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium (RPS) (Sinhala: ආර්. ප්‍රේමදාස ක්‍රීඩාංගනය, Tamil: ஆர். பிரேமதாச சர்வதேச கிரிக்கெட் விளையாட்டு மைதானம்; also known as Khettarama Stadium, Ranasinghe Premadasa Stadium or simply as the Premadasa Stadium) is a cricket stadium on Khettarama Road , Maligawatta, Colombo, Sri Lanka. The stadium was, before June 1994, known as the Khettarama Cricket Stadium and is today one of the main venues where the Sri Lankan cricket team play, having hosted more than 100 one day international matches. It is the largest stadium in Sri Lanka with a capacity of 35,000 spectators. It has capacity exceeding Lord "s Cricket Ground. It is nicknamed "Home of Sri Lankan cricket". It was also the stadium where the highest Test score was scored.

• Pettah

  Pettah is a neighborhood in Colombo, Sri Lanka located east of the City center Fort. The Pettah neighborhood is famous for the Pettah Market, a series of open air bazaars and markets. It is Sri Lanka's busiest commercial area, where most of the shops, textiles, buildings and many other business organizations are centered.

• fort

  Fort is the central business district of Colombo in Sri Lanka. It is the financial district of Colombo and the location of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) and the World Trade Center of Colombo from which the CSE operates. It is also the location of the Bank of Ceylon headquarters. Along the foreshore of the Fort area is the Galle Face Green Promenade, built in 1859 under the governance of Sir Henry George Ward, the Governor of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) during British colonial administration. Fort is also home to the General Post Office, hotels, government departments and offices.