Bentota

Bentota is a coastal town of 37,000 people in Southern Sri Lanka. Bentota is a tourist town, with a local airport (Bentota River Airport) and a handful of world-class hotels. It is a destination for watersports and is famous for its toddy production, an alcoholic beverage made out of coconut nectar. It also has a turtle hatchery on Induruwa beach.

Understand

Bentota beach

Bentota sits on the southern bank of the Bentota River mouth. The name of the town is derived from a mythical story which claims a demon named 'Bem' ruled the tota or river bank.

Get in

By bus

There are air-conditioned buses (bus no. 2) that run from Colombo Fort to Galle that will stop at Bentota (2-2½ hour journey) and cost about Rs. 150.

By train

There is a small railway station in Bentota but most of the trains stop at Aluthgama (2 km from Bentota).

• 1 Bentota railway station, ☏ +94 34-2275271. (updated May 2023)

See

Bentota Perahera (A2 road). Buddhism festival which happens once a year at the end of December. It is similar but smaller than the Esala Perahera in Kandy. Elephants, dancers, fire jugglers and musicians parade from 11PM to 1AM. 

Turtle hatcheries (Induruwa beach). Place where turtle eggs and babies are protected until their release. Open to tourists. Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery is 11 km (6.8 mi) south of Bentota. It is a community based turtle hatchery and turtle watching project set up by the Turtle Conservation Project in association with the Wildlife Department of Sri Lanka. 

• Brief Garden, 11 km (6.8 mi) inland from Bentota, is the house and garden of renowned Sri Lankan landscape architect, Bevis Bawa, the older brother of architect Geoffrey Bawa. Established in 1929 on the grounds of a former rubber plantation Bawa continued to develop the property until his death in 1992.
• Galapatha Raja Maha Vihare, in Bentota, Buddhist temple with origins that date back to the 12th century ; it contains stone inscriptions, stone carvings, pillars, ponds and troughs from the medieval period.

Do

• Bentota Beach, long and large
• Richy Skylark Helipad. This helipad operates helicopter joyrides in Bentota near the estuary operated by Skylark Aviation Helicopters

Buy

• Some toddy, alcoholic beverage made from coconut nectar.

Eat

• Silk Route Cafe & Restaurant, 357 Warahena, ☏ +94 342271717. Silk Route Café serves an authentic selection of culinary delights from countries in the ancient land & naval silk routes. The menu is inspired by the vibrant cultures on the route & their mastery in the use of spices, herbs & flavours. US$5-30. 

Sleep

Splurge

• Hotel Wunderbar, Robolgoda, Bentota Beach. It's a small, family-run boutique hotel with 14 rooms directly at the beach, catering for individual tourists with the service of a big chain hotel. More information in English and German is available on the official website. 
• Cocoon Resort and Villas, Kaikawala Road, Induruwa, 80510, ☏ +94 115744400, fax: +94 117533233, info@cocoonresorts.com. It offers accommodations with the following names: silk rooms, luxury villas, extravagant villas, and grand villas. All are equipped with a king-sized bed, air conditioning, and satellite/cable tv. The resort also has a restaurant, massage service and steamroom. from US$260. 
• Temple Tree Resort & Spa, 660, Galle Road, ☏ +94 342270700. Each room is equipped with an air-conditioner, cable TV, and mini-bar, coffee/tea maker. The hotel also has a swimming pool and spa, high-speed internet access, and provides airport and city transfers. Rates on official website start at US$135. 
• Dalmanuta Gardens - Ayurvedic Resort & Restaurant, 21 Meegama Road, Warapitiya, Bentota River (along the Bentota River), ☏ +94 773434434. Ayurvedic resort and restaurant surrounded by gardens. From US$150. 
• 1 Cinnamon Bentota Beach, Galle Road, Bentota, Sri Lanka 80500 (From Colombo – 80 KM), ☏ +94 342 275 176, reservations@cinnamonhotels.com. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. Starting from USD 212. 

• Villa 700, 700, Galle Road, Induruwa 80510, ☏ +94 342 293 600, info@reveal.lk. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. Starting from USD 200. 

Go next

Trains from Aluthgama station go to Columbo (north), Hikkaduwa, Thiranagama, Dodanduwa, Galle, etc. to Matara.