South Coast
Bentota
Where a river meets the sea.
Why Visit
One of Sri Lanka's original resort destinations, built around a sheltered river on one side and an open ocean beach on the other — as much a base for boat trips as for the beach itself.
A beach resort town where the Bentota Ganga river meets the Indian Ocean, known for water sports, river safaris and a long stretch of golden sand between the two.
History
Bentota was developed as one of Sri Lanka's first purpose-built resort areas from the 1960s and 70s onward, part of an early government push to establish organized tourism infrastructure on the southwest coast. Its position where the Bentota Ganga river reaches the sea gave it a natural advantage other beach towns lacked — a calm, navigable river for boat safaris past mangroves, water monitors and birdlife, alongside the open ocean beach. Like the rest of the southwest coast, it was badly affected by the 2004 tsunami and has since rebuilt into one of the coast's more established resort areas.
Things to Do
- Take a Bentota River boat safari
- Try jet skiing or other water sports
- Relax on the beach
- Visit a nearby turtle hatchery
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bentota known for?
One of Sri Lanka's original resort destinations, built around a sheltered river on one side and an open ocean beach on the other — as much a base for boat trips as for the beach itself.
When is the best time to visit Bentota?
The best time to visit Bentota is December to April, in the southwest's dry season.
What can you do in Bentota?
Popular things to do in Bentota include take a Bentota River boat safari, try jet skiing or other water sports and relax on the beach.
Where is Bentota located in Sri Lanka?
Bentota is located in South Coast, Sri Lanka.
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