Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery

Kosgoda is famous for its turtle hatchery- operated by the Wild Life Protection Society of Sri Lanka. It was established in 1981 to protect Sri Lanka's turtles from extinction. The hatchery pays fishermen for eggs that they collect at night along the sandy beach. Visitors can see huge tanks filled with new born turtle hatchlings. After being fed, the baby turtles are taken to the sea and released when they are 2-4 days old, usually during the safer hours of darkness. Although October to April is the main laying season, some eggs can be found at Kosgoda throughout the year.

Kalutara Temple

The Portuguese built a fort on the site of the original Buddhist temple at Kalutara. The Dutch took it over and later a British agent converted it into his residence during the colonial era. The modern temple, built in the 1960s, is located just south of the Kalutara Bridge and is the only dagoba (Buddhist shrine) in the world that is hollow. Inside, the cool, echoing walls are lined with a sequence of 74 murals depicting various scenes from the Buddhist Jataka (the legendary 550 previous births of the Buddha) tales.

Brief Garden

Brief Garden, owned and landscaped by Bevis Bawa, is a wonderful little estate garden located along the south coast in Bentota. Bevis was a Sri Lankan architect and artist, along with his brother Geoffrey Bawa (the award winning architect who designed Sri Lanka's House of Parliament). Initially the estate was a rubber plantation belonging to his mother. She bequeathed it to him after her death and he soon converted the rubber plantation into a legendary garden. As you enter the illustrious garden through a tall, statue-capped gateway you will be surrounded by a thick bamboo hedge. Immediately you get the feeling of entering a private universe. The garden makes even the most serious adult want to run about in this wondrous playground. Filled with inviting nooks, alcoves and cloisters, the garden is an illusion to the eyes. Although it is not large in area, the hilltop, the pond and the stone steps make it seem grandiose and imposing.

Hikkaduwa Corel Gardens / Scuba Diving and Surfing

Hikkaduwa is located on the south-west coast of Sri Lanka, south from Beach Villa Induruwa . It is primarily a tourist destination, and serves as a great beach with options to surf, snorkel and enjoy the sun. You can also ride in a glass bottomed boat to view the coral gardens. The town is laid on the Galle-Colombo main road. It is a busy road with vehicles travelling at high speeds; pedestrians and tourists are advised to exercise caution when crossing. The town has a plethora of tailors who will custom make shirts, pants, and shorts. It has become the place to go in Sri Lanka to have an island shirt fitted and sewn. The area also has a reputation for offering a vibrant nightlife. Hikkaduwa boasts some of the best surfing waves, beaches packed with restaurants, souvenir shops and guest houses.

Kande Viharaya Temple

Known also as Aluthgama Kande Vihara or Bentota Kande Vihara due to its proximity to both towns, this historic temple at Kaalawila is just a few kilometres from the Induruwa Beach Resort. It is situated atop a hill, thus the name Kande Vihara (meaning temple on the hill). Thousands of devotees still flock to this temple, which was established in 1734, in search of mental and spiritual solace from the worries and troubles of daily life. The Kshethrarama Pirivena, founded by the famous monk, Ven. Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Thera in 1904, is also located within these sacred premises, and acts as a vital centre in Buddhist education in the country.