Bentota Beach
About This Place
Bentota Beach
A pristine beach resort town on Sri Lanka's southwest coast, 65 km south of Colombo, offering a rare combination of golden beach, warm sea, and a large calm lagoon behind the beach. Famous for water sports — jet skiing, windsurfing, wakeboarding, banana boats, and deep-sea fishing. The Bentota Lagoon is ideal for river safaris to spot monitor lizards, water birds, and sea turtles. The area also has several turtle hatcheries.
Difficulty
🧭 easy
Best Time
📅 November to April (dry season on southwest coast); December–March peak season.
Safety Rating
Accessibility & Visitor Info
Directly accessible by train from Colombo (1.5 hrs) or bus; well-developed resort infrastructure; water sports operators on beach and lagoon.
📖 Legends & Stories
Bentota's name may derive from 'Ben' (river) and 'Tota' (port). The area was the setting for ancient trade routes, and local fishermen still follow traditional practices of offerings to sea and river gods before departures. The lagoon is believed to be inhabited by a protective river spirit who guided early Sinhalese seafarers safely to shore.
Location
📍 Find It Here
6.425800, 79.999900
Community
Visitor Comments (0)
No comments yet
Be the first to share your experience!