Quick answer
The best places in Sri Lanka's Southern Province away from the coast are the Deniyaya side of Sinharaja rainforest, Kanneliya forest reserve, the rock temple of Mulkirigala, the Tissamaharama lakes and stupas, Yala and Lunugamvehera national parks, the Hiyare reservoir, the Wewurukannala temple and the tea estates in the Matara hills. Most are under two hours from the south coast beaches.
Key takeaways
- The Southern Province has three districts: Galle, Matara and Hambantota.
- Bentota, Galle, Mirissa and Tangalle are its coastal bases; most inland sites are day trips from them.
- The Deniyaya side of Sinharaja is roughly two hours from Matara.
- Yala's Block 1 lies in Hambantota district; its northern blocks extend into Uva.
- Inland trips are a good answer to a rainy or rough-sea day on the coast.
The south beyond the beaches
Sri Lanka's Southern Province stretches from Bentota to Kirinda and inland to the foothills of the central mountains. Galle and Matara districts are wet and green, with rubber, cinnamon and low-grown tea. Hambantota district is dry, with lagoons, reservoirs and thorn scrub.
Most travellers stay on the coast, which is reasonable, but the inland south holds some of the province's best sights. They suit half-day and full-day trips from the beach, and many are at their best in the early morning, before the heat.
This guide covers the inland and forest south. The coastal towns are covered in our south coast guide.
- →Galle district inland: Kanneliya, Hiyare, tea and cinnamon estates.
- →Matara district inland: Sinharaja (Deniyaya side), Mulkirigala area, Wewurukannala.
- →Hambantota district inland: Tissamaharama, Yala, Lunugamvehera, Bundala's edges.
Rainforests behind the coast
Sinharaja's southern entrances at Pitadeniya and Morningside, near Deniyaya in the Matara hills, are quieter than the Kudawa side. The forest is the same UNESCO-listed rainforest, rich in endemic birds, butterflies and frogs, and the drive up through tea estates is a pleasure in itself.
Kanneliya, roughly an hour inland from Galle, is a lowland rainforest reserve with walking trails, streams and natural pools. It is less famous than Sinharaja but easier to reach from the coast. Hiyare reservoir, closer to Galle, has a small forest reserve and a birdwatching trail.
For all forest visits, leeches are common in wet weather, so wear long socks and start early.
- →Sinharaja via Deniyaya: rainforest and tea.
- →Kanneliya: an easy forest from Galle.
- →Hiyare: a reservoir and birding trail.
Rock temples and ancient sites
Mulkirigala, inland from Tangalle, is a rock monastery with cave shrines climbing a sheer outcrop, painted with murals and reached by long stairways. The view from the top over the coconut country is wide and quiet.
Wewurukannala Vihara at Dikwella has one of the largest seated Buddha statues on the island and a strange tunnel of painted scenes of punishment. Tissamaharama, in Hambantota district, was the capital of the ancient Ruhuna kingdom, and its big white stupas stand beside reservoirs alive with birds.
Kataragama, just beyond Tissa, lies over the border in Uva but is usually visited from the south.
- →Mulkirigala: cave shrines and stairways.
- →Wewurukannala: giant Buddha and mural tunnel.
- →Tissamaharama: stupas and lakes.
Yala, Lunugamvehera and the lakes
Yala's Block 1, the park's most visited area, lies in Hambantota district, with the best leopard odds in Sri Lanka and the heaviest jeep traffic. Lunugamvehera, north of Tissa, is a quieter neighbour with elephants around its reservoir.
The Tissamaharama lakes, Tissa Wewa, Yoda Wewa and Debarawewa, are some of the best birdwatching on the island, with painted storks, pelicans and herons close to the road at dawn. Bundala National Park sits on the coast itself, but its lagoons are a natural add-on.
Inland from Hambantota, the Mirijjawila dry-zone botanic garden makes a calm stop on the long drive east.
Choose the park by what matters most to you. Yala gives the best chance of a leopard but shares it with many jeeps, especially at the main waterholes in the morning. Lunugamvehera and the lakes give elephants, birds and silence. Many travellers do one Yala safari and one quieter outing rather than two drives in the same block.
- →Yala Block 1: leopards and crowds.
- →Lunugamvehera: elephants and quiet.
- →Tissa lakes: birds at dawn from the roadside.
How to fit the inland south in
Most inland sites are within two hours of a south coast base. Mirissa and Tangalle suit Mulkirigala, Wewurukannala and Deniyaya; Galle and Unawatuna suit Kanneliya and Hiyare; Tissamaharama is the base for Yala and the lakes.
The inland south is especially useful on a rainy or rough-sea day, when the beach is unappealing. Forest walks are pleasant in light rain, and the temples are partly covered.
Lankan Stays & Trails can add an inland day to any south coast stay, timed for the best light at the temples and the best birds in the forests.
- →From Galle: Kanneliya, Hiyare.
- →From Mirissa or Tangalle: Mulkirigala, Deniyaya, Wewurukannala.
- →From Tissamaharama: Yala, Lunugamvehera, the lakes.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do inland from the south coast of Sri Lanka?
Inland from the south coast you can walk in Sinharaja rainforest via Deniyaya or Kanneliya near Galle, climb the rock temple of Mulkirigala, see the giant Buddha at Wewurukannala, watch birds on the Tissamaharama lakes and take a safari in Yala or Lunugamvehera.
Can I visit Sinharaja from Mirissa?
You can visit Sinharaja from Mirissa via the Deniyaya side, roughly two to two and a half hours away. A very early start helps, as birds are most active in the morning. Staying one night near Deniyaya gives a much better experience than a day trip.
Is Mulkirigala worth visiting?
Mulkirigala is worth visiting for its cave shrines, murals and the view from the top of the rock. It is roughly 30 to 45 minutes inland from Tangalle and quiet compared with Dambulla. The climb involves many steps, so go early or late in the day.
Is Kanneliya a good alternative to Sinharaja?
Kanneliya is a good alternative to Sinharaja for travellers based near Galle who want an easier rainforest day. It has trails, streams and pools, but fewer specialist birds than Sinharaja. Serious birders still prefer Sinharaja, ideally with a night nearby.
What is Tissamaharama known for?
Tissamaharama is known as the ancient capital of the Ruhuna kingdom, with large white stupas and reservoirs full of birds. Today it is the main base for Yala safaris and for trips to Kataragama, Bundala and Lunugamvehera.
Where is the Southern Province in Sri Lanka?
The Southern Province is the southern tip of Sri Lanka, covering Galle, Matara and Hambantota districts. It runs from Bentota in the west to Yala in the east and inland to the edge of the hills around Deniyaya. Its coast is best roughly December to March.