Matale in Sri Lanka

General information

Matale is a city in central Sri Lanka 160 kilometers from Colombo and the airport, and 30 kilometers from Kandy. This is not a mountain resort, like Nuwara Eliya or Ella, it is located almost on a plain, at an altitude of 300 meters above sea level (see Matale on the map of Sri Lanka).

Matale is not particularly popular with tourists. It is visited, as a rule, by independent tourists and travelers, and organized groups are not taken here. However, the city is an important historical center of Sri Lanka,and unfairly bypassed by tourists. The iconic Aluvihara temple is located here, and several cave temples can also be seen in the surrounding area. In 1848, during the period of British colonization, an uprising broke out here and a battle took place between the British garrison and the rebels, who besieged the British and held the city. The leaders of the rebellion, Veer Puranappu and Gongalegoda Banda, became national heroes of Sri Lanka. In addition, Matale is the Spice center of the island. There are many spice farms around, where tourists are always waiting to take a free tour of the fields, show and tell how spices grow, and then offer to buy it all.

Matale is on the road between Dambulla/Sigiriya and Kandy, so it is convenient to stop here when moving between these popular tourist cities.

Infrastructure for tourists in Matala is very poorly developed. Along the main A9 road, which runs through the town, there are several hostels, shops and simple cafes. There is nothing specially for tourists.

You can find and book accommodation in Matala on these sites or through the search form. All sites have a Russian interface and Russian-language customer support, a lot of reviews from real guests.

How to get to Matale

It is best to get to Matale by rented transport. Since the city is located between Kandy and Dambulla, it can be a convenient point to stop for the night and at the same time explore its attractions, which are mainly outside the city, and it will be most convenient to get to them on your own.

If you do not have a rented transport, you can get to Matale by bus. Buses come here at least from Matars, Colombo, Badullah, Anuradhapura, Trincomalee. But given that the city is not a tourist, it is hardly necessary to go here from distant directions. Therefore, the most popular routes are from Kandy and Dambulla. From Kandy and Dambulla to Matala, buses leave every 10 minutes, and although the distance is short, the journey takes an hour and a half. The same buses also take you to some of Matale's attractions along the main A9 road. In Matala, the bus makes a stop on the main road in the center.

Another way to get there is by train. There is one train per day from Colombo via Kandy, and seven commuter trains from Kandy to Matale. The cost is 30 and 60 rupees for 3rd and 2nd Class carriages. You can see the schedule here https://eservices.railway.gov.lk

Matale attractions, what to see

Spice gardens

There are several spice gardens in the vicinity of Matale, the most famous of which are Euphoria Spice and Heritage Spice and Herbs. There are many more gardens, all of them are located along the main A9 road, you can find them on the signs on the road. They offer free admission with a sightseeing tour of the farm, and ends with a spice shop. Keep in mind that the sellers here are very persistent, and it will be very difficult to leave without buying after the tour. Prices are inflated, so do not forget to bargain.

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.

🚶 How to get there: the spice farms are north of Matale along the A9 road (Spice Garden on the map, Spice Garden on the map). You can get there by bus towards Dambulla, which depart from the center every 10 minutes.
Aluvihara cave temple

Aluvihara is a remarkable Buddhist temple complex perched on top of the hills north of Matala. It is believed that this is a very ancient temple, and the first mention of it is found in the 3rd century BC.E. it is also believed that it was here that the Buddhist canon Tripitaka in Sinhala was written on paper.

The temple buildings are sandwiched between towering cliffs, and in the caves are statues of Buddha, pagodas and ancient frescoes. Especially interesting are the frescoes: some of which depict the beautiful landscapes of the Himalayas, and some tell about the hellish torments in a very cruel form. Because the temple is high, the hilltop observation deck next to the temple offers a wonderful view of the surrounding area. And advice: if you plan to visit the temple in the afternoon, it is better to bring socks with you, because when entering the territory you need to take off your shoes, and the stones are very hot under the sun.

🕐 Working hours: 06:00 – 18:30.

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: 50 rupees or more as donation

🚶 How to get there: the temple is located 3 kilometers on the A9 road north of the city (temple on the map). You can get there on foot or by bus in the direction of Dambulla.
Pitawala Pathana Park and mini "end of the world"

If you do not have the opportunity to visit the Horton plateau and "the end of the world", then this park can replace them to some extent. Here, too, there are wonderful views of the mountains and the surrounding area, there are trails for walking, and its own mini "end of the world" - a steep cliff with spectacular views opening from it. Nearby there are two waterfalls Pitawala Pathana Ella Fall No. 1 and No. 2, and to get to them, you will have to make a short hike of several kilometers. The park is not promoted as much as the Horton plateau, and so far there are very few tourists here.

🕐 Working hours: around the clock, it is better to visit early in the morning, as during the day the neighborhood is often covered with fog or haze

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.

🚶 How to get there: Pitawala Pathana Park is 30 kilometers from Matale (Park on the map). You can get here by rented transport, taxi or tuk-tuk. The road is serpentine, it will take an hour and a half to overcome 30 kilometers.
Sri Muthumariamman Temple

Sri Muthumariamman Temple is the main and most beautiful Hindu temple in Matala. Unlike other local temples, of which there are quite a lot, this temple is very colorful, decorated with many statues and Wall Images. Another feature is that inside it is very spacious, which is not typical of such temples in Sri Lanka.

🕐 Working hours: from 06:00 to 13:00 and from 16:00 to 20:00.

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: 200 rupees as donation

🚶 How to get there: located within the city limits in the north along the main road (temple on the map). Getting from anywhere in the city is easy on foot.
Nalanda Gedige Temple

Nalanda Gedige is the ruins of an ancient Hindu temple built between the 8th and 10th centuries AD, and one of the iconic architectural and historical landmarks. It is believed that it is one of the first buildings in Sri Lanka built entirely of stone, and also that it is the geographical center of the island. Images of the Buddha indirectly indicate that the temple in later years was used by Buddhists.

The temple can be visited during a trip from Dambulla to Matale and Kandy or back, but you may not need to go here specifically. You will spend no more than 10 minutes exploring the temple itself, but try to find adult-only scenes on one of the walls of the temple. If you stay here longer, you can enjoy the silence and nature of a large artificial lake, on the shore of which there are ruins.

🕐 Working hours: around the clock.

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.

🚶 How to get there: the temple is located 25 kilometers from Matale on the road towards Dambulla one kilometer from the A9 highway (temple on the map). It can be reached by bus from Kandy or Matale towards Dambulla (depart very often), or from Dambulla to Kandy and Matale respectively. You need to get off at Nalanda village (Nalanda Junction), and walk one kilometer to the temple.