Unawatuna attractions - what to see

Attractions Unawatuna quite a bit. Perhaps, except for the Jungle Beach in the Rumassala Jungle, a Japanese pagoda and a couple of temples in the resort area there is nothing to see. Everything more or less interesting is outside the resort, and the most significant attractions are quite far away.

The nearest large-scale interesting place is the city of Galle with its ancient fort, which is one of the six sites of the country included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Yatagala Raja Maha Viharaya cave temple is about a 10-minute drive from the centre. If you go far east along the south coast, you can see several more interesting temples and the cave temple complex Mulkirigala, which is almost as spectacular and large as the famous Dambulla temples in central Sri Lanka. Even further east is the country's most popular national park, Yala. A little closer, to the North, is the National Park Sinharaja Forest. If you want to see the whales, you can go to Mirissa. Well, if you go along the coast to the north, you can get acquainted with attractions in Hikkaduwa and Bentota.

You can visit all these interesting places as part of excursions that are sold everywhere in Unawatuna. Some agencies on the street even offer descriptions of excursions specifically for Russian-speaking tourists. Also a popular way of sightseeing from Unawatuna is to rent a car with a driver to travel along a ready-made or individually planned route. Well, if you drive a Motobike, you can go around the whole South yourself, renting equipment from 2200 rupees (6.65 USD).

See the options available for booking online excursions in Unawatuna on one of the trusted sites:

• Unawatuna boat tours tripster.ru
• Unawatuna boat tours Sputnik8.com

The main attractions in Unawatuna are of course the beaches,but snorkeling or diving are very popular. You can swim with a mask off the coast and see beautiful colored fish and other marine life (snorkeling) on your own at Jungle Beach. To do this, take your mask or rent on the spot from 600 rupees (1.81 USD), and go on foot to this beach. You do not have to swim far from the shore, underwater animals begin already a dozen meters from the shore.

Diving is offered at one of several local diving centers. Dives can be booked on site, and some dive centers have their own websites, you can find them through search and book online. Prices start at $ 35 for a dive near the shore for certified divers, you can take courses and get a certificate here.

Evening entertainment in Unawatuna is not very much. Mostly tourists spend time in restaurants and bars overlooking the ocean, or relax in one of the chill-out bars on the main street. If you want to arrange an evening on the beach or just sit and drink beer, you will have to go for alcohol or go to the alcohol market on the Main Street Matara road, there is no alcohol market in the village itself, drinks are served only at a mark-up in cafes and restaurants.

Below is a list of attractions in Unawatuna. For information about other interesting places on the south coast Sri Lanka, see the sections about other resorts: Matara, Tangalle, Mirissa etc.

Jungle Beach

Jungle Beach is not only a local natural attraction, but also a great place to relax. This is a small beach hidden in the Jungle a couple of kilometers from Unawatuna. Today it can no longer be said that this is a secret and little-known deserted beach, but once it was. There is no infrastructure here, although a cafe and sun beds for rent, and even a shower and toilet have now appeared on the small beach. There are no traditional water beach activities such as bananas and jet skis. Boats with tourists from the main Unawatuna Beach constantly arrive here, so it is rarely quiet here. One of the entertainment is snorkeling, which is considered the best in the resort. Learn more about Jungle Beach here...

Japanese Peace Pagoda

Japanese Peace Pagoda is one of the 80 pagodas around the world built by the Japanese as a gift to different countries and cities. There are four such pagodas in Sri Lanka.

The pagoda is on a mountain and can be seen from afar. It looks especially impressive from the side of Unawatuna, as if it grew out of the jungle. The pagoda can be climbed and walked around. From above, by the way, there is a good view of the surrounding area, and even the Galle fort is perfectly visible. Next to the pagoda there is a small temple, where access is open to all comers. Learn more about the Japanese Peace Pagoda here...

Unawatuna Temple

If you walk along the main beach of Unawatuna to its southernmost tip, it ends with a small stone Promontory and a hill on which the temple is located. This temple does not have special architectural delights or unique statues and pagodas, but from the top of the hill, a wonderful view of Unawatuna and its beach opens. The platform at the top also houses a pretty white Stupa (Dagoba) and a statue of a seated Buddha. Learn more about Unawatuna temple here...

Do not forget to take off your shoes when entering the temple, and, of course, you can not enter the temple in a swimsuit.

Roomassala Sri Viwekarama Temple

This temple-monastery is hidden in the jungle of Roomassala Sanctuary a few hundred meters from the Japanese pagoda. It is little known and not marked in any guidebooks. Inside you can see several beautiful Buddha statues, paintings and frescoes. It is very quiet and pleasant, there are no crowds of tourists, and if you get here during the meal, you can also be invited to eat with the monks and parishioners.

Ramassala rain forest (Rumassala Jungle Sanctuary)

Rumassala Jungle Sanctuary-rainforest near Unawatuna. If you do not manage to get into one of the national parks of Sri Lanka, then you can at least walk through this rainforest. Moreover, for a walk along it you do not need a guide or special transport. It is enough just to go from the center of the resort along the path towards Jungle Beach, and you will already find yourself in Roomassala. The forest stretches beyond Jungle Beach.

To say that these are wild places and real impenetrable jungles would be an exaggeration, but you can see real dense tropical vegetation and, if you are lucky, wildlife here. And below the water are mangroves. Be careful and do not go into fenced areas: right in the forest are houses and land plots of local residents, and do not violate private property.

Udara Antiques Store

This antique shop is located on Matara Road in Unawatuna. Entrance to the store is free, so you can quite consider it as a free museum of Antiquities. The collection of the store is very diverse and large, and if you are a lover of antiquity, then in addition to viewing you can buy something here.

Yatagala Temple (Yatagala Maha Raja Viharaya)

Yatagala temple in the vicinity of Unawatuna is one of the brightest attractions. Although it does not possess any outstanding architectural features and beauties, it is one of the most important Buddhist sites in the South. It is one of the island's oldest temples, and by some estimates was built over 2,300 years ago. The temple is built on a rock, but is not fully a cave temple. Learn more about Yatagala Maha Raja Viharaya temple here...

Turtle Hutchery, Turtle Farm

On the coast a few kilometres east on Matara rd from Unawatuna is one of the best turtle farms in the South.

On farms in large pools contain different species of turtles, and a tour of the farm is accompanied by a detailed and interesting story, however, in English. Moreover, it does not matter whether you arrived with a group or will be completely alone on the farm, you will still be told in great detail about everything. The farms also have a clutch of sea turtle eggs, and in some places you can even release small turtles into the open sea, of course, for an additional fee. And if you do not have enough money to release a turtle into the sea, you can just hold the turtles in your arms.

Kottawa rain forest and Basin (Kottawa Reserve Forest)

Small rain forest Kottawa Reserve Forest is only a couple of dozen kilometers from Unawatuna and Galle. It is little popular and even almost unknown among tourists, since it is far from a national park with exotic animals and prepared picturesque interesting routes. But if you have never been to the tropical jungle (the Rumassala forest in Unawatuna does not count), and there is no way to go to a real national park, here you can satisfy your curiosity at least a little. Here you can hardly see exotic animals, as a maximum you will see insects and birds, but tropical vegetation is in abundance. There is also a swimming pool equipped for swimming, filled with cool water from the stream. Learn more about Kottawa forest here...