Hambantota Birds Park
The Bird Park at Hambantota boast of being the Asia’s largest Birds Park and Research Centre and is home to endemic and exotic birds with over 180 varieties and around 3200 birds.
Hambantota District
Read More
Hambantota Dry Zone Botanical Gardens (හම්බන්තොට වියළි කලාපීය උද්භිද උද්යානය)
The Dry Zone Botanic Gardens in Mirijjawila, Hambantota consist of plants, trees and herbal plants that are grown in the dry zone. Areas for a butterfly garden, a plant nursery, a student park, a plant conservation unit, a flower garden, and ornamental bushes have been separately developed.
Historical Significance of the Hidden Gonagala Ruins of the Yala and its Inscriptions
Gonagala is a rocky outcrop in the Yala Wildlife Sanctuary lying off the the route to Sithulpawwa Rajamaha Viharaya with 11 cave inscriptions and ruins of a temple from the 2nd century BC.
Thalaguruhela Monastic Ruins inside the Yala National Park
“Thalaguruhela Ruins” was discovered by a British land surveying unit in British Ceylon around 1920, about 100 years ago, and was placed on the “1 inch: 1 mile” map.
Great Basses & Little Basses Reef lighthouses (මහා රාවණා හා කුඩා රාවණා ප්රදීපාගාර)
Great Basses reef and the Little Basses reef are two rock formations on the south-east coast of Sri Lanka. Locals call these ‘Maha Ravana’ and Kuda Ravana’ reefs respectively.
Beliatta Walawela Ambalama
Walawela Ambalama is a fairly large rectangular building. It has a fairly wide verandah. The entrance to the building is located in the middle. A ledge has been built along the entire length of the verandah for seating. There is ledge along the length of the inner wall inside the building as well. and inner wall.
Debarawewa Yatala Vehera
Yatala Vehera is believed to be built by regional king Mahanaga in the 3rd century BC on the grounds which his queen delivered a son.
Veheradivulana (Divulanagoda) Archaeological Site inside Yala National Park (යාල වෙහෙරදිවුලාන නටබුන්)
An ancient temple complex going back to pre christian era hidden in the jungles on the Yala Border vandalized by treasure hunters.
Naigala Rajamaha Viharaya at Weeraketiya (වීරකැටිය නයිගල රජමහා විහාරය)
Naigala Rajamaha Viharaya at Weeraketiya is belived to have a history going as far as 3rd century BC. The temple is believed to be built my regional king Mahanaga, brother of king Devanampiyatissa (250-210 BC) who had built his palace at Mandaduwa close to Mulkirigala.
Mulkirigala Rajamaha Viharaya (මුල්කිරිගල රජමහා විහාරය)
The Dutch, who ruled the maritime provinces in the 18th century, called this Mulkirigala (Mulgirigala) Rajamaha Viharaya rock as Adam’s Berg. They believed that the tombs of Adam and Eve were located there
Butttala Yatiyallathota Archaeological Reserve (යටියල්ලාතොට පුරාවිද්යා ස්ථානය)
Hidden by jungle off Buttala, Yatiyallathota Archaeological Reserve is a hidden archaeological jewel in the southern part of the country.
Weeraketiya Seegala Purana Tampita Viharaya (වීරකැටිය සීගල පුරාණ ටැම්පිට විහාරය)
Seegala Purana Viharaya is an ancient temple close to Weeraketiya on the Weeraketiya – Walasmulla road. The Tampita viharaya within the temple was declared as a protected archaeological monument by the gazette dated 6th June 2008.
Hakuruwela Peellawela Tampita Rajamaha Viharaya (හකුරුවෙල පීල්ලවෙල ටැම්පිට රජමහා විහාරය)
Among the buildings of Peellawela Purana Rajamaha Viharaya is a Tampita Viharaya built during the Kandyan era. However the presence of Siri Pathul Gal (blocks of rock carved with foot print of Buddha) which were objects of veneration in the 2-3 rd century BC, before the Buddha statues were used can be used to safely assume that the history of this temple to be go back to at least 2-3rd century BC.
Hathagala Purana Tampita Viharaya (හාතාගල පුරාණ ටැම්පිට විහාරය)
Much of history of the Hathagala Purana Tampita Viharaya is lost in time, but the temple has received royal patronage of king Kirthi Sri Rajasinghe (1747 – 1781) of Kandyan kingdom. The Tampita Viharaya in the temple has been built by Kirthi Sri Rajasinghe and a large bronze statue of Buddha gifted by the king is still in possession of the temple.
Sandagiri Monastic Complex of Tissamaharama (සඳගිරි ස්තූපය)
Sandagiri Stupa is considered the oldest stupa in South built in the 3rd century BC enshrining relics sent by King Asoka and a rare conch shell
Debarawewa Menik Vehera (දෙබරවැව මැණික් රජමහා විහාරය)
Menik Vehera situated within close proximity to Yatala Stupa is not large in size. It was restored in 1894 keeping to the original shape. This stupa is also attributed to King Mahanaga. Henry Parker believes that it was constructed by King Dutugemunu.
Silapassa Pirivena Archaeological Ruins in Tissamaharamaya (තිස්සමහාරාමය සීලාතිස්ස පිරිවෙණ පුරාවිද්යා භූමිය)
An archaeological site in the middle of the Tissamaharama belonging to the Silapassa Pirivena, an aramic complex built by king Kavanthissa who ruled from Ruhunu Magampura in the 2nd century BC . belonging the Tissamaharama Rajamaha Viharaya Complex
Memorial for Henry John St. John at Hambantota (හම්බන්තොට හෙන්රි ජෝන් ශාන්ත ජෝන් ස්මරණ පුවරුව)
A memorial for a Englishman called Henry John St. John who died at a hunting expedition in 1821 in front of the Assistant Governernment Agents Bungalow at Hambanthota has been declared as an archaeological monument.
Akurugoda Pillar Inscription (Tam Lipiya) Archaeological Site in Tissamaharamaya (තිස්සමහාරාම අකුරුගොඩ ටැම් ලිපිය පුරාවිද්යා භූමිය)
The Akurugoda Pillar is about 30 feet in height and octagonal in shape. The Brahimi inscriptions is believed to be have been made round 1st century BC.
Bibilemulla Rajamaha Viharaya in Monaragala (මොනරාගල බිබිලේමුල්ල රජමහා විහාරය)
Bibilemulla Rajamaha Viharaya is an ancient temple complex hidden between Bibile and Monaragala. The current temple is believed to be built by king Keerthi Sri Rajasinhe (1747 – 1781) of Kandyan Kingdom. But history of the temple had been much longer considering the granite pillars at the site.