Beautiful ancient temple. It has nice views on the top of the rock. Very dry in these days. >> before entering the temple, Man came and charged Rs.30 for parking. And I heard they take Rs.600 from tourists.>> not hard to climb the rock because it has steps to climb.

Mulgirigala is a captivating historical site that offers a rich blend of cultural and architectural wonders. The ancient rock temple, perched on a rocky outcrop, provides a breathtaking panoramic view of the surrounding landscape. The intricate carvings and vibrant frescoes within the caves showcase the artistic prowess of the ancient civilizations that once thrived here. The well-preserved artifacts and the serene ambiance make Mulgirigala a must-visit destination for history enthusiasts and those seeking a tranquil escape.

Most famous Historical buddhist temple in Sri Lanka. Amazing stone carvings , cannot imagine how to do that old people in Sri Lanka. Arts drawing on the rock. Can climb Mullirigala Rock. View point also available in top of the rock. Parking is available. Nice place. Please protect it for future generations.

Most famous Historical buddhist temple in Sri Lanka. Amazing stone carvings , cannot imagine how to do that old people in Sri Lanka. Arts drawing on the rock. Can climb Mullirigala Rock. View point also available in top of the rock. Parking is available. Nice place. Please protect it for future generations.

500 roupies for foreigners. More than 500 steps. Many buda lay down in Cave. Nice Cave. There was only local People.

Must visit Buddhist temple in (Down-south) in Mulgirigala in between Beliatta and Weeraketiya, Sr Lanaka. 🇱🇰 There are seven rock caves (like Dambulla Cave Temple) in the top of this beautiful temple. Inside of these cave there are amazing ancient paintings, statues and sculptures 🗿. Top of the rock can be seen nice view of around the village and can be relaxed. And also there is a stupa and huge Buddha’s statue on top of the 🪨. And there are few caves and a stupa in the ground Temple as well 🍂. There is a pond which has lotus on the top of the rock🪷. Parkings are available at the entrance of the Temple. Very quiet and clam place to visit. 🍃

Mulgirigala is a Buddhist yoga monastery dating back to the 2nd century BC. This Buddhist ashram is located on a large rock about 300 feet high. There are three main caves, and the paintings in the upper cave are of special importance. There is no such painting tradition in Sri Lanka. There are paintings of topless women dancing. A must visit place for a student of Sri Lanka's Buddhist history as well as for general travel

Absolutely amazing, well worth adding on your itinerary. There are 5 cave temples, three on higher level and two lower, 3 stupas and numerous spots to admire the view of the surrounding forest and the river. The murals in the caves are remarkable

Mulgirigala is an impressive location, there in ancient rock paintings can be seen. This is the only place where female drummers are depicted. Many jathaka stories were carefully and elegantly carved out.

Mulgirigala is an impressive location, there in ancient rock paintings can be seen. This is the only place where female drummers are depicted. Many jathaka stories were carefully and elegantly carved out.

Enterene is very very commercial like a festival fair with all sale items available. This is not suitable for old religious place as the value disappear from the first look. There were lot of low quality food sellers offering their goods under unreasonable prices in the place. May be relevant health and consumer authority officers are blind in the secen.

Very Nice temple calm and peaceful.. beware of monkeys.. they are harmless but if you have any food or peanuts they will try to get it from you... same for the flowers....

Beautiful monastery. Entrance costed 500 rupees. After the entrance, a guide came up to us and started giving us a tour without our consent, but we were generally interested, so we did not refuse his services. The tour cost $10. The top of the monastery offers a beautiful view of the surrounding nature, and the monastery has wonderful paintings on the ceiling of the rooms. Also, there are many monkeys and other animals in the area.

Rathnaweera is an absolutely serious businessman with good products and extremely ferries prices. His scooters are in excellent condition and work reliably. The entire family is in harmony that is rarely found.

A sacred place of archaeological and historical importance. Anyone can easily reach here. There are many things to see and appreciate here. You can go up the hill of this temple. There is a view point at the top of the mountain where you can see the surroundings. This place is ideal for people who love beautiful and quiet environment.

It seems like mini Dambulla, rather then mini Sigiriya. Its an ancient cave dwelling sorts, later some walls made. The rock shelters are now caves with the walls. There are 2 basix shirt brahmi inscriptions, 1 above office and 1 next to the lotus pond. 2 caves at level 1 at office and 3 caves at 2nd level. All caves have reclining Buddhas and wall paintings frescos. Climb further up to pinnacle via more stairs n rock cut stairs similar to those in the Western ghats, near Pune, in India. The view is good. The entire stairway is approx 260 stairs and overall takes about 1hr. Good to visit, if in this area.

Mulkirigala Raja Maha Wiharaya is one of most unique places to visit near Tangalle area. It surrounds with lots of greenery and landscapes. This temple has so much history that dates back to 1st - 2nd BC. Mulkirigala Raja Maha Wiharaya contains, 1. Rock caves 2. Rock inscriptions 3. Ponds 4. Stupas 5. A bo tree on top of the rock 6. Ancient steps etc… Some locals refer as “Punchi Seegiriya”.

A stunning monastery with a rich history and breathtaking setting. Worth visiting for an hour or two to fully enjoy looking at the ancient frescoes as well as climbing up the steep steps to see a stunning view of Tangalle.

The place is beautiful, worth visiting! I would kindly ask all the people who are going to visit, take some food with you for small puppies who are living upstairs, even some rice, some leftovers from your lunch...they will not survive without our help!!! I had 2 bags of dogs food with me ( as I always carry food to feed strays). I gave some straight away and some left with the woman who is selling stuff over there. She told me that they are trying to feed them as well, I hope so, but obviously not enough . Dogs are in a very poor condition. Let's make this world 🌎 better together! And enjoy your holiday! 😊

Mulgirigala Raja Maha Viharaya is a captivating historical site that offers a rich cultural experience. The ancient rock temple, located in the southern part of Sri Lanka, boasts impressive cave paintings and intricate sculptures, providing a glimpse into the region's artistic heritage. The panoramic views from the summit are breathtaking, making the climb worthwhile. The temple's serene ambiance and spiritual significance make it a great destination for a family outing, allowing both adults and children to appreciate the historical and cultural significance of this remarkable site. Overall, Mulgirigala Raja Maha Viharaya offers a fulfilling blend of history, art, and spirituality for visitors of all ages.

Wonderful experience. Must visit place. Cannot say exactly what time the turtles arrive. But worth every minute. There is a waiting area. There is a person who will inform us when a turtle arrives. After that a guide will take us via the beach to the egg laying place. Sometimes that can be a nearly 2km via the sandy beach. Sometimes it can be very near. Depends on the turtle. For us it was very far. I got so tired walking that distance in the sand. But worth

We had an amazing night! Local people in every age are saving the Turtles, the eggs (from selling it). We saw baby turtles hatching , and two mama turtles laying eggs. Our guide knows everything about the turtles and answered all my 100 questions very properly. Please note these are animals and not come by the hour because we want to see them. We were very lucky to be able to see all these beautiful animals from baby to the mama turtles. Take your time , be patient, and respect nature just as much as the locals does. I’m very thankful for this experience.

We saw 4 turtles as well as seeing one turtle laying her eggs and covering them with her flippers. Amazing experience! They ask for a 1000 rupee donation before going down to the beach. We didn’t have to wait around as much as we expected! It was great.

Saw a green turtle laying eggs and went back to the sea, great experience! Could ask questions on turtles and the guide explained everything. Be prepared that the procedure takes very long (in our case 3,5h) and white light and flash light is prohibited, only red light is allowed.

One of a kind experience to see ocean turtles hatching. A natural phenomena! Well conserved, protected and managed area for the environment. Best time to visit is between Feb-Mar.

Nice beach but no restaurants allowed. Turtles come 9pm. See my pictures for more info

During the presentation and the following walk to one of the turtles you learn alot. It seems they really work hard to protect the turtles in a suitable manner without disturbing them (to much).

A native of southern sri lanka I have never seen turtles 🐢 laying eggs. This was a fist for me. Fist I was hesitant as I didn't know if I was indirectly contributing to the destruction of an already red listed and endangered wild animal. But once I went there I realised this was a community project where the locals have gathered in an effort to conserve these turtles since 1996. I was really impressed by their work and dedication. Also found out that turtles eggs had been a local delicacy which was new to me and the conservationists had to work hard to keep the eggs off humans other than the predators. The process is quite simple. You reach the conservation center by 8.30 pm. They will collect a donation which is about 1000 Rs. ( this is like a ticket. I personally wish there was a ticket rather than this) Then once the spotters give a message of incoming turtles the guides will take us down. Until the turtle has dugg the egg hole and started laying eggs we are not allowed to go near. After the egg laying has started they will let us photograph and give each a chance to get a good view. The animals are not allowed to be touched or harmed. Once they have layed the eggs we can follow them up to the shore line and photograph or vedio under the red light. I think its a very unique experience and I really enjoyed it. The process can take up to 2 to 3 hours. As some animals will keep digging the hole up to about one hour. They told us they will return the money if we do not get a siting. Definitely worth it despite all the negative reviews. I guess it might be quite crowded during the high season. But today was in the low season. So only about 15 people were there. Everyone was very co operative and everyone got a chance. A group of Germans tried to gate crash and do the egg hunt by themselves without paying the conservation center. Despite clear notice saying its prohibited to enter the breeding grounds without a guide during 7pm to 6am. Felt a bit disappointed as Germans are usually very reasonable and nature loving people. I think for a poor nation where conservation is always fake and animals are exploited I really respect and admire the effort of this collective and wish them all the best. Definitely visiting again with friends and family.

Amazing place, people there are devoted to save turtles. So much passion in what they do. We saw turtle laying eggs and baby turtle going back to the sea. Many tourist do not respect the rules and animals, which is sad to see but personel try to cope with it. Group was big and seemed that foundation lacks personel and funding. But they do their best they can in given situation. Worth the visit, just read the instructions how not to distract turtles and bring red light with you .

Thank you for protecting the turtle nests and babys from predators this is very good for the animals future. But you should also protect them, even more from humans as long as the turtles are still coming.. Everything else what I observed and what is Happening there durring a 14 days stay near this beach is suspicious and not professional. I hope this will change.. The pictures shows arround 20 tourists following, photograf and chasing 1(!!) just born baby turtle. And this was initated and supported by the rangers. The nature friends of Rekawa..

Animal protection is not their focus. We were around 30 people last night. The guide was not able to handle the big group alone. Many people did not stick to the guide‘s words. No distance to the turtle kept, used flash lights although forbidden etc. They just didn‘t care to disturb the turtle for the best instagram post. And the guide let them do. This is not what should be supported by the tourists. NO RECOMMENDATION

I don't think the organization gets the credit it deserves and I think people rating this activity low for the price or the number of people are hypocrites. If you chose to do this activity you probably are a nature enthousiaste and if so please respect the animals. If it is well done we got to see turtles laying eggs unbothered and learnt a lot in the process. Also note that the organization protects the eggs and the money helps finance those people. Without them the survival rate of the turtles were about zero percent a few years back due to poachers. This activity is completely dependent on the respect of the people coming and I believe the business model is amazing in order to protect those sea turtles. More and more turtles come back to this beach to lay eggs and it is not a coincidence, the organization is doing a good job at protecting them.

I thought the staff at Turtle Watch Rekawa were very professional, knowledgeable and ethical. They did their best to ensure that the visitors obeyed the regulations and that the turtles were not disturbed at all. I’m hopeful their efforts help the conservation of these magnificent creatures.

Before 7 p.m. you can see the turtles being born. Not many people and nothing to pay. Please be careful to the baby turtles! Don't step on them! Don't touch them! They will find their way to the sea by themselves.

Nice beautiful place, but it's not really good for swimming, waves are too strong. There is a cafe where you can take coconut or eat something. It doesn't have any menu so is better to ask prices in advance. Host said that it would be enough to buy coconuts to use sunbed whole day, but then he changed his mind))) eventually two coconuts cost us 500rs and 1000rs more we should have given for sunbeds. Besides this there are no any infrastructure like toilets, showers, etc. It's quite wild beach.

Beautiful beach, many beach restaurants and bars. Lovely for those like to enjoy drinks and good ambiance. Have sun beds. Support local places like this. Drink a coconut here. Enjoy!

Nice beautiful place, but it's not really good for swimming, waves are too strong. There is a cafe where you can take coconut or eat something. It doesn't have any menu so is better to ask prices in advance. Host said that it would be enough to buy coconuts to use sunbed whole day, but then he changed his mind))) eventually two coconuts cost us 500rs and 1000rs more we should have given for sunbeds. Besides this there are no any infrastructure like toilets, showers, etc. It's quite wild beach.

About 14 km from Dickwela not a busy beach by the time we visited.. seems much waves and also not a good path for vehicles but resorts are there

My favorite beach in Sri Lanka that I discovered in 2001, when I lived here for four years. It has become more popular and touristy over time, but it still retains its charm and beauty with fine sand and fun waves. The best spot for swimming is outside off the wave breaks, where the water is much calmer. The big waves might not suit everyone, especially children, so supervision is required. The only potential issue is that it seems that one of the dogs has begun to nip people sometimes when it gets too excited. It is still playful and harmless. We were fine, but we noticed a few others having this problem.

It's a beautiful small beach, but little is open and free to sit and nowhere with shade. For unexperienced swimmers it might get rough as the ocean is a bit wavey. A relaxed place which is clean and soothing. Lovely sand and beautiful surrounding altogether. The beach is very beautiful with several restaurants and they would rent the chairs out free of charge if you eat there. The landscape is breath-taking.

It's a beautiful small beach, but little is open and free to sit and nowhere with shade. For unexperienced swimmers it might get rough as the ocean is a bit wavey. A relaxed place which is clean and soothing. Lovely sand and beautiful surrounding altogether. The beach is very beautiful with several restaurants and they would rent the chairs out free of charge if you eat there. The landscape is breath-taking.

Beautiful beach for sunrises!!! Together with a fisherman we were the only ones at this time.

Very nice beach with a few restaurant on the beach (even in low season) that offer free umbrellas. Sea color was not that blue, but there was a lot of waves. Beaches is more crowded and smaller than silent beach.

Super nice collective of relaxed young people. They prepare a great salad and one of their specialities is the banana chips/fries. The guys organised a fishing trip for us with a local fisherman (20k) and then prepared the fish for us. My children had a skin rash and the guys organised fresh aloe vera for us very quickly. Many thanks to you @sandaruwan and his boys! Best regards Martin and Family from Germany

I really like this beach I'll stay here for the next seven days so far it's good.. a bit too wavy so not the best for swimming but I think is a good spot to relax

Really nice beach. Waves can get really high. Water was clean and warm in Dec. There are no washrooms available at the beach, you have to walk back to your hotel.

Very beautiful beach with decent waves. The Bamboo Bar invites you for delicious chips and a beer. The beach is definitely a recommendation.

Yellow mellow beach bar is the best restaurant at thegoyambokka beach and they have fresh seafood. Also they have live lobsters. Staff is super friendly. Just go there and enjoy the vibe. Highly reccomended

Great activity to do when in Tangalle! :) Easy and friendly communication, we also used the transfer service.

Very service minded and friendly. They even went the extra mile to get us a bottle of water which we had forgotten and which we forgot to pay for - sorry! Saw a couple of varans and lots of birds. Something different than the beach.

I stayed here for one day after I stayed at the other Mallika Guest House. They just opened it. They builded a little Paradise right at the Beach. Wonderful Palmtrees, Calm Sea, very clean rooms. The whole Family and Employees are so kind, like a second Family. I would have loved to stay here longer. Definitely recommend this new Paradise.

Lovely kayak tour around the lagoon. The owner Dylan is super friendly and can join to show you the way if you like. Both kayak and canoe available.

Awesome experience you must try . It is like hidden gems in Tangelle area . Wonderful natural scenes and birds , so wide lagoon full of life and it cost less than 10$ but definitely worthy .

Beautiful and quiet place to get chill kayaking. Recommend in the morning or before sunset. Owner will help you with everything, you can swim as much you want. You will meet a lot of birds and few varanus.

We had a beautiful peaceful trip in the lagoon. Ishan and his stuff were very welcoming Very special experience. Recommend!!

Friendly renter. Gives also a waterproof bag and a map of the lagoon. 750 rs per person. Be careful some other renters try to charge you 1500 rs. This one is honest you can trust him. We went at 6:15 AM and saw 10 varans, monkeys and lot of birds. Wonderful! After, don’t hesitate to take a breakfast at Malika Guesthouse. Delicious, view on the beach and cheap!

Went there by boat with Mahesh and spent about 3 hours watching birds beginning from sunrise. Saw a lot of species, about 45 total

We had a fantastic time with Mahesh! Not only was he very knowledgeable about the birds but he was also very friendly and funnw. We could feel his true passion about bird life and his desire to make us see all the species, explain about the sanctuary, teach us about bird life. The tour was mind-blowing, the landscape and nature were incredible, and the quiet environment made it feel like paradise. We highly recommend!

Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary and the lagoon mangrove ecosystem are a great place for bird watching. Large flocks of native and migratory birds spend time in it and it is a very valuable ecological zone

A group of Aussie wildlife photographers experienced the Kalametiya Bird Santuary and so loved the adventure we didnt want it to ever finish..We were delighted with the huge diversity of wildlife. Our guide was happy to share his knowledge about the culture and history of the wetlands but also his expertise on the local species. The mode of transport was like being on a gondola on nature, slow and peaceful pace, allowing us to capture the best images of the wildlife.. We considered this event as one of our highlights on Sri Lanka.

A very interesting and spectacular place. The birds are literally everywhere, different type, size and kind, color and behavior. For all nature lovers is a must see place. Thanks Buddhi for excellent guidance and passion.

One of the best experiences I had when visiting down south. We went with Mahesh. You need to do a prior booking. It takes about 2 hours and you need to be there by 4 pm to start the ride. The tranquility is inexplicable and you need to experience it. You can see a variety of birds. I will surely visit again. Many locals don't come perhaps they are unaware.

We had a fantastic trip on the boat. Our guides were very friendly, nice and informative and shared with us a lot of interesting information about fauna and flora in the Kalametiya bird sanctuary. Lovely and calm atmosphere. Thanks a lot!

A great lagoon adventure with a guide, who knows birds very well and can tell you a lot about them. Relaxing atmosphere, privacy and a wide variety of birds to see in real nature. The journey takes place by boat and takes about 2-2,5 hours.

Fascinating and peaceful late afternoon’s bird watching. The lagoon was stunningly beautiful. Buddhi is a gentle and knowledgeable guide, with a real passion for this precious habitat.

Simple accommodation with really friendly hosts and a great view over the bay. Would recommend for experienced travelers

Went on a tour at sunrise - saw quite many beautiful birds, guide could notice birds from far away quickly and treated us with coconut and bananas 😁 If you love birds this place is a must!

Highly recommended. Gayan and his team are very knowledgeable and friendly. Need to book in advance.

It was definitely the highlight of our trip to Sri Lanka. We had to reach the bird sanctuary at 6am and get into a boat. The air was crisp with birds chirping all around. We got to see many birds and also witnessed our first beautiful sunrise of 2024. Definitely an exhilarating experience if you want to witness nature at its best. We took a guide but you can also choose not to, he showed us different types of birds and told us a little more about them and about the plants in that region as well.

It's a nugget! And if it's not easy to find, that's because it's not yet frequented by hordes of tourists. We saw several species of kingfisher, egrets, ibises, herons, eagles and so on, all with a very knowledgeable guide! And to top it all off, we even managed to get close to a crocodile! Extra, I recommend for those who want authentic birdwatching with a professional guide, not an amusement park.

I went with a group of 15 and we had 4 boats between us for both a morning and an afternoon/evening safari. It was incredibly tranquil and the morning light particularly was very good. We saw and heard a huge number of birds including a visiting Osprey and some wildlife, particularly a huge water monitor lounging on a tree trunk, plus dragon flies, damsel flies and butterflies! Gayan and his team were excellent and I recommend them for those wanting a different experience.

We loved every second of this private tour. Buddhi was such a knowledgeable and friendly guide. We saw many, many different species of bird, plus wild water buffalo and water monitors. We felt very lucky to have spent a few hours at this amazing reserve, all topped off by a beautiful sunset.

Best places to spot rare migratory birds. We witnesses over 3000 glossy ibis in the marsh with other migratory birds such as black tailed godwit, common shank etc

We visited the sanctuary which was booked for us by the manager of our hotel. He recommended the early morning trip and we were collected by our guide for the day by tuktuk at 6am. We spent an amazing two and a half hours on the water and saw the most fantastic array of birds. We were also treated to the sight of the water buffalo herdsman collecting his herd from the lake for milking and returning them later. Our guide also fed us some local delicacies that had been made by his mum! Our oarsman collected a bouquet of water hyacinths for my wife and made a garland from a water lily for my daughter. If you are in the area, then this is definitely one not to be missed.