Kottawa Conservation Forest

The South


This 14-hectare wet evergreen forest about 19km northeast of Galle has walking tracks, but traffic noise (and rubbish) are an issue and you'll probably find animals elusive, except for the odd monkey. Wear good walking shoes and trousers: the leeches are ravenous.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby The South attractions

1. Handunugoda Tea Estate

6.26 MILES

This exquisite tea plantation in the hills above Koggala offers (free) highly informative tours of the estate. You'll sample and learn how they produce…

2. Yatagala Raja Maha Viharaya

6.27 MILES

Just 4km inland from Unawatuna, the Yatagala Raja Maha Viharaya is a quiet rock temple with a 9m reclining Buddha. The mural-covered walls are painted in…

3. Koggala Lake

6.73 MILES

Next to the road, Koggala Lake is alive with birdlife and dotted with islands, one of which features a Buddhist temple that attracts many visitors on poya…

4. Martin Wickramasinghe Folk Art Museum

7.22 MILES

This interesting museum includes the house where respected Sinhalese author Martin Wickramasinghe (1890–1976) was born (the traditional southern structure…

5. Kataluwa Purwarama Temple

7.26 MILES

Rarely crowded, this feels like the temple time forgot. Dating from the 13th century, it has some recently restored murals, including some large ones…

6. Jungle Beach

7.58 MILES

One of those 'secret' spots that everyone seems to knows about, Jungle Beach is a pretty bay just west of Unawatuna. There are a couple of slim-line sandy…

7. Rumassala Peace Pagoda

7.74 MILES

On the hillside west of Unawatuna, this impressive pagoda was built by Japanese Buddhist monks of the Mahayana sect in 2005, as part of their scheme to…

8. Dutch Market

8 MILES

Look for the Dutch Market with its displays of fruits and vegetables under a 300-year-old columned roof. It's located on busy Main St, close to other food…