Matara
A south coast city 8 km by road from Mirissa, with a Dutch Star Fort built between 1763 and 1765 that now holds a Department of Archaeology museum, and the Devinuwara lighthouse nearby. Train fares, distances and the best months, checked 20 October 2026.
Is Matara worth visiting?
Quick answer: Yes, for a half day of history or as a practical base on the south coast. Matara's Dutch Star Fort, built between 1763 and 1765, now holds a Department of Archaeology museum, and the Devinuwara lighthouse and Vishnu temple are a short drive east. The city is a stop on the coast line from Colombo and only about 8 km by road from Mirissa.
Matara is the main city of Matara District in the Southern Province. Many visitors pass through on the way to the beaches either side. The Star Fort and Devinuwara make it worth a stop.
What is the Star Fort in Matara?
DutchCulture's account of the fort's conservation gives its history:
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1763 to 1765 | The Dutch built the small star-shaped fort to protect the main Matara fort from attack |
| British period | The British used it for civil administration, and the buildings were changed over time |
| 1986 | The Department of Archaeology restored it to its original design |
| 1999 | A Dutch conservation specialist studied the gateway to rebuild the drawbridge |
| 25 July 2008 | The conserved fort, with its restored drawbridge, was handed to the Department of Archaeology |
DutchCulture says the drawbridge is the only old Dutch drawbridge on public display in Sri Lanka. Look for it at the gate.
What is in the Star Fort Museum?
The Department of Archaeology lists the Matara Star Fort Museum as one of its regional museums (Department of Archaeology museums). It says the museum shows:
- antiquities from the prehistoric, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Kandy and colonial periods
- a skeleton from the prehistoric era
- architectural and artistic pieces, inscriptions and coins, with information boards
We could not find official opening hours or a ticket price on 20 October 2026. Ask at the gate.
What is Devinuwara known for?
Devinuwara, also called Dondra, is just east of Matara town. The Ruhunu Tourist Bureau, the Southern Province's tourism office, describes two sights:
| Sight | What the Bureau says |
|---|---|
| Devinuwara lighthouse | Built by the British in the 19th century at the tip of the southern peninsula. Visitors can climb it or view it from the ground, and it gives wide views of the Indian Ocean |
| Sri Vishnu Dewalaya | A temple dedicated to Vishnu with a history going back to at least the 10th century, linked with seafaring traditions. Its annual festival draws devotees from across the island |
The temple is an active place of worship. Dress to cover your shoulders and knees, take off your shoes where asked, and ask before you photograph rituals. Our guide to visiting sacred sites covers temple manners.
How do you get to Matara?
By train
Matara is on the coast line from Colombo. The Sri Lanka Railways fare table from Colombo Fort, re-checked on 20 October 2026, lists:
| From Colombo Fort to | Distance | 1st class | 2nd class | 3rd class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galle | 113.89 km | Rs 950 | Rs 500 | Rs 240 |
| Weligama | 142.83 km | Rs 1,100 | Rs 550 | Rs 280 |
| Mirissa | 147.56 km | Rs 1,100 | Rs 550 | Rs 280 |
| Matara | 156.82 km | Rs 1,150 | Rs 600 | Rs 300 |
At the Central Bank's buying rate on 19 October 2026 (LKR 326.895 to the dollar), the 2nd class fare to Matara is about USD 1.84. The fare table gives no train times, and Sri Lanka Railways' online schedule search did not load for us today. Our train booking and prices guide explains the classes.
By road
| From Matara to | Distance | Time with no traffic |
|---|---|---|
| Mirissa | 8.4 km | About 14 min |
| Hiriketiya | 25.6 km | About 32 min |
| Tangalle | 37.8 km | About 42 min |
| Galle | 43.8 km | About 41 min |
| Colombo Fort | 155.2 km | About 2 h 13 min |
| Bandaranaike International Airport | 188.7 km | About 2 h 39 min |
Source: OpenStreetMap routes (OSRM), checked 20 October 2026. Coming from the airport? Our Colombo airport to Galle and Mirissa guide covers the drive south.
When is the best time to visit Matara?
Matara has no WMO station of its own, so the table uses the stations on either side, Galle to the west and Hambantota to the east, plus the Department of Meteorology's averages for Matara District.
| Month | Galle (WMO) | Hambantota (WMO) | Matara District (Met Dept) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 86.8 mm | 68.4 mm | Not published |
| February | 71.1 mm | 47.4 mm | Not published |
| March | 89.9 mm | 47.0 mm | Not published |
| May | 315.9 mm | 73.1 mm | Not published |
| October | 344.5 mm | 128.5 mm | 339.1 mm |
| November | 282.6 mm | 221.8 mm | 333.3 mm |
| December | 175.9 mm | 132.1 mm | 200.3 mm |
Sources: WMO 1991 to 2020 normals, NOAA archive; Department of Meteorology, Annex 1 of the October to December 2026 forecast.
What this tells you: January to March is the dry window on both sides of Matara. October and November are the wettest months, and Matara District's average is closer to Galle's than to Hambantota's. Our Sri Lanka in November guide has the full district table for the end of the year.
Can you see whales from Matara?
Yes, in season, from nearby Mirissa. The south coast season runs from November to April. The Sri Lanka Navy's cruise page lists its south coast cruise at USD 60 plus USD 20 tax, USD 80 in total, for a foreign adult, and USD 40 for a child aged 6 to 12. Boats leave early, and Mirissa is about 14 minutes away by road. The Mirissa guide covers the other boat operators.
How do you fit Matara into a trip?
| Plan | How Matara fits |
|---|---|
| A south coast week | A half-day stop between Mirissa and Tangalle, on the south coast itinerary |
| A weekend from Colombo | Add the Star Fort to the Colombo, Galle and Mirissa weekend if you take the train on to Matara |
| A train-only trip | Ride the coast line to Matara, then take a tuk-tuk to the nearby beaches |
| Beach time | Sleep in Weligama, Mirissa or Hiriketiya, and visit Matara for the day |
Frequently asked questions
Is Matara worth visiting?
Yes, for a half day or as a practical base. Matara has the Dutch Star Fort, built between 1763 and 1765 and now a Department of Archaeology museum, and the Devinuwara lighthouse and Vishnu temple are close by. It is also a train stop only about 8 km by road from Mirissa.
What is the Star Fort in Matara?
A small star-shaped fort the Dutch built between 1763 and 1765 to protect the main Matara fort from attack, according to DutchCulture's account of its restoration. The British later used it for civil administration. The Department of Archaeology restored it, and it now holds the Matara Star Fort Museum.
What can you see at the Matara Star Fort Museum?
The Department of Archaeology says the regional museum shows items from the prehistoric, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Kandy and colonial periods, including a prehistoric skeleton, inscriptions and coins. The fort's restored Dutch drawbridge is also on show.
How do you get from Colombo to Matara by train?
Take the coast line from Colombo Fort. The Sri Lanka Railways fare table lists Matara 156.82 km from Colombo Fort, at Rs 1,150 in 1st class, Rs 600 in 2nd class and Rs 300 in 3rd class. We could not load an official timetable on 20 October 2026, so check times at the station.
How far is Matara from Mirissa?
About 8 km by road, around 14 minutes with no traffic, on an OpenStreetMap route we checked on 20 October 2026. Galle is about 44 km away and Tangalle about 38 km.
What is Devinuwara known for?
The Devinuwara lighthouse, built by the British in the 19th century, and the Sri Vishnu Dewalaya, a temple to Vishnu that the Ruhunu Tourist Bureau dates to at least the 10th century. Devinuwara is also called Dondra, and the Bureau places the lighthouse at the tip of the southern peninsula.
When is the best time to visit Matara?
December to March. Galle and Hambantota, the WMO stations on either side of Matara, both average under 90 mm of rain a month from January to March. The Department of Meteorology gives Matara District 339.1 mm in October and 333.3 mm in November, the wettest part of the year.
Is Matara a good base for whale watching?
It can be. Mirissa harbour is about 8 km away, and the south coast whale season runs from November to April. The Sri Lanka Navy's page lists its south coast cruise at USD 80 for a foreign adult including tax.
Sources
Last verified 2026-10-20
- https://archaeology.gov.lk/index.php/about/sections/museums
- https://internationalheritage.dutchculture.nl/en/conservation-and-landscaping-star-fort-matara
- https://southernsrilanka.lk/destination/dewinuwara-lighthouse-sri-vishnu-dewalaya
- https://www.railway.gov.lk/web/images/pdf/Ticket_Price_Line/main_line/1_fot.pdf
- https://meteo.gov.lk/pdfs/rainfall_pdf.pdf
- https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/data/oceans/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-2-WMO-Normals-9120/SriLanka/CSV/
- https://whalewatching.navy.lk/index.php?id=3
- https://www.openstreetmap.org/
Plan your Matara trip
Colombo Airport to Galle and Mirissa
From Bandaranaike International Airport to Galle, Mirissa and the south coast by expressway bus or private car. Official NTC expressway bus fares checked 15 October 2026.
