Sri Lanka 's southern coast contains many of its best and popular beaches. The entire coastal belt is dotted by large hotels and chic boutique resorts. Two of the South's best known beaches are in the towns of Beruwala and Bentota. Further down the road is the surfing hot spot – Hikkaduwa.

Galle , a bustling town, is home to the Galle Fort – a World Heritage Site. The Fort was built by Dutch colonists and many old buildings from the period still stand today. Small streets crisscross the Fort, and many of the houses are occupied by a mix of ethnic groups. The Fort's original ramparts still stand strong – and are a great place from which to enjoy a spectacular southern sunset.

More beaches stretch beyond Galle . Beaches such as those in Weligama and Tangalle are beautiful and secluded. Deeper still into the South resides the amazing Kataragama temple – a colourful Hindu temple that is the destination for a fascinating annual pilgrimage that commences in the north of the country. Kataragama is an important religious centre not just for Hindus but for Buddhists and Muslims as well, as the Kataragama complex also houses a Buddhist temple, and a mosque is located close to its entrance