Matale: Cave Temples, Waterfalls and Nature

Matale District brings together a range of travel interests: Buddhist cave shrines, archaeological sites, wall paintings, waterfalls and landscapes. When planning your trip, you can first consider whether to focus on culture and history or on hiking and nature watching. The places in the district offer a wide variety of themes.

Cave Shrines and Ancient Architecture

Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple is an important Buddhist shrine that has been associated with living Buddhist rituals and pilgrimages for more than two millennia. Its religious character is an essential part of the visitor experience. In Sigiriya, meanwhile, the ruins of the ancient city extend up the slopes to the summit of a granite peak about 180 metres high. Galleries and steps through the mouth of a giant lion provide access to the site. Water gardens, palaces and frescoes complete the picture. The district thus offers two distinct cultural highlights: a living religious tradition and the architecture of an ancient city.

Wall Paintings from Antiquity to the Present

The Dambulla Painting Museum, also called the Museum of Wall Paintings, is devoted exclusively to exhibiting and preserving Sri Lanka’s rich heritage of wall and cave paintings. The collection explores the development of Sri Lankan cave and wall painting. The paintings on display come from ancient temples and span the period from the Anuradhapura era to the present day; they also include the famous Sigiriya frescoes. Those interested in art history will find a dedicated focus here: the collection spans a broad period and includes more than the paintings of a single temple.

Arboretum, Waterfall and Hiking Trails

Popham’s Arboretum in Dambulla is Sri Lanka’s only dry-zone arboretum. Wooden bridges cross small streams there and help shape the character of the place. Sera Ella, in the village of Pothatawela near Laggala, offers a different nature experience. The waterfall divides into two cascades, each plunging ten metres. Visitors can reach the cave behind the waterfall by steps cut into the rock, even when Sera Ella is flowing at full force. Caution is advised when water levels are high.

Hulangala is an escarpment offering panoramic views of Sri Lanka’s varied landscapes. Mini World’s End is also located near Hulangala: the hike there is 2.3 kilometres long, and trail conditions may vary. This offers a viewpoint and a hike with a specified distance as distinct options for planning a trip.

Meemure and the Central Province

Meemure is a traditional village on the border between Kandy and Matale districts. The village is also surrounded by the Knuckles Mountain Range in the Central Province. Visitors to Meemure can go birdwatching, cycling, mountaineering, hiking and photography, and take part in safaris; individual activities may vary. Traditional forms of hospitality are still practised there. Weaving mats from rushes and making products from cane or rattan are traditional household crafts. Nature activities and locally rooted crafts give the village distinct cultural and scenic character.

Places for Geographical Orientation

Nalanda Gedige is considered the centre of the island of Sri Lanka because of its location. Hulangala forms a natural boundary between Matale and Kurunegala districts. These geographical features add another perspective on Matale to visits to temples, the museum and the surrounding landscapes.

Discover more destinations: Dambulla, Sigiriya, Elkaduwa, Inamaluwa, Madawala, Dambagahamada, Rattota, Kandy.

See the broader travel guide: Central Province.