Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Shopping
6
Cargills Food City
C1
You can spend half a day wandering Matara. The long strip of beach along Sea Beach Rd
is somewhat tatty, commercial and missable.
Dutch Rampart
HISTORIC SITE
The smallish Dutch rampart occupies the promontory separating the Nilwala Ganga from
the sea. Built in the 18th century to protect the VOC's
kachcheri
(administrative office), its
structure is a little peculiar - it was originally meant to be a fort, but accountants, with
their pesky cost-cutting exercises, dictated otherwise.
Inside the rampart are quiet vestiges of old Matara. Wander the narrow streets and you'll
see the odd colonial gem. The river bank at the west corner is serene; see if you can spot
one of the rumoured crocodiles.
Star Fort
FORT
About 350m from the main rampart gate, Star Fort was built by the Dutch to compensate
for deficiencies in the rampart. However, it's so small it could only have protected a hand-
ful of bureaucrats. The construction date (1765) is embossed over the main gate, along
with the VOC company insignia and the coat of arms of the governor of the day.
Look for the two carved lions that guard the entrance gates. You can also spot the slots
that once secured the drawbridge beams.
Parey Dewa
BUDDHIST
