national park
Yala National Park
Sri Lanka's premier wildlife park with the highest density of leopards in the world, plus elephants, bears, and crocodiles.
21 km · about 25 min drive
AsiaSri LankaUva Province
Kataragama
Uva Province, Sri Lanka · Asia
About Kataragama
Kataragama is worth a stop: 45 minutes from Hambantota, 21km from Yala National Park.
Kataragama is in Uva Province, Sri Lanka, with about 21,000 people. The nearest town is Hambantota, about 40 km away.
Kataragama (Sinhala: කතරගම, romanized: Kataragama , Tamil: கதிர்காமம், romanized: Katirkāmam) is a pilgrimage town sacred to Buddhist, Hindu and indigenous Vedda people of Sri Lanka. People from South India also go there to worship. The town has the Kataragama temple, a shrine dedicated to Skanda Kumara also known asRead more
Kataragama deviyo. Kataragama is located in the Monaragala District of Uva province, Sri Lanka. It is 228 km (142 mi) southeast of Colombo. Although Kataragama was a small village in medieval times, today it is a fast-developing township surrounded by jungle in the southeastern region of Sri Lanka.
The ancient Kiri Vehera Buddhist stupa, which is believed to be built by the regional king Mahasena in the 6th century BC is also a major attraction in Kataragama area.
The town has a venerable history dating back to the last centuries BCE. It was the seat of government of many Sinhalese kings during the days of Rohana kingdom.
Since the 1950s the town has undergone many improvements with successive governments investing in public transportation, medical facilities, and business development and hotel services. It adjoins the popular Yala National Park.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Kataragama?
Within an hour or so of Kataragama: Yala National Park (21 km), Diyaluma Falls (49 km), Lipton's Seat (54 km), Ella (60 km).
Where is Kataragama?
Kataragama is in Uva Province, Sri Lanka, about 40 km from Hambantota.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 20,935
- Continent
- Asia
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Region
- Uva Province
- Timezone
- Asia/Colombo
- Coordinates
- 6.4134, 81.3346
Tags
Worth the detour from Kataragama
5 notable places within an hour's drive.
waterfall
Diyaluma Falls
Sri Lanka's second-highest waterfall at 220 m, dropping in a single plume beside the Koslanda road, with a chain of natural infinity pools on the ledges above reached by a steep half-hour walk.
49 km · about 55 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Lipton's Seat
The ridge above Dambatenne where Thomas Lipton surveyed his tea empire, at 1,970 m. The narrow road climbs through Lipton's own estate and on a clear morning the view runs to the southern coast.
54 km · about 60 min drive
natural wonder
Ella
A misty hill town with spectacular train rides, tea plantations, waterfalls, and the iconic Nine Arches Bridge.
60 km · about 70 min drive
bridge
Nine Arch Bridge, Demodara
A soaring colonial-era railway viaduct of brick and stone curving through tea-clad jungle near Ella. A short drive-and-walk brings you trackside as blue trains rumble across its nine arches.
60 km · about 70 min drive
Driving roads near Kataragama
- 54 kmLipton's SeatThe ridge above Dambatenne where Thomas Lipton surveyed his tea empire, at 1,970 m. The narrow road climbs through Lipton's own estate and on a clear morning the view runs to the southern coast.
- 60 kmNine Arch Bridge, DemodaraA soaring colonial-era railway viaduct of brick and stone curving through tea-clad jungle near Ella. A short drive-and-walk brings you trackside as blue trains rumble across its nine arches.
When to drive here
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
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