Things to do in Hambantota

A coastal wetland and Ramsar site of lagoons and salt pans, one of Sri Lanka's finest birdwatching parks and a winter home for greater flamingos.

A dramatic rock-temple monastery on a towering granite outcrop, its terraced cave shrines holding reclining Buddhas and vivid murals.

A protected stretch of golden coast near Tangalle where wild sea turtles come ashore at night to nest, watched under strict conservation guidelines.

Sri Lanka's first drive-through safari park, where visitors tour landscaped zones of lions, elephants, deer and other animals by vehicle.

An ancient rock monastery of caves and stupas set deep within Yala National Park, once home to thousands of meditating monks.

A monumental white dagoba dating from the Ruhuna kingdom, one of the largest ancient stupas in Sri Lanka and the centrepiece of Tissa town.

Sri Lanka's most famous wildlife park, renowned for one of the world's highest leopard densities alongside elephants, sloth bears and abundant birdlife.