Dondra Head Lighthouse
The tallest lighthouse in Sri Lanka, standing at Dondra Head, the southernmost point of the island, where the Indian Ocean stretches unbroken to Antarctica.
Dondra Head is the very bottom of Sri Lanka, the southernmost point of the island, and the tall lighthouse that marks it is the highest in the country. Standing at the base, with the Indian Ocean stretching away unbroken toward Antarctica, is one of those simple geographical thrills. There is nothing but open sea between you and the far south of the world.
The lighthouse itself is a handsome Victorian tower, built by the British in the 1880s from stone and iron shipped out for the job. It still works, guiding vessels around the cape, and the keepers will sometimes let you climb the tower for a small tip, though this comes and goes. Either way the point is the setting, the surf on the rocks, the wind, and that sense of standing at the edge of things.
It sits a few kilometres from Matara, near the temple town of Devinuwara, so it is an easy add-on to a day on the south coast. Late afternoon is the time to come, when the light is kind and the heat has dropped. There is not a great deal to do here beyond take it in, so half an hour to an hour is plenty, but it makes a satisfying full stop at the end of the island.
At a glance
- Entry fee: Small entry fee
- Opening hours: 8:00am to 5:00pm
- Time needed: 45 minutes to 1 hour
- Best time: Late afternoon
Getting there
At Dondra, about 6km southeast of Matara on the coast road.
Before you go
- Late afternoon is the best light and the coolest time to stand out on the exposed point.
- The keepers sometimes allow a climb up the tower for a small tip, but do not count on it.
- It is a short trip from Matara and pairs well with the Devinuwara temple next door.
- There is little shade, so bring water and a hat if you come in the middle of the day.
Frequently asked questions
- What is special about Dondra Head?
- It is the southernmost point of Sri Lanka, marked by the tallest lighthouse in the country. Standing there, with open ocean all the way to Antarctica, is the main draw.
- Can you climb the lighthouse?
- Sometimes. The keepers occasionally allow visitors up the tower for a small tip, but access is not guaranteed, so treat a climb as a bonus rather than the reason to go.
- How much does it cost?
- It is free to visit the point and view the lighthouse. Any climb up the tower depends on a small tip to the keeper.
- How long do you need?
- Half an hour to an hour is enough to take in the lighthouse and the southern tip. Combine it with Matara and the Devinuwara temple.