Have you visited the Matale district of Sri Lanka? Have you seen its beauty? Or are you planning to visit Sri Lanka? I think it is very important for all those people to know about the beautiful places in Matale. You will be able to spend an unforgettable beautiful trip in a beautiful area.
Matale is the capital of Matale District in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. It is governed by the Matale Municipal Council. The historic city of Matale is located along the A9 highway. According to one legend, the vast plain surrounded by beautiful mountains was called “Maha Thala” and later became “Matale”. The total land area of Matale city is 9 km².
The total population of the city (2012) was 40,860. Matale city is located about 142 km (90 mi) inland from Colombo. It is located about 26 km (16 mi) north of Kandy.
Attractions
World-famous places such as Sri Muthumaramman Kovil (Matale’s first and oldest religious site), Riverstone, and Sembuwatta are also located in the Matale district, of which the Aluvihara Rajamaha Viharaya is located near the Matale city limits. Matale city is a plain area bordered by the Wilshire Range to the west. The agricultural areas around Matale city mainly grow pepper, cloves, nutmeg, tea, coconut, rubber, spices, vegetables, and fruits. Limestone, gems, batik, and handicraft industries are also found.
Places of interest within the municipal area
Sri Mutthumari Amman Hindu Temple (Matale’s first and oldest religious place) (The temple’s annual Theru festival attracts lakhs of people from all over Sri Lanka)
- Jumma Masjid (Kelin Street)
- McDowell Fort
- Nanayakkara Park and Government House
- Veera Puranappu Monument
- Anagarika Dharmapala Monument
- Old Clock Tower
- Old Railway Station (completed in 1880)
- Buddhist Temple
- St. Anthony’s Church, Wahakotte
- Nandimithra Ekanayake International Hockey Stadium
- Edward Hockey Stadium
- Bernard Aluvihara Stadium
- Public Library
- Children’s Playground
Matale Administrative District
Matale Administrative District is an administrative district of Sri Lanka. The central part of the island of Sri Lanka is considered to be within the Matale Administrative District. It has an area of 1993.9 sq km. Representing the northern part of the Central Province, Matale District extends from 80º 28” to 80º 59” East longitude and from 7º 24” to 8º 01” North latitude. Bordered by Anuradhapura to the north, Polonnaruwa, Badulla and Ampara to the east, Kandy to the south and Kurunegala to the west, Matale is one of the areas rich in natural resources of the island.
Home to the Sigiriya and Dambulla Cave Temples as well as the Knuckles Mountain Range, the district has a population of 482,229 (2012) in 1373 villages spread across 11 Divisional Secretariat Divisions.
Geographical Background
The location and geographical features of Matale District, which represents the northern half of the Central Province of Sri Lanka, are depicted in the Survey Map of the Department of Surveys (scale 1:63360) with the following inch maps: Dambulla, Nalanda, Kurunegala, Polonnaruwa, Elahera and Rangala.
The mountainous areas of the district, as a unit, are characterized by the basic rock type of chanokite. This basic rock type forms complex structures with uplift, divergence and subduction due to various influences occurring in the earth’s interior over time. These features can be seen in the vicinity of the Knuckles mountain range.
The area near the Mahaweli Valley on the eastern border of Matale District belongs to the Vijayan series according to geological classification. This region, which is an overflow plain of the Mahaweli River, is particularly rich in sedimentary clays.
When considering the topography of Matale District, it can be divided into 3 main parts.
- Northern Plain
- Matale Basin and Knuckles Area
- Laggala Parallel Hills
The Northern Plain generally includes the Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Dambulla, Galewela and Pallepola. This area, which is full of high mountains and remnant mountains in places, generally shows the characteristics of a plain and rough terrain. Among the remnant mountains in this area, Sigiriya, Dambulla, and Beliyakanda have been famous since ancient times. This plain generally shows an altitude of between 500 – 1000 feet.
The Matale area can be shown as a basin geologically. The main reason for this is that the city of Matale is surrounded by a mountain range. The areas surrounding the city of Matale, which are surrounded by the Knuckles, Guruluhela Pansalatenna, Ovilkanda and Hunnasgiri mountain ranges, are thus located in a basin. The river that flows through this area is the Sudu Ganga, complicating the geographical features. When going east through Ratthota, the Knuckles mountain range, which shows a rough topography, is encountered. The average elevation of this range, which consists of five peaks, is about 4000 feet.
A prominent feature on the eastern slope of the Knuckles Range is the Laggala Parallel Helveti Zone. This zone consists of three Helveti extending northwards from the Knuckles Range parallel to the Laggala area. One of these ranges extends from Thelambugala in Knuckles to Wasgamuwa, the second from Wamarapugala in Knuckles to Ambanganga via Ranamure, and the third from the Rambukuluwa area towards the Laggala Udasiya Plateau.
The forest distribution is also complex. The central, southwestern and western areas are montane wet zone forests, the eastern areas of the Knuckles are montane dry zone forests, and the northern and Laggala and Wilgamu areas are lowland dry zone forests. Although both main monsoons bring rain, the majority of the rainfall is from the northeast monsoon. The mineral resources of the area include the Laggala, Kaluganga and Hatthota anvil gems, the Wariyapola and Kaikawala mica deposits, and the Thalagoda and Ovala feldspar mineral deposits used for the production of pottery. Lime and granite industries are also carried out on a large scale.
Beautiful places to visit in Matale
Matale is a place of great natural beauty. The feeling of well-being that one feels when one goes to Matale is indescribable. Matale city, which is very important to our country in terms of natural beauty as well as history, has many beautiful places to visit.
I will describe some of them in this article. When you travel from Ratthota in Matale to the newly built Moragahakanda, you can see all these beautiful places.
Bambarakiri Ella Water Fall
Located in the jurisdiction of the Ratthota Pradeshiya Sabha, this waterfall is a great place to enjoy the beauty of a cold stream. The source of the Bambarakiri Falls originates from the Knuckles Mountain Range. The Bambarakiri Falls have been formed by the Velangaha Oya or Kuda Oya stream that flows through the Dumbara Valley, feeding the Ambanganga River. The water of the waterfall that flows through and collects is extremely pure. It is also suitable for drinking. It should be noted that the water of this waterfall also quenches the thirst of the people living in the Ratthota area. Moreover, the water flowing from the waterfall nourishes several paddy fields in the lower area.
Riverstone
Riverstone is a beautiful place covered in mist in the Matale District of Sri Lanka. Riverstone is located in the Laggala Electoral Division of the Matale District. Situated at an altitude of 1265 meters, Riverstone is most popular because of its wind dome. This Riverstone mountain was known as Batadadu Mountain in the past. This mountain peak is covered in cold mist in the evening.
PiwalaPatha
PiwalaPatha is a beautiful place in Sri Lanka. You can come from Matale Rattatat and visit Bambarakiriella, Riverstone and then Pitawalapathana.
This is another beautiful place. The Little End of the World is located at the end of this place. If you park your vehicle in the park and go to see the Little End of the World, you have to walk about 700 meters. Then you can see the Little End of the World.
Etanwala Village
Atanwala is a village of utmost beauty. It is a wonderful village where people live by farming surrounded by mountains. The Teligamuwa Oya flows through the middle of the village. This river starts from a place called Sudugalakanda. Also, the waterfall known as Vedda Penny Ella is created by this stream. If you go, do not forget to see the beauty of this village. You can see the beautiful mountains like Pitawala Pathana, Manigala Mountain and Sudugala Mountain around the village.
Sera Ella
Another beautiful waterfall among the waterfalls of Sri Lanka. It is about 15 meters high. This waterfall is created by the Puwakpitiya Oya. If you are visiting this area, do not forget to visit this waterfall.
It is possible to visit these places mainly and see various other scenic spots.
Accommodation
If you are visiting for a few days, there are hotels with full facilities and amenities in the Matale area as well as in the Riverston area. Accommodation facilities can be arranged at those places as per your requirements.
