With around 40,000 in habitants, Matara is the largest town on the south coast and, as the terminus of the railway line from Colombo, is the gateway to the region. It's a quiet place, though centuries ago it was one of the most important entrepots for Sri Lanka's spice and gem trade with the Middle    Read more...

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East. It was a strategic port for the Dutch, too, as evidenced by its substantial fortifications.

The oldest part of the town is on a narrow peninsula separated from the mainland by the estuary of the Nilwala Ganga, with a good beach on its seaward side. As they did at Galle, the Dutch encircled this easily defended spit of land with sturdy stone walls, which are still in good shape. Within the walls is a charming district of ramshackle old buildings, many of them dating from the Dutch colonial era.

Star Fort and Museum of Ancient Paintings on the north bank of the Nilwala Ganga, about 350m (360yd) from the main fort gate, the Dutch built a smaller outpost fort in the form of a five-pointed star. Dating from 1763, it was intended to guard the river crossing to the main fort. It now houses a small museum of historic paintings and frescoes on wooden panels.

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