Dondra Head Lighthouse
The tallest lighthouse in Sri Lanka, at the southernmost point of the island, built in 1890 from imported stone.
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Dondra Head is the southernmost point of Sri Lanka, and the lighthouse on it, finished in 1890, stands about forty-nine metres, the tallest in the country, built of stone brought from Britain and assembled here. It marks the corner where shipping turns between the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, and the water offshore is one of the better places in the world for blue whales, which pass close to the point on migration.
What you actually see
- The lighthouse - a 49-metre stone tower of 1890, the tallest in the country.
- The southernmost point - the actual tip of the island below the light.
- The whale route - blue whales passing close offshore on migration.
- The Dondra temple - the Vishnu temple in the village, an old pilgrimage site.
When to go
November to April is the season, and December to April is the whale-watching window from Mirissa nearby. The tower is generally not open. Mornings are calmest.
Honest expectations
The lighthouse itself is closed to visitors and the visit is the grounds and the point. There is little shade. Whale watching is done from Mirissa, not from the headland.
Nearby
Matara is northwest, and Mirissa is west along the coast.
What to pack for Dondra Head Lighthouse
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
