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PRODID:-//https://induwara.lk//Trip Planner//EN
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X-WR-CALNAME:Bentota\, Sri Lanka — 3 days
X-WR-CALDESC:A 3-day mid-budget Bentota plan blending beaches\, Geoffrey Ba
 wa's gardens\, river wildlife safaris and sea-turtle conservation on Sri L
 anka's southwest coast.
BEGIN:VEVENT
UID:trip-custom-nmtgzqog-d1-20260604T003959Z@induwara.lk
DTSTAMP:20260604T003959Z
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260604
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260605
SUMMARY:Day 1 — beach\, river safari & a riverside temple
DESCRIPTION:1. Bentota Beach (1.5 hours) — Start early on the wide main bea
 ch before the heat builds\; the southern end near the river mouth has the 
 calmest water for swimming. Watersports operators (jet-ski\, banana boat) 
 cluster here from around 9am if you want more than a swim.\n\n2. Bentota R
 iver Boat Safari (2 hours) — Jetties near the Bentota road bridge run 1.5–
 2 hour boat trips through the river and mangrove channels\; go mid-morning
  for active wildlife. Expect monitor lizards\, water birds and kingfishers
  — bring a zoom lens and negotiate the price before boarding.\n\n3. Galapa
 ta Raja Maha Vihara (45 minutes) — This quiet ancient temple on the river'
 s south bank dates to the Polonnaruwa era and sees few tourists\, so dress
  modestly and remove shoes. Look for the old stone inscriptions and the pa
 inted image house — a good cultural stop with no entry crowds.\n\n4. Bento
 ta Sandbar (river mouth) (1 hour) — End the day at the spit where the Bent
 ota River meets the ocean\; the lagoon side is shallow and calm while the 
 sea side gets the surf and the sunset. It's the best free sunset-photograp
 hy spot in town.\n\nNote: Carry small cash for the boat safari and temple 
 donations — card payment isn't available at either.\n\nFull itinerary: htt
 ps://induwara.lk/tools/trip-planner/custom-nmtgzqog
URL:https://induwara.lk/tools/trip-planner/custom-nmtgzqog
LOCATION:Bentota\, Sri Lanka
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
UID:trip-custom-nmtgzqog-d2-20260604T003959Z@induwara.lk
DTSTAMP:20260604T003959Z
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260605
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260606
SUMMARY:Day 2 — Bawa gardens & hilltop temple
DESCRIPTION:1. Lunuganga Estate (1.5 hours) — Geoffrey Bawa's former countr
 y home is now a heritage garden open for guided walks (roughly 9.30am–4pm\
 ; booking ahead is wise). The hour-long tour explains how the rolling lawn
 s\, follies and lake views shaped modern Sri Lankan architecture — essenti
 al for design and photography lovers.\n\n2. Brief Garden (1.5 hours) — Bev
 is Bawa's hillside garden\, about 20 minutes inland\, layers terraces\, po
 nds and quirky sculpture into dense greenery (open daily\, mornings best f
 or light). A resident guide walks you through the house and art collection
 \; wear closed shoes for the slightly overgrown paths.\n\n3. Kande Viharay
 a (1 hour) — This working temple above Aluthgama is crowned by one of the 
 island's largest seated Buddha statues\, visible from the road. Climb the 
 steps for valley views\, then visit the older image house and bo-tree shri
 ne\; modest dress and bare feet required inside.\n\n4. Aluthgama Town & Ma
 rket (1 hour) — Wind down in Aluthgama's small bustling centre\, where the
  fish market and street stalls are good for photos and cheap eats. It's th
 e spot to try a local rice-and-curry lunch or pick up fruit before heading
  back to the coast.\n\nNote: Pre-book the Lunuganga tour slot\, as walk-in
 s are sometimes turned away when groups are scheduled.\n\nFull itinerary: 
 https://induwara.lk/tools/trip-planner/custom-nmtgzqog
URL:https://induwara.lk/tools/trip-planner/custom-nmtgzqog
LOCATION:Bentota\, Sri Lanka
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
UID:trip-custom-nmtgzqog-d3-20260604T003959Z@induwara.lk
DTSTAMP:20260604T003959Z
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260606
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260607
SUMMARY:Day 3 — sea turtles\, mangroves & a quiet beach
DESCRIPTION:1. Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project (1 hour) — A short d
 rive south\, this hatchery rescues eggs and injured turtles\; morning visi
 ts often coincide with hatchling releases (typically open from 8am). Choos
 e a project that releases hatchlings rather than keeping adults long-term\
 , and skip handling the animals.\n\n2. Madu River Safari (Balapitiya) (2 h
 ours) — Boats from Balapitiya explore the Madu Ganga's mangrove islands\, 
 fish-spas and a small island temple over about two hours. Go for a longer 
 route to reach the quieter mangrove tunnels — it's the most rewarding wild
 life photography of the trip.\n\n3. Induruwa Beach (2 hours) — Finish at t
 his calmer\, less developed beach just north of Kosgoda for a swim and a r
 elaxed seafood lunch. Fewer crowds than Bentota make it the place for a sl
 ow final afternoon before you head onward.\n\nNote: Combine the turtle pro
 ject and Madu River trip in one morning since both sit along the coast roa
 d south of Bentota.\n\nFull itinerary: https://induwara.lk/tools/trip-plan
 ner/custom-nmtgzqog
URL:https://induwara.lk/tools/trip-planner/custom-nmtgzqog
LOCATION:Bentota\, Sri Lanka
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