Dondra Head Lighthouse
Dondra Head Lighthouse
4.5
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4.5
223 reviews
Excellent
115
Very good
73
Average
21
Poor
5
Terrible
9
DuncanTCH
East Greenbush, NY1,499 contributions
Feb 2022
The Dondra Head Lighthouse is far superior in size and location than the Galle lighthouse. One can drive right up to the parking area, which is only about 100 meters from the lighthouse and walk the rest of the way. There are generally no crowds, so you can enjoy a much more relaxed time and the views from the area surrounding the lighthouse are also superior to the Galle. Not sure that I would go out of my way to visit here...but if you're in the area, it's definitely worth a quick look.
Written 3 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ravisha Madushani
Matara, Sri Lanka14 contributions
Jan 2022 • Family
Dondra Head Lighthouse is a Lighthouse in Dondra. It is located on Dondra Head, Dondra. Dondra Head Lighthouse has avery beautiful and attractive beach. Sri lanka tallest lighthouse and also one of the tallest in South East Asia. Dondra Head lighthouse is a very beautiful and eye - catching place.
Written 15 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Eshara R
Colombo, Sri Lanka1 contribution
Mar 2024 • Family
Talking Fingers SPA Hiriketiya exceeded all my expectations. The serene atmosphere, coupled with the stunning view, made for a truly magical experience. The staff went above and beyond to ensure my comfort and satisfaction. The massage therapists are truly gifted - I left feeling like a new person.
Written 1 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Victorianlad
Melbourne, Australia17,904 contributions
Feb 2024 • Solo
This historic lighthouse used stone quarried from Cornwall in England' West Country plus Scottish stone.
It was modernised in 2000 with GPS.
It was worth a 10 minute visit.
It was modernised in 2000 with GPS.
It was worth a 10 minute visit.
Written 1 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dingo_6152
Fremantle, Australia3,380 contributions
Jan 2016 • Couples
This lighthouse is located on the southern most tip of the island. It is an operational lighthouse and is really well maintained, which includes the surrounding grassed gardens full of palm trees. It is a very peaceful setting.
If you want to climb the lighthouse expect to pay a Rs500 fee. The views from the top are worth it. There is a long circular wrought iron staircase to navigate first but once there you have uninterrupted view for miles and miles up and down the coastline.
If you are in the area definitely include it on your itinerary - it's one of the most scenic lighthouses in Sri Lanka.
If you want to climb the lighthouse expect to pay a Rs500 fee. The views from the top are worth it. There is a long circular wrought iron staircase to navigate first but once there you have uninterrupted view for miles and miles up and down the coastline.
If you are in the area definitely include it on your itinerary - it's one of the most scenic lighthouses in Sri Lanka.
Written 5 January 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Valeriya B
Moscow, Russia1 contribution
We met a really unpleasant person near the lighthouse's entrance who tried to charge 500 rs from each to get in. But he refused to give us any tickets. We didn't want our money to go right to his pocket. This corrupted system is awful. We were ready to pay these money to support poor people of Sri Lanka, but not this fat insolent guy. So we refused to get in. Really bad experience.
Written 11 January 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vincent M
New Orleans, LA2,256 contributions
May 2014
Dondra Lighthouse is a pleasant hour's drive S of Galle along the coast road. You can go up to the top of the light and walk around outside for great views of the seas. Some other reviewers mention in passing that it's neat the southernmost point in Sri Lanka. However, all the other reviews on TA don't mention the #1 reason I went to see it, So to speak, they may have missed the point.
Just as arbitrary lines on maps mark the borders of countries, other lines on charts mark the arbitrary boundaries of seas. The southernmost point of Dondra marks exactly where major seas come together. The ocean rolls on heedless of the boundaries, just as the Alps themselves don't care whether we call them Swiss, French or Italian; but the borders are quite official. The IHO, the International Hydrographic Organization, agrees on the lines, and they agreed the three major bodies of water meet at a single point, "the Southern extreme of Dondra Point. If stand at this point and look due south, you're looking at the Indian Ocean. But from the same point headed west, you see the Laccadive Sea. And from the same point an imaginary line running East by South marks the Southern boundary of the Bay of Bengal.
Technically you can jump into the Bay of Bengal, swim across the Indian Ocean all the way to the Laccadive Sea and swim back again in under five minutes. Better be a good swimmer though, depending on the conditions. Today there were heavy waves coming in from the west, and quite a strong current running from west to east; it was like swimming in a river. Rip tides are a real danger in Sri Lanka; if in doubt, better to err on the side of caution.
Naturally, all three bodies of water can be seen from the top of the lighthouse. I will try to attach two pix. The first was taken looking NW; the water in the foreground is officially the Bay of Bengal, while the water on the far side of the point is the Laccadive Sea. The second pic shows the point itself, where all three meet.
Just as arbitrary lines on maps mark the borders of countries, other lines on charts mark the arbitrary boundaries of seas. The southernmost point of Dondra marks exactly where major seas come together. The ocean rolls on heedless of the boundaries, just as the Alps themselves don't care whether we call them Swiss, French or Italian; but the borders are quite official. The IHO, the International Hydrographic Organization, agrees on the lines, and they agreed the three major bodies of water meet at a single point, "the Southern extreme of Dondra Point. If stand at this point and look due south, you're looking at the Indian Ocean. But from the same point headed west, you see the Laccadive Sea. And from the same point an imaginary line running East by South marks the Southern boundary of the Bay of Bengal.
Technically you can jump into the Bay of Bengal, swim across the Indian Ocean all the way to the Laccadive Sea and swim back again in under five minutes. Better be a good swimmer though, depending on the conditions. Today there were heavy waves coming in from the west, and quite a strong current running from west to east; it was like swimming in a river. Rip tides are a real danger in Sri Lanka; if in doubt, better to err on the side of caution.
Naturally, all three bodies of water can be seen from the top of the lighthouse. I will try to attach two pix. The first was taken looking NW; the water in the foreground is officially the Bay of Bengal, while the water on the far side of the point is the Laccadive Sea. The second pic shows the point itself, where all three meet.
Written 22 May 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sankmik
Bengaluru, India294 contributions
Sept 2019 • Friends
If you have time, you can sure visit this place though it is nothing like you can't miss considering you can't really climb up and can just visit the surrounding area.
Again my request to sri Lankan authorities would be tobput some restrictions on plastic usage, near the lughthouse, specially on the backside it is not that clean and well maintained.
Again my request to sri Lankan authorities would be tobput some restrictions on plastic usage, near the lughthouse, specially on the backside it is not that clean and well maintained.
Written 8 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jem0212
Dubai, United Arab Emirates21 contributions
Jan 2016
We went all the way to the lighthouse, only to be told that it is no longer open to the public because the locals charging the entrance fee did not work for the government, they were just making money for themselves. So since the 26th January 2016 the government found out about this and put a stop to it. If passing by its worth to take a look ,but don't go out your way
Written 15 February 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lakmal F
Colombo, Sri Lanka2 contributions
Dec 2015
It's so pathetic to see being Sri Lankan we have to take permission to enter. That's okay if same rule apply to all. But if a foreigner comes in they allow them in without any problem. For money. Feel so proud to be a Lankan. Lol.
Written 22 December 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SRILANKAN T
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Any contact details to get the visit permission please ? tried port authority but no luck.
Written 11 July 2024
If its a just visit to the light house premises, no permission required.
You want to get inside the light house or to use a drone or similar thing?
Written 21 July 2024
We(6 teachers &43 students of Swarnajayanthi Maha Vidyalaya) had faxed a letter asking for the permission to visit the dondra light house from the harbour master Colombo yesterday. So how can we confirm whether we have got the permission? Is there any contact no. which we can contact and get further details?
Written 16 March 2019
Try below number
0412 222 595
Written 16 March 2019
No you can't climb it unfortunately.
Written 27 January 2019
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