Ampara district, Sri Lanka

Places to visit near Ampara

Ampara is a town in Ampara district, Sri Lanka, home to about 18,348 people. Within 50 km by road there are 169 places to visit — 51 mosques & dargahs, 30 buddhist sites, 28 temples and 10 hill stations & viewpoints. The must-see places are ஸ்ரீ சிந்தாயாத்திரைப் பிள்ளையார் ஆலயம் (19 km), Oluvil Lighthouse (26 km) and Batticaloa Ghandi Park (58 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Ampara on the map

Ampara at a glance

Location
Ampara district, Sri Lanka
Population
about 18,348
Coordinates
7.2975° N, 81.6820° E
Places within 50 km
169 (2 must-see)
Best time to visit
October to March for buddhist sites; October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; year-round for mosques & dargahs and temples
Nearest city
Batticaloa, 60 km
Airport
Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI), 160 km

Top places to visit near Ampara

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Ampara: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Ampara

Things to see near Ampara, by type

Mosques & dargahs near Ampara

52 mosques & dargahs within 100 km of Ampara. The closest is Jummah Mosque (1 km). Best time: year-round.

All mosques & dargahs in Sri Lanka →

Buddhist sites near Ampara

43 buddhist sites within 100 km of Ampara. The closest is Mandala Maha Viharaya (1 km); the best-known is Buddhangala Raja Maha Viharaya (6 km). Best time: october to march.

All buddhist sites in Sri Lanka →

Temples near Ampara

29 temples within 100 km of Ampara. The closest is Pillayar Kovill Ampara (3 km); the best-known is ஸ்ரீ சிந்தாயாத்திரைப் பிள்ளையார் ஆலயம் (19 km). Best time: year-round.

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Hill stations & viewpoints near Ampara

16 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Ampara. The closest is Q1 (1 km); the best-known is View Point (3 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

All hill stations & viewpoints in Sri Lanka →

Lakes, dams & reservoirs near Ampara

14 lakes, dams & reservoirs within 100 km of Ampara. The closest is Ampara Tank Viewpoint (2 km); the best-known is Lake Aura (12 km). Best time: august to december when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in Sri Lanka →

Beaches & coast near Ampara

13 beaches & coast within 100 km of Ampara. The closest is Nintavur Beach (26 km); the best-known is Oluvil Lighthouse (26 km). Best time: october to march.

All beaches & coast in Sri Lanka →

A one-day trip from Ampara

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 76 km on the road.

  1. Start in Ampara
  2. 6 km Buddhangala Raja Maha Viharaya · Buddhist site, Ampara
  3. 14 km ஸ்ரீ சிந்தாயாத்திரைப் பிள்ளையார் ஆலயம் · temple, Ampara
  4. 12 km Deegawapi Raja Maha Vihara · Buddhist site, Ampara
  5. 18 km Lake Aura · lake, Ampara
  6. 16 km Himidurawa Bund / Mini Waterfall · waterfall, Ampara
  7. 10 km Back to Ampara

Plan a longer trip from Ampara — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Ampara

No traveller has reported from around Ampara yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

Post an update from the map →

How to reach Ampara

  • By air: Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI), Hambantota — about 160 km by road
  • By air: Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), Colombo — about 248 km by road
  • By road from Batticaloa: about 60 km · directions
  • By road from Arugam Bay: about 67 km · directions
  • By road from Ella: about 106 km · directions

All places near Ampara by distance

Within 15 km of Ampara

15–50 km — half-day trips

50–100 km — one-day trips

Count by type (within 100 km)

Places near Ampara by type
TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
Mosques & dargahs5152Jummah Mosque (1 km)
Buddhist sites3043Mandala Maha Viharaya (1 km)
Temples2829Pillayar Kovill Ampara (3 km)
Hill stations & viewpoints1016Q1 (1 km)
Lakes, dams & reservoirs1214Ampara Tank Viewpoint (2 km)
Beaches & coast313Nintavur Beach (26 km)
Other attractions1112Paravagale - Ampara (10 km)
Wildlife, forests & gardens310Ramalan Coconut Garden (9 km)
Churches77St. Mary Magdalen's Church (1 km)
Waterfalls26Himidurawa Bund / Mini Waterfall (10 km)
Parks56Childtrn Park (2 km)
Forts & heritage26Ambamalthalawa Archaeological Ruins I (17 km)
Caves45Keenawaththa Caves Ruins (10 km)
Museums02Heritage Museum (53 km)
Treks11Galoya Hiking With Asa (22 km)
Rivers, islands & mangroves01Maha Oya Hot Water Spring (58 km)

Ampara: questions travellers ask

What are the best places to visit near Ampara?

Buddhangala Raja Maha Viharaya (Buddhist site, about 6 km), ஸ்ரீ சிந்தாயாத்திரைப் பிள்ளையார் ஆலயம் (temple, about 19 km), Himidurawa Bund / Mini Waterfall (waterfall, about 10 km), Deegawapi Raja Maha Vihara (Buddhist site, about 15 km), Lake Aura (lake, about 12 km), Oluvil Lighthouse (beach, about 26 km).

How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Ampara?

169 places on Spotwander: 51 mosques & dargahs, 30 buddhist sites, 28 temples, 10 hill stations & viewpoints, 12 lakes, dams & reservoirs.

Which is the nearest dargah to Ampara?

Jummah Mosque, about 1 km by road; Ampara Masjid (1 km) is next.

Which is the nearest Buddhist site to Ampara?

Mandala Maha Viharaya, about 1 km by road; ( Mahavapi Maha Viharaya) (1 km) is next.

Which is the nearest temple to Ampara?

Pillayar Kovill Ampara, about 3 km by road; Sri Manikka Pillayar Kovil (3 km) is next.

What is a good one-day trip from Ampara?

Start in Ampara, visit Buddhangala Raja Maha Viharaya, then ஸ்ரீ சிந்தாயாத்திரைப் பிள்ளையார் ஆலயம், then Deegawapi Raja Maha Vihara, then Lake Aura, then Himidurawa Bund / Mini Waterfall, and drive back — about 76 km by road in all.

What is the best time to visit places near Ampara?

October to March for buddhist sites; October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; year-round for mosques & dargahs and temples.

How do I reach Ampara?

By air: Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI), about 160 km by road. By road: 60 km from Batticaloa.

Towns near Ampara

Nearest cities

Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Ampara’s location and population from GeoNames. Data sources & credits.