| Welcome to Matara |
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Matara, situated on the south coast of Sri Lanka, is an old fort town built on the banks
of the Nilwala Ganga, literally the Blue River.
However, Matara was an ancient settlement
long before the Portuguese raised a stockade here in the early 16th century.
It was the
Dutch, though, who erected the present main fort, which cuts off a |
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section of Within the fort lies most of the old town, which still exhibits some
fine examples of colonial architecture. For instance, visit the fine old Dutch church,
built in 1769, which is still in use. Furthermore, Matara's resthouse incorporates portions
of what were once elephant stables, for the town was where elephants were brought for
export to neighbouring countries.
Matara is blessed with not one but two forts. After the main fort was seized and badly
damaged by a Kandyan army in 1761, the Dutch Governor, Baron Van Eck, constructed a small
but remarkable star fort, with six points. It is a fine example of military architecture,
with double walls and a moat between them. Look for the coat-of-arms of Van Eck on the
gateway. The town is the only one left in Sri Lanka which still uses an old form of
conveyance called a hackery, a sideless wooden cart drawn by bullocks. |
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