We stopped by the Dondra Head lighthouse in the extreme southern tip of Sri Lanka and was pleasantly surprised how magnificent the view was from the top of the Lighthouse.
The 1889 British built lighthouse is Sri Lanka’s tallest (161ft) and is active up to date as it helps to guide over 250 ships and boats passing Sri Lanka from where it is positioned at a crucial point in the maritime route around Sri Lanka.
If you’re in Dondra it’s worth spending some time to visit the lighthouse. The surroundings are very picturesque.
Getting to Dondra Head lighthouse
The lighthouse is near the village of Dondra, also known as Devundara, and is approximately 9.1 km (18-minute drive) southeast of Matara. The name Dondra is a synonym for “Devi-Nuwara” in the local Sinhala language, “Devi” meaning “Gods” and “Nuwara” meaning “City”. Dondra, therefore, means “City of the Gods”.
From Matara town, we hired a tuk-tuk and negotiated a price of Rs1000 for the one-way hire as the tuk-tuk had to drive back to Matara empty.
If taking the bus from Matara head to the Matara bus stand (
Directions) and take the bus going towards Tangalle and get off at the Devinuwara Dewalaya (Dewalaya a Sinhala word. Means temple) ( Directions). From Devinuwara Dewalaya, a tuk-tuk to the Dondra Head lighthouse would cost Rs100.
Dondra Head lighthouse Matara
The octagonal-shaped lighthouse with its bricks painted in gleaming white, seven floors and 14 two-panel windows, stands in the edge of a well-maintained garden.
A bit of discretion would help in getting permission to climb the top which possibly could involve paying a fee. There’s is no official ticketing counter or signs indicating how much you need to pay. If you’d like to avoid the hassle then prior permission should be obtained from the Sri Lanka Ports Authority in Colombo (+94 112 42 12 31 / +94 112 42 12 01).
The 196 steps to reach the top of the lighthouse is well maintained and wide. It’s not narrow and dark as climbing Dawsons’ Tower (by the road to Kandy). Once at the Dondra Head lighthouse top, the view overlooking the ocean is breathtaking.
The railings at the top act as a guard against strong winds from the ocean.
We learnt the lighthouse flashes a white light every five seconds at a range of 28 nautical miles with a height focal plane of 153m.
A plaque at the base records that the Dondra Head Lighthouse was designed by Sir James Nicholas Douglass, in November 1887. All the building materials including the bricks and steel were imported from England. The granite rock was supplied from quarries at Dalbeattie in Scotland and Penryn in Cornwall. The lighthouse was completed and commissioned in March 1890 by the contractor William Douglass of the Imperial Lighthouse Service.
Dondra Head Lighthouse was one of a limited number of lighthouse that were designed to house the large Hyper radiant Fresnel lenses that become available at the end of the 19th century made by Chance Brothers in England.
The technology at the lighthouse was modernised in the 2000s. It also transmits radio wave signals to the surrounding lighthouses in Sri Lanka.
Read: Climbing Dawson’s Tower – Colombo – Kandy Road
Sri Lanka Holiday Guru Tip
Bear in mind that Dondra Head lighthouse is still in operation and is heavily guarded.
Wear well-fitting footwear.
Once at the top you could experience strong winds.
