Matale is a town and the capital of the Matale District in Sri Lanka’s Central Province, located 25 kilometres north of Kandy on the A9 Colombo to Jaffna highway at an elevation of approximately 370 metres above sea level. The Matale District covers 1,993 square kilometres and forms the northern edge of the hill country, bordered by the Knuckles Mountain Range to the east and the dry zone plains of the North Central Province to the north. Matale is known primarily for its spice cultivation industry, producing cinnamon, black pepper, cardamom, clove, nutmeg, and vanilla for both domestic use and export. The district is also the gateway to the Knuckles Mountain Range, a UNESCO World Heritage Site covering 155 square kilometres of montane forest, and the Aluvihara Rock Temple, one of the most historically significant Buddhist sites in Sri Lanka. Matale is 25 kilometres from Kandy, 26 kilometres from Dambulla, and 170 kilometres from Colombo.
The Matale District is the primary spice-growing region of Sri Lanka, producing commercially significant quantities of cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), black pepper (Piper nigrum), cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum), clove (Syzygium aromaticum), nutmeg (Myristica fragrans), and vanilla (Vanilla planifolia). Sri Lanka is the world’s largest producer of true cinnamon, also called Ceylon cinnamon, which accounts for 80 to 90 percent of global true cinnamon supply. True cinnamon differs from cassia (the variety sold in most countries as cinnamon) in its lower coumarin content, lighter colour, and more delicate flavour. Ceylon cinnamon bark is hand-peeled by specialist workers called chalias who strip the outer bark and inner bark in a single piece, rolling it into quills as it dries. Several spice gardens in the Matale area offer guided tours demonstrating the cultivation and processing of each spice, including live plant identification, bark peeling demonstrations, and product tasting. Many spice gardens also offer Ayurvedic treatments using locally produced herbal preparations, including herbal oil massage, steam baths, and consultation with an Ayurvedic physician. The spice garden tours take approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour and typically include a demonstration of 10 to 15 different spice and medicinal plant species.
The Aluvihara Rock Temple (also spelled Alu Vihara) is a Buddhist cave temple complex built into and around large granite boulders on the A9 highway 3 kilometres north of Matale town. The temple is of exceptional historical importance as the site where, according to the Mahavamsa, the Tipitaka (the complete Pali Canon of Theravada Buddhism) was first committed to writing in the 1st century BC. Prior to this, the Buddhist scriptures had been preserved and transmitted orally by monks across generations. During the reign of King Vattagamani Abhaya (89 to 77 BC), a group of 500 monks gathered at Aluvihara and wrote the entire Tipitaka on ola leaves (dried palm leaves) using a metal stylus. This act of writing down the scriptures is considered one of the most significant events in the history of Buddhism, as it ensured the survival of the texts independent of the memorisation tradition. The original ola leaf manuscripts were destroyed when the temple was burnt by British forces during the Matale Rebellion of 1848. A project to rewrite the complete Tipitaka on ola leaves was begun by monks at Aluvihara in the 20th century and is ongoing. The cave shrines contain paintings and statues depicting scenes from Buddhist teachings, and one cave contains a series of graphic depictions of the consequences of sinful actions in the afterlife, carved in relief on the cave walls. The temple complex is built on multiple levels connected by rock-cut steps, with the highest point offering views across the Matale valley.
The Knuckles Mountain Range (Dumbara Kanduvetiya in Sinhala) is a series of peaks and ridges in the eastern part of the Central Province, covering 155 square kilometres designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010 as part of the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka. The range takes its English name from its appearance when viewed from certain angles, resembling the knuckles of a clenched fist. The highest peak is Gombaniya at 1,906 metres, with several other summits exceeding 1,500 metres. The range receives rainfall from both the southwest and northeast monsoons due to its central position, creating a variety of microhabitats including tropical lowland forest, montane forest, cloud forest, and grassland. The Knuckles range contains 34 plant species found nowhere else in the world, 128 vertebrate species, and over 700 plant species. Endemic birds found in the range include the Sri Lanka whistling thrush, the Sri Lanka wood pigeon, and the Sri Lanka bush warbler. The Knuckles Conservation Forest is managed by the Department of Forest Conservation and entry requires a permit obtained at the main checkpoints. Several marked hiking trails range from day hikes to multi-day routes requiring camping or use of village guesthouses. The most popular trailhead is at Corbett’s Gap, 30 kilometres from Kandy via the B39 road, at an elevation of 1,400 metres.
Riverston is a viewpoint and recreational area in the Matale District at an elevation of approximately 1,400 metres, located 40 kilometres from Matale town on a secondary road through the Knuckles foothills. The Riverston area is known for its panoramic views across the Knuckles range and the surrounding valleys, and is popular with Sri Lankan visitors for day trips and picnicking. The Mini World’s End at Riverston is a viewpoint on a cliff edge offering a steep drop view into the valley below, similar to the World’s End viewpoint at Horton Plains. The road to Riverston passes through tea estates, small villages, and patches of montane forest, with roadside views across the Matale valley toward Kandy. Unlike Horton Plains, Riverston does not charge an entry fee and is not controlled as a national park, making it more accessible for independent visitors. The viewpoint is best visited in the morning before cloud builds in the valley, typically before 10:00am.
Sembuwatta Lake is a man-made reservoir located 35 kilometres from Matale in the Elkaduwa area of the Knuckles foothills, at an elevation of approximately 900 metres. The lake was originally constructed as part of an irrigation and water supply scheme and covers approximately 15 hectares surrounded by tea plantations and secondary forest. The lake has been developed as a recreational area offering pedal boat and row boat hire, with facilities including a visitor centre and walking paths around the lake shore. The surrounding area supports birdlife including kingfishers, herons, and cormorants that feed on the lake. The road to Sembuwatta passes through the tea plantation area of Elkaduwa and takes approximately 1 hour from Kandy or 1.5 hours from Matale town.
The Sri Muthumariamman Temple in Matale town is one of the most elaborately decorated Hindu temples in Sri Lanka, dedicated to the goddess Mariamman. The temple gopuram (entrance tower) rises approximately 25 metres and is covered in hundreds of painted stucco figures depicting Hindu deities, mythological scenes, and celestial beings. The temple serves the Tamil Hindu community of the Matale area and is active daily with religious ceremonies. The temple is a significant example of South Indian Dravidian temple architecture in the hill country region of Sri Lanka, and the gopuram is one of the most photographed examples of temple sculpture in the country.
Matale is located 25 kilometres north of Kandy on the A9 highway, taking approximately 40 minutes by private vehicle or tuk-tuk. Regular bus services connect Matale to Kandy every 15 to 20 minutes from the Kandy bus terminal. The Matale railway line connects Matale to Kandy via a branch line with several daily services, taking approximately 1 hour. Matale is 26 kilometres south of Dambulla on the A9 and is a natural stopping point on the route between Kandy and the Cultural Triangle sites of Dambulla and Sigiriya.
Matale can be visited year-round. The town is sheltered in the Matale valley and receives moderate rainfall from both monsoons. The spice gardens and Aluvihara temple are open year-round and not significantly affected by weather. Hiking in the Knuckles Mountain Range is best between January and April and between July and August when rainfall is lower, as the trails can be muddy and slippery during the monsoon months. The Riverston viewpoint is best visited in the morning year-round to catch clear views before afternoon cloud cover settles in the valleys.
Tira Travels includes spice garden visits in the Matale area as part of several hill country tour itineraries. The Classic Sri Lanka tour (11 nights 12 days) includes a spice garden visit on the Sigiriya to Kandy route on Day 4, combined with a Sri Lankan cooking class in Kandy, starting from $3,700. Matale spice gardens can be added to any tailor-made itinerary passing between Kandy and Dambulla. Contact our team to incorporate Matale and the Knuckles Mountain Range into your Sri Lanka tour.
