Matale is located at a distance of 105km from Colombo and 26km from Kandy. Matale’s

fertile green landscapes and scattered mountain ranges is a feast to the eyes of the

visitors. The historical town of Matale stands tall in portraying the heroic tales of the

Matale Rebellion of 1848. This battle led to the siege of the British Garrison in Fort

McDowell and its ultimate defeat at the hands of a colonial superpower. Today, the town

of Matale is a centre of attraction for visitors, who throng the place to feast upon its

dignified beauty.

The old Government Rest House, built by the British is located in the heart of the town.

The Rest house received a recent makeover and adjacent to it is located the

picturesque public park with walkways amidst green lawns, towering trees and

blossoming plants.

The Fort McDowell is the site of the oldest church in Matale known as the Christ

Church, which was consecrated by Bishop James Chapman in December 1860. This

church celebrated the 150th Anniversary on October 2 nd 2010. Matale is also home for

one of the oldest temple, Sri Mutthu Mariamman Thevasthanam, which was established

nearly 200 years ago by the Indian Hindu community of businessmen who engaged in

trade. The newly built Raja Gopuram stands108 feet tall, which one of the tallest in the

country and has 1008 images of deities embedded. The old clock tower and spice

gardens are also part of the attractions which portrays exhuberance and grandeur in the

town of Matale.

One of the oldest colonial period constructions standing to date, is a railway station

which was constructed in 1880. The railroad begins from Colombo, journeys via Kandy

to end at the old train station in the town of Matale.