The forested hill at the eastern end of Unawatuna Bay is a protected botanical area notable for its unusually rich plant diversity. A path climbs through the jungle to the summit, where a Japanese Peace Pagoda looks out over the bay and the Indian Ocean. The walk takes about 30 minutes from the beach road and passes through some of the densest vegetation in the Galle district, including plants that are rare on the Sri Lankan coast.
The Japanese Peace Pagoda at the top was built by Japanese Buddhist monks in 2004 and is one of several such pagodas built around the world as symbols of post-war reconciliation. The views from the terrace are excellent — the arc of Unawatuna Bay below, Galle Fort in the distance to the west, and open ocean to the south. The hill is also home to troops of toque macaques that are visible most days, particularly in the early morning.