Galle is a charming and magical historical city located in west coast of Sri Lanka 116 Km away from Colombo by road or rail. It is a perfectly preserved colonial town with stunning colonial buildings and suffused with the scent of glamorous spices. Galle is giving itself a unique cultural identity with blend of cultures and strikes a balance between modernity and antiquity. The most famous part of the city is the Fort, Originally built by the Dutch in the 1600s. This World Heritage Site is an impressive place where the old and the new blend in perfect harmony.
The Dutch Fort
The city of Galle plays a major role in Sri Lankan tourism due to Galle Dutch Fort facing in to Indian Ocean. This is one of the UNESCO Heritage site. The 36ha (89ac) Dutch Fort, built in 1663 by the Dutch. Its massive ramparts surround the peninsula that forms the older part of Galle, and shelters within its walls well-made Dutch houses, museums and churches. There are two main entrances to the Galle Dutch fort. If you are coming from the Galle harbor side, you will see the two symbols on top of the main gate in both outer and inner walls. The other main entrance is located in front of the Galle Cricket Ground and now mostly used by the public.
Dutch Church
The Dutch Reformed Church of the Galle fort is the most visited places in the fort. , also known as the Groote Kerk, is one of the oldest Protestant churches still in use on the island. It was built by the Dutch in 1755 and is paved with tombstones from the Old Dutch cemetery. The church merits half an hour of the visitor’s time and perusal. Within, is an organ loft which once held a cumbrous Dutch organ, hatchments on the walls and engraved tombstones on the floor. Of great interest is the orthodox pulpit, the finest specimen found in any church in Sri Lanka, hexagonal in shape and of finely grained calamander wood with panels of satin wood. The church garden itself is beautiful and haunting, with lush grass in the center flanked wall to wall by stone tablets.
Hikkaduwa
Hikkaduwa, situated 98 km south of Colombo, It is best known for its, gorgeous golden beaches and warm, inviting ocean. National park of coral reef with high degree of biodiversity is one of three marine national parks in Sri Lanka. Hikkaduwa has been a favorite destination for international surfers for three decades, prime spot for diving in the south west of Sri Lanka and The famous “coral gardens” of Hikkaduwa are a major attraction for tourists who want to dive in and get close to the stunning marine life while glass bottom boats are also available for those who prefer to stay dry. Hikkaduwa offers excellent snorkeling opportunities very close to the shore.
Seenigama Dewalaya Hikkaduwa
Seenigama Dewalaya is located in Galle – Colombo Highway after passed the Ambalangoda town. This temple is become a one of main attracted place of tourist who arrive to down south. This Temple is devoted for Devol Deviyan (God Devol) and around 300 years old. But some believe that, this place is more than 1000 years old. Most of visitors go only to the Dewalaya in Land. But main Dewalaya is located in the sea, can be reached only by boat. Seenigama Dewalaya is an evidence both of the historical as well as cultural facet of Galle in Sri Lanka.
Unawatuna
Unawatuna is a major tourist attraction place in Down South and famous for its beautiful beach and corals. Unawatuna bay provides safe swimming and snorkeling, due to it is protected by a reef. It is a lovely banana-shaped beach of golden sand and turquoise water, surrounded by green palm trees. Unawatuna traces its roots to the great epic of Ramayana; Rhumassala Kanda is associated with the legend of the traditional Ramayana story. When the warrior Lakshman was wounded, a Himalayan herb was required for his cure and Rama dispatched the Monkey-god Hanuman to fetch it. But Hanuman forgot the name of the herb, so to be on the safe side he tore off a chunk of the Himalayas, carried it on his back and dumped it, where it now lies! At the west end of the beach, Sama Cheithya and Buddha statue in rock hill gives a nice little walk with a beautiful view overlooking the beach.
Lace Makers of Galle
Galle is the sort of place from which one must take away a Beeralu lace clothes. THE ancient craft of making beeralu lace was introduced to Sri Lanka during the colonial times. At present Beeralu lace production is a booming industry in southern Sri Lanka. There is having an unexpected attraction from tourist to Beeralu lace clothes It is now incorporated in Lankan dressmaking and beeralu lace prom dresses, gowns and lace-inspired sarees help exemplify the influence of renda in the country’s fashion industry. Renda lace-inspired jewellery is much sought after by local fashionistas. The visitor may make a pick of Galle lace, handmade, like the Brussels or the Honiton types.
Madu River
Madu River is situated in Balapitiya, along the country’s southern coast, it opens to the Indian Ocean Madu lagoon is a very wide and a beautiful lagoon in Sri lanka. It is in the wet zone of Sri Lanka with a high bio-diversity. Madu River is unique in its beauty, hundreds of islets, mangroves, indigenous aquatic birds & fish creates a green heave in-front of your eyes. Madu River has been named as a Ramsa wetland in the world in 2004. There is having 64 islands in Madu Ganga among them Koth duwa is one of best attracted place by tourists which is Buddhist temple is located in a small island. You can enjoy 3 hours boat ride in Madu River. During your boat ride, you can see huge mangrove forest by the river banks. You can see many birds and animals that are living in this aquatic environment. Also can see traditional cinnamon processing industry and fishing and can get fish therapy.
Mask Museum, Ambalangoda
Mask making is a popular tradition in Sri Lanka Southern coasts city of Ambalangoda. The Mask museum, of Ambalangoda is maintained by Ariyapala & Sons. This is located by the Colombo – Galle (A2) main road, in sea side. This place you can see Mask Museum, Mask Show room and a Mask making workshop. Museum has many displays related to the traditional Sri Lankan masks with the brief description about them. Within the mask workshop you can see a row wood created as a mask.
Martin Wickramasinghe Folk Museum, Koggala
Martin Wickramsinghe Folk Museum is located in the Koggala, few minutes walking distance from Galle Mathara main road. The house in which Martin Wickramasinghe was born has inspired the Martin Wickramasinghe Belief to establish a Folk Museum Complex, surrounded by a restored ecosystem planted with hundreds of varieties of indigenous trees and shrubs in which bird life abounds. This Folk museum is an ideal place to get to know the author’s life.
Karandeniya Shailatharama Viharaya
Shilathalarama temple is become a tourist destination due to which has been house the largest reclining Buddha Statue in South Asia. There are two main entrances to the temple; the driving road goes through cinnamon plantation up to the hill to arrive at the Viharaya, The other road you have to climb 208 Stine stairs on your foot. The Viharaya is located in 300 feet above sea level, most of the part of temple build in rock surface. When look at the surrounding area it is gives a nice view of country side. Inside the hall of the temple lies a gigantic statue – 115 feet or 35 meters in length. This statue seems to be made of cement but is supposed to be about 800 years old, belonging to the Dambadeniya period in history, in the time of King Parakramabahu II according to the Sri Lankan history.
Moonstone Mine & Factory in Meetiyagoda – Ambalangoda
The pearl of the Indian Ocean Sri Lanka is home for highest quality moonstone in the world. The Galle district of Sri Lanka’s southern coastal belt Mitiyogoda is famous for a variety of gems. It is one of the best-known primary gem deposits in Sri Lanka is the large pegmatite vein of moonstone. The village boasts 10 mines which have been the most important source for top quality blue moonstone since it was discovered here in 1906. The mysterious gem, as captivating as the full moon gleaming in the night sky, is considered sacred and has been used in jewellery for centuries. The most sought after moonstones have a haunting blue sheen, an effect produced by the orthoclase feldspar, which is found almost exclusively in the gem mines of Sri Lanka.
Kanneliya Rain Forest
Kanneliya Rain Forest is best tourist attraction place in Galle who is seeking adventure located in 36 Km to the northeast from Galle and Tropical Rain forest of Galle. This is a low land forest extends about 5306 hectares which is ideal place for natural bath, Hiking, waterfalls and beautiful landscapes. Kanneliya forest is well enriched with bio diversity. It may be second listed just because of the Sinharaja Forest. Multitudes of endemic plants are preserved in the forest. The Anagimale fall is just 2km from the entrance. December to February is the most suitable months to travel here as it gets the highest rain fall. Usually the streams are running with their full force of water through the jungle and create beautiful cascades and sceneries while make you sense. You can bath in cool natural streams. Somehow you will have to take care of leechs.
Andahelena Waterfall
Adahelena Ella is a sheer beautiful place located in pituwala, which you do not miss when travel to Galle, about 6 km away from Elpitiya city. From Colombo it is about 95 km in distance. The waterfall is in forest called Beraliya jungle; the spread area is full of greenery trees It covers an area about 4774 hectares. The route to reach the fall is much difficult but quite enjoyable. An elegant pool is naturally formed at the top waterfall which visitors used for bath. The Divankara lena (Divankara cave) is also situated in the Beraliya jungle, a cave temple on a rock plate. The later part of the journey to the Anda Helena fall must be completed on foot. So enjoy the facts of natural bio diversity of Sri Lanka. Singing birds, murmuring bees grumbling trees will definitely will be a relaxation to negotiate the busy life style you had. Pure and cool atmosphere will energize your lungs. Therefore it will feel like an adventure through huge ‘Beraliya jungle’.
Koggala Lake and Surrounding
Koggala Lake is another place to be visited in Galle. Koggala Lake is a un- spoiled lake located about few kilo meters away from Galle. It will feel like a paradise for nature lovers who are willingly looking for sites to explore and study the natural bio diversity and eco system.The island is comprised with luxurious mangrove swamps at all. The lake is embellished with rocky islands, animals and shrubs. You can explore whole the area and all the islands. It is quite marvelous for bird watching and sunset sceneries in the evenings. Even many species of birds have immigrated to Koggala islands.
Rumassala
Rumasala is another tourist destination in South coast. In colonial era it was known as ‘Buona Vista’. Rumassala hill gives you a beautiful view of the southern coast of Galle. Colonials used Rumassala as a watering point to fill their crafts with fresh water. Presently use as a service center for ships and crafts. Rumassala is rich with vast collection of bio diversity by providing home to mammals, birds, insects and reptiles. Some of the indigenous and endemic animals, plants had been survived in here. The ocean is pretty rich with coral reefs and sea bio diversity. You can snorkel, dive and explore the underwater bio diversity. Due to these Rumassala is become a best place to enjoy your leisure time.
Benthota Beach
Bentota Beach is one of the premium and most enchanted beaches along the South West coastline. It is become a popular tourist destination in Sri Lanka due to it’s a fold of pristine golden sands along the mighty Indian Ocean and top rated touristic facilities and services. When looking at the beach gives stunning views of the sea. Bentota Beach is an ideal destination for family vacations and Honeymoon Vacations mainly due to ideal romantic beach. It’s having protected swimming conditions and also a fantastic location for numerous water sports activities. During the season from November to April make Beach ideal for snorkeling, jet-skiing, diving, body-surfing, windsurfing and parasailing. Deep sea fishing is also a popular activity.
Lunuganga – Geoffrey Bawa
Lunuganga Estate was the country home of the renowned Sri Lankan Architect Geoffrey Bawa. The Lunuganga estate was the excellent designed with artworks and beautifully landscaped by Architect, Geoffrey Bawa. Lunuganga is a pleasant place for nature lovers with its rare fauna and flora. The garden is open to visitors from 9 am to 5 pm daily with an entrance fee payable at the gate. A guided tour is also available on request.
Turtle Conservation Project – Kosgoda
Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery is a Main tourist destination. This project is carried out to monitor sea turtle activity and conserve the local nesting sites in the Kosgoda region of Sri Lanka. In here you can see turtles in their natural habitats. May be you are lucky to see turtles laying eggs in the evening hours. A day’s notice is required for a visit. Set a date to see the five species of turtles found in Sri Lanka and the survival threats that turtles face.
