Sri Lanka Travel & Tours - Galle

AREAS OF INTEREST IN GALLE

The capital of the southern province is a city with a colorful history. UNESCO declared World Heritage Site the magnificent Dutch fort is the most popular attraction of the town. 300-year-old Dutch atmosphere is still very much alive around the fort and amidst its many historical buildings not invaded by the skyscrapers.

Galle is a fort town with beautiful sea views of Sri Lanka's southwest coast. The fort here was originally built by the Portuguese but upon taking Galle, the Dutch destroyed a great deal of what was Portuguese and constructed a fort of their own. Even the British had a part to play in Galle at one point and so I suppose it is safe to say that Galle is therefore quite European in many ways. One very pleasant way to watch the sun set is to walk along the coast at Galle and take a pew beneath the old lighthouse, commanding fine views of the ocean, as it turns orange in the fading light.

Although the town of Galle suffered major damages during the Tsunami tidal wave disaster in December 2004 the Old Dutch Fort located in the heart of the town withstood the devastation.

UNAWATUNA

Unawatuna is 4 km southeast of Galle or 120 km from Colombo, and is a beautiful wide curving golden beach in the south that is popular and safe for bathing by which there is a reef protecting it. It is popular for travelers because at this beach there is no annoying road right to the beach unlike some other places such as Hikkaduwa. However, during public holiday, the beach can get very crowded.

West coast of Sri Lanka, a popular tourist destination is an also a breeding ground for turtles. Legend says that Unwatuna was created from a piece of earth from Himalaya that had fallen from Hanuman in the Ramayanaya epic.

Unlike the other resorts to the north Unawatuna is still a very quite place and an excellent location to enjoy the tropical beauty in relative recluse. Ideal for snorkeling and swimming. There are some coral reefs to be explored at near by Rumassala and now becoming popular as a bird watching location.

Unawatuna offers a wide range of accommodation scattered around near by village, but for more luxurious places are few minutes' drive from the beach. The beach sidebars and restaurants are in abundance.

Unawatuna HOTELS
Light House Hotel - www.jetwinghotels.com
Amangalla Resort - www.amanresorts.com

HOOMANYIA BLOWHOLE

Going further south, 189 km. from Colombo, is a blowhole, Kudawella, rare geological formation on the rocky beach throwing huge columns of water high up into the air with a loud noise like a natural spout. This noise has given the village its name Hoommane. Huge ocean waves breaking on the rocks are thrown up through an opening in the rock causing this wonderful sight that should not be missed by anyone going along the southern coastal road.

Hoomanyia Blowhole is an amazing wonder of nature. Located near to Tangalla on Sri Lanka's south west coast and easily reached by tuk tuk, the blowhole is a natural hole amidst a rock formation that projects a natural jet of water from the Indian Ocean skywards in excess of 18 meters at regular intervals. Beware of a sudden change in wind direction as the shower could be headed in-bound.

MIRISSA

Situated on the Matara road 4 km southeast of Weligama, Mirissa marks one of the country's most beautiful beaches. Its headland separates its small fishing harbor from its beautiful curve of sandy beach with calm, clear waters. Mirissa is the alternative for quieter place to Unawatuna or Hikkaduwa.

TANGALLA

Situated 195 km from Colombo, Tangalla is one of the nicest spots along the coast, particularly if you want somewhere to find a place to laze and soak up the sun. Tangalla's series of bays are the modern attraction, white sandy beach of Medaketiya shimmer away from the northeast to smaller bays on the west. However, some of the beaches in these bays shelve off very steeply and the resulting waves make them dangerous for swimmers. The town pretty much reminds of the Dutch period, for example, the Rest House was once home of the Dutch administrators.

Tangalla Hotels
Amanwella Resort – www.amanresorts.com

WELIGAMA

Weligama - means 'Sandy Village' - is situated in Matara district, 143 km from Colombo or 27 km from Galle with its sandy sweep bay. It is indeed a very fishing town with less travelers visit. Very close to the shore there is an off shore islet known as Taprobane where a dream house of French Count de Maunay was built on, Weligama is where you will see the famous stilt fishermen.

Weligama Hotels
Barberiyn Ayurvedic Beach Resort Weligama - www.barberyn.com

HAMBANTOTA

Hambantota is a fishing community on Sri Lanka's south east coast. An interesting location for a morning stroll is the large fish market here that houses many different varieties. Hambantota bay forms a crescent, with fishing boats lining the shore and is a quiet pleasant place to relax although swimming is perhaps better elsewhere.

This area was badly affected during the Tsunami tidal wave disaster in December 2004 & currently slowly getting back to normalcy.

WEWURUKANNALA VIHARA

Wewurukannala Vihara is an amazingly huge Buddhist temple 22 km from Matara (further along the coast toward Colombo from Tangalla). The temple complex is dominated by an image of a seated Buddha some 50m high. This Buddha is supposed to be the largest of its kind in Sri Lanka and so try to find a wide enough camera lens to get it in shot if you will. The insides of the temple proper are decorated comic book style with scenes depicting the Buddha's chosen path to enlightenment, though many of these beautiful wall murals have been savagely de-faced in recent years.

KATARAGAMA

Kataragama a popular pilgrimage destination frequented by adherents of all religions in Sri Lanka. The main shrine devoted to God Skanda popularly described in eulogies as a God having six faces and twelve arms whose assistance is sought for worldly gain. The history of the shrine dates back to 2 century BC. The annual procession held in July or August is the main event of the shrine with firewalkers and Kawadi dancers. Offerings to the god are made at 4.30 am 10.30 am and 6.30 pm daily.

Kataragama Hotels
Kataragama has a network of hotels, guesthouses as well as free pilgrim rests.
Rosen Renaissance Hotel - www.kataragama.org/rosen-hotel.htm

YALA

About 35 Km from Thissamaharama is the country’s largest and most visited national park the Yala National Park. There are numerous kinds of animals wandering around the park including elephants, peacocks and the leopards. During the pre-Christian era this area has been a centre of Buddhism with numerous monasteries. More than 50 inscriptions have been found which dates from 2nd to 1st century BC.

Ruhuna National Park at Yala is Sri Lanka's most popular wild life safari destination. Situated about 300 km from Colombo the 1250 sq km park is home to leopards, crocodile, elephant, deer, sambar, bear, wild bore, wild buffalo and peacock and may varieties of birds including migratory birds such as flamingos. The uniqueness of the park is it's many different habitat diversities such as dense jungles, lagoons and open park areas, a beautiful sea front and rocky outcrops.

The Months of January and May are peak month for best of the vegetation and the dry season is from June to October. Hiring of four-wheel drive jeep a must for those who want to wonder in to its many trails to explore the national park.

There are many archaeological sites within the park and the ancient monastery of Sithulpahuwa situated at a beautiful rocky platform is among its most visited sites.

Saltpans at Palatupana are a popular location for bird watching.

The leopard is the largest member of the wild cats found in Sri Lanka and Yala is probably the best location to view these magnificent beasts in their natural habitat.

For information on tours to these sites and more, visit our Galle Cruise page.

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