A short guide to things you can do in Galle

A short guide to things you can do in Galle:

"Nowhere else in Sri Lanka is there such a selection of world class places to eat and shop within such a short distance of each other" The Independent

Eat at:

The Lighthouse

The Cinnamon Room The Cardamon Café

Signature Dining Pool Bar and Grill

Galle Fort Hotel

Verandah Café and Espresso Bar, The GFH Dining Room

The Garden Terrace Set Menus, The finest Sri Lankan Curry Tiffins to order

Picnic lunches

Amangalla

The Zaal Bistro and Diningroom, Afternoon teas and lunches on the verandah

The Sunhouse

Food of the sun

Illuketia

Dining by appointment; fusion and Sri Lankan

The Rampart Hotel

Seafood & international meals

Pedlars Inn

Sandwiches, drinks, tea & coffee

Jupiter Jones

Fresh seafood and pasta on the beach

Apa Villas

Sri Lankan and fusion menu (organic produce)

FireFly

Fusion cuisine on the beach near Hikkaduwa

Refresh in Hikkaduwa

A large menu and popular dining spot on the beach

Unawatuna Beach

A range of beachside drinking and eating houses

For the diary:

Elephant Polo February

The Annual Ceylon Elephant Polo Association Championships

Mahout Ball at Taprobane Island Valentine’s Day

The Count’s island comes alive and alight for the event of the year

Galle Ball November

An Inaugural Charity event to launch the Galle Season

Vesak Lantern Festival May

Large and small bamboo and tissue lanterns decorate houses and offices.

Kite Season July- August

Hand made kites flown from the Ramparts

Puppets in the Park Seasonal

The Ambalangoda Puppet Theatre on the Court lawns

Poson Full Moon Festival June

Singhala New Year April

A tradition of community sports and fancy dress competitions

Kandy Perahera August

The world famous Elephant procession of the Temple of the Tooth

Matara Perahera August

Unawatuna Perehera July

Cricket Galle International Stadium

The stadium is currently being rebuilt after extensive tsunami damage

Nuwara Eliya Golf Tournament June

Must see:

Galle Fort

A World Heritage Site and the former fortified town and ramparts of the Dutch East India Company. The finest and most intact fortified city built by Europeans in South Asia.

Dutch Groote Church, Church Street, Galle Fort

The VOC built Dutch Reform Church has been paintakingly restored. Its floors are made from C17th Dutch gravestones and its walls have period Dutch family crests.

Rumasala Japanese Peace Pagoda Rumasala

An immense pagoda built and occupied by Japanese monks. It has panoramic views of the Fort and Indian Ocean.

Yatagala Temple Yatagala

Possibly the finest Buddhist temple in the area, built among massive boulders on the crest of a hill overlooking the rice paddies and tropical rainforest. Ancient rock carvings.

Should see:

Taprobane Island

The garden and home of the Compte Du Maunay. One of the most famous and romantic houses in the world

Matara Fort

A smaller Dutch Fort with a magnificent rampart and Dutch tropical Church

Marilanka The Ketchery, Galle Fort

Marine Archaeologists from the Amsterdam Museum are excavating the C17th Indiaman The Avonstar visits by very special arrangement

The Martin Wickramasinghe Museum Galle Road, Koggala

The authors life and home are celebrated as part of a museum of folk art and hand made tools, toys, carriages and impelements. An insight into Sri lanka’s folk and rural history.

Galle National Museum Church Street, Galle Fort

A small collection of Dutch and Singhala items of historical interest.

The Galle Maritime Museum Dutch Warehouses, Galle Fort

currently under restoration by the Dutch Government

Galle Hindu Kovil next to Galle Municipal Council

A practicing Hindu Temple which welcomes visitors

The Koggala Stilt Fishermen Koggala Beach

sunset each day

Hinduangoda, Ahangama White Tea Plantation & Factory

See low country tea being grown, dried and processed and the production of white organic tea ( the world's most expensive ) and cinnamon

Spices Tour various

Sri Lankan Rainforest Trust Botanists lead tours of spice trees and plants and a rural village which harvests them

Deep Sea and Lake Fishing Trips Koggala, Galle and Hikkaduwa

By arrangement

Galle Fort Buddhist Temple Rampart Street, Galle Fort

You are welcome to visit the temple and speak with the Head Monk who is very welcoming and speaks English and has a retinue of boy monks.

WindSurfing, Waterskiing and Jestskiing Bentota Beach

Birdwatching

Illuketia has over 100 species of birds in its garden

Bundala Bird Sanctuary

Kanneliya Rainforest

Hiyare Rainforest

Surfing & Diving

The surf starts at Unawatuna & continues east along the coast for about 30 miles

Unawatuna

‘Best Diving’ PADI school and excellent equipment but rebuilding after the tsunami

Hikkaduwa -

More species of Marine life than the great Barrier Reef and PADI diving

Eco Tours please ask your hotel

Sinharaja Rainforest

Kanneliya Rainforest

Kottawa Arborteum

Hiyare Rainforest

Rainforest Trust of Sri Lanka Tours

Turtle Hatcheries – release baby turtles into the sea

Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home

Dodanduwa House Boat River Cruises and Eco Park

Indian Ocean Whalewatching by arrangement - 13 species of Wales

Some Beaches

Unawatuna Beach –

Voted the best beach in the world by Lonely Planet in 2001

Mirissa Beach

Safe swimming in a picture perfect setting

Wijaya beach

A local beach with some clubs on the sand

Galle Fort Beaches

Tiny private beaches around the lighthouse … low tide reveals coral and rock pools.

End of Lighthouse Street beach …. Good for an early morning dip

Dadella Beach at the Lighthouse Hotel

Spectacular sunsets with safer swimming in the hotel pool

Jungle Beach

A brisk trek through beautiful vegetation leads to a tiny private beach with fishing boats

Spa & Treatments

Serena Spa at The Lighthouse

massages, facials, wraps and treatments

Galle Fort Hotel

Manicure, Pedicure and Hairdressing and a registered Ayurvedic doctor. For hotel guests and others.

Amangalla Spa

The most modern and luxurious Spa in Sri Lanka

Hair and Beauty by Chintika

Trained by Toni and Guy of London …Chintika runs a small fun salon or does outcalls.

Hair & Beauty by Dammi Pedicure/Manicure Colours.

The Fortress Spa

A European Spa at the new luxury hotel at Koggala Beach

Homeopathy at The Lighthouse Hotel

Individual consultations and medicines for guests and others

Shopping

Galle Fort

The Property Shop 36 Church Street

Consultations and help for people wanting to buy, rent, sell, architecturally design, conserve, develop, construct, decorate, maintain and rent property in Galle Fort and surrounds.

Barefoot in the Fort Cnr. Church and Pedlar Street

The full barefoot range of clothing, hand made items, collectibles and books is now in Galle Fort in a beautifully converted shophouse.

Elephant Walk 30 Church Street

Gifts, furniture Homewares, Souvenirs and a selection of fine Saris

The Gallery 36 Church Street

Clothing, furniture, Unique piece from the Manika Jewellery collection and special exhibitions of photography and painting.]

Exotic Roots 34 Church Street

A gallery of unique paintings, local craftwork and souvenirs

Bespoke Jewellery

Safa Ibrahim Jewellers Church Street

Laksana Hospital Street

World Craft Rampart Street

The Fort Historical Mansion Leynbaan Street

Antiques & antique jewellery

Mimi Mango .. Leynbaan Street

Joe Edens collection of divine clothing and accessories

Olanda Antiques and Reproductions

A warehouse of furniture, architectural items, bits and pieces

Shantha Weerasekara Church Street

Very affordable Fashion Jewellery

Suthuvili Gallery Pedlar Street

A gallery of traditional Sri Lankan hand painted and finely carved collectibles and furniture.

Shopping Beyond the Fort

The Lighthouse Boutique

Barefoot, Rices and Spices, Mlesna Teas, Atuwa Leather

Douglas and Sons

One of the largest jewellery showrooms in the area

Manika Jewellery @ Illuketia

In the tradition of Dick Dumas, Nikki Harrison’s unique designs

Thowfeek in Main Street, Galle

Custom Made Clothing and an extensive collection of Saris

Udaya’s Traditional Drum Workshop, Shop & School

A drum master and university lecturer in Sri Lanka drumming

Gintota Silk Factory

Sri Lankan Silk direct from the manufacturer

Koggala Batik Factory

Traditional batik items from the manufacturers

Koggala Ayurvedic Oils

Essential oils distilled and bottled on site

The Wood Carvers of Happugala

Devil Dance Mask Making Museum Ambalangoda

Antiques and Reproductions

Amabalangoda, Talpe, Unawatuna and Galle Fort

Courses and Retreats

Curiosita

a learning centre at Tusk Villa, Thalpe Beach

advertised classes, workshops and internationally recognized teachers

Yoga and Meditation

Yoga at the Lighthouse Spa

Bespoke Yoga classes at the Galle Fort Hotel

The Yoga Pavillion at the Amangalla

Cooking Classes

Apa Villas,

Galle Fort Hotel

The Sunhouse

Curiosita at Tusk, Thalpe Beach

Traditional Drum Classes at The Lighthouse

Painting and Opera weekends at Illuketia

Ayurvedic Treatments and Natural Therapies

Nooit Gedacht at Unawatuna

Lawrence Hill Ayurvedic Resort, Hikkaduwa

Paragon Hotel at Thalpe

Barberyn Reef Hotel

The Homeopathy Clinic at The Lighthouse

Ayurvedic Consultations at Galle Fort Hotel and Thai Massage

28 Church Street, Galle Fort, Galle, Sri Lanka, P:+94912232870 F:+94912232939

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