Sri Lanka Part Five – What To See & Do In South Sri Lanka
Welcome back to our ongoing guide to Sri Lanka and this article is dedicated to the south of the country. Like other areas which we’ve talked about, the south of Sri Lanka is heavily influenced by European culture. British architecture here is joined by Dutch and Portuguese architecture which preceded the British Empire by some decades. Check the list below for previous guides:
North – The Cultural Triangle
Central – Kandy
Central – Hills & Tea Country
South – Galle & Surrounding Area
South West – Tourists & Beaches
This district is dominated by the city of Galle whose architecture, as mentioned previously, is a mixture of Dutch, Portuguese and British styles, combined with local influences to make a colourful and interesting city. The Sri Lankan influences are of course far older than the European influences and there are records which indicate the city was an exporter of cinnamon four hundred years ago, indicating a well-established settlement. There’s no particular high season for this region so go whenever you want, although January and February tend to be the drier months.
Galle Old Town and Fotifications
The first stop for most visitors to Galle is a wander round the Old Town which gives the tourist a great insight into what life may have been like in earlier times. The Old Town is actually inside the fortifications which were constructed by the Europeans and part of what makes this interesting is the history which accompanies the fort.
Galle Old Town
It’s worth mentioning that information within the area is limited so try to get hold of some sort of guide before you go which can enhance the trip for the curious. If you’d just like a stroll around the area to take in the sites, that’s enjoyable too. Galle Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sinharaja Forest Reserve
Another World Heritage Site, Sinharaja Forest Reserve is also a World Biosphere Reserve; It consists of virtually untouched rainforest in an area which measures about 140 square kilometres. Because of it’s historic inaccessibility and it’s early designation as a Biosphere Reserve, Sinharaja contains a vast variety of animal and plant life, some of it specific to the reserve. If your in Galle you can organise a trip here from a travel agent in the city but it’s also possible to arrange travel from the capital, Colombo, which is only around 115 kilometres from Galle.
Sinharaja Forest Reserve
Ambalangoda
This coastal town is famous for two things; devil dancing and mask-making. Both are an integral part of southern Sri Lankan culture and a trip to Ambalangoda will teach you all you need to know about them.
The mask-making museum is particularly interesting and will tell you how the mask-making process occurs. Made from the local Kadura tree or a similar light wood, the masks are carved following a week of smoke drying following which they are hand painted in bright colours and used as part of the devil dancing ceremonies.
Ambalangoda masks