(Pronounced gawl in English) is a town of color, texture and sensation totally unlike anywhere else in Sri Lanka. It is once endlessly exotic, bursting with the scent of spices and salty, and yet also with its wonderful collection of slowly decaling Dutch-colonial buildings, vaguely familiar, like a whimsical medieval European town unexpectedly deposited in the tropics.
Built by Dutch, beginning in 1663, the 36-hectare Fort occupies most of the promontory that forms the older part of Galle and in an amazing collection of structures and culture dating back through the centuries. Its glories have been recognized by Unesco who have made the Fort a World Heritage Site.
One of the most pleasant strolls you can take in town is the circuit of the Fort walls at dusk. As the daytime heat fades away, you can walk almost the complete circuits of the Fort along the top of the wall in an easy hour or two. Most of the older buildings with the Fort date from the Dutch era.
Next to the road, is alive with bird life and dotted with island, one of which features a Buddhist temple that attracts many visitors on poya (full moon) days and another that contains a Cinnamon plantation. Guided two hour boat rides are possible on the lake.
Feels like the temple time forgot. Dating from the 13th century, it has some recently restored murals painted here are 200 years old.
Is a place of dreams. It’s a place to dream of on drab Monday morning at the office, a place to fantasize about when the chill claws of winter engulf you, a place where life always seems slow and easy, and where there’s never a bill to be paid. The resplendent Isle does not get any more resplendent than Unawatuna.
With trumpeting elephants, monkeys crashing through the trees, peacocks in their finest frock and cunning leopards sliding likes shadows through the undergrowth, Yala National Park is the Jungle Book brought a glorious life. A safari here is well worth all the time, effort and cost.
This Government-run orphanage near Kegalle, was created protect abandoned or orphanage elephants. Now it is one of Sri Lanka’s most popular attractions. Nowhere else, except at peraheras (processions) are you likely to see so many pachyderms at close quarters. There are around 80 elephants of all ages.
Sinharaja Forest Reserve is a national park and a biodiversity hotspot in Sri Lanka. It is of international significance and has been designated a Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
