Galle Highlights

This tour highlights some of the most notable attractions in Gallee, including the Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Meeting your coach pier-side, you will first travel to The Martin Wickramasinghe Museum of Folk Culture. This spacious, high-roofed building currently houses over a thousand artifacts of Sri Lankan rural life, providing a vast storehouse of knowledge of local folk culture and folk technology that dates back several centuries. The elegantly displayed artifacts showcase a wonderful collection of Buddhist religious items, writing utensils, pottery, metallurgical technologies, a collection of masks, costumes, jewelry, musical instruments, games, traditional lace-making and also presents the evolution of the Sinhala alphabet, along with many other interesting exhibits. After an enlightening visit of approximately 75-minutes, you will return to the ship for your lunch break.

After grabbing a quick bite to eat on board the ship, you will re-group and commence the second portion of your tour which begins with a visit to the famous Galle Fort. First built by the Portuguese, it was later modified by the Dutch during the 17th century. The Fort was one of the few structures that survived the infamous Boxing Day Tsunami that devastated Galle in December 2004. Today, even after 400 years of existence, the Fort looks amazing, thanks to reconstruction work done by the Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka. Entering through the old gates, you will drive around the Fort and visit the rampart which offers up spectacular views of Galle.

A final visit is included at the National Maritime Museum which is located within the grounds of Galle Fort. Housed in the Fort's Dutch warehouse, the collection here includes exhibits of marine artifacts recovered during underwater expeditions in the waters off the southern coast of Sri Lanka. Some of the items recovered and on view include artillery guns, shoes, earthenware, smoking pipes, ropes, maps and other marine-related pieces. Some of the items are believed to date back nearly 800 years. After a fascinating afternoon at Galle Fort enjoying the various attractions, you will transfer back to the pier where your tour concludes.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Explore a folk museum that reveals much about rural daily life over the centuries.
• Meander through a 16th-century fort that is a World Heritage site.
• Browse the exhibitions of historical marine artifacts salvaged off the coast of Sri Lanka.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.