The creative arts – music, art, dance and crafts – are an integral part of Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage, with many traditions dating back hundreds of years. See the astonishing murals at Dambulla Cave Temple or in the temples in Gampola; go shopping in Colombo for a range of traditional crafts, or see a Kandyan Cultural Show and witness the historic dance styles, accompanied by complex drum beats and enlivened by the use of masks. More recently, batik has become a core feature of arts and crafts in Sri Lanka. Ambalangoda, small coastal city between Bentota and Galle, is famous for its arts and crafts and is also home to a collection of beautiful ancient temples.
Join your friendly hosts at their house in Ambalangoda for a refreshing King Coconut before heading off in their Mini Moke to the local temple, which is the source of inspiration for many of the artists here. Afterwards, begin your fast-paced tour of Ambalangoda’s main artistic workshops, where you will explore many traditional art forms including batik, puppetry and mask-making. Finish the experience by visiting a quiet temple perched on a hill covered in cinnamon, which houses Asia’s largest reclining Buddha, and a cup of tea at your hosts’ home.
Located down Church Street in Galle Fort, the Dutch Reformed Church was completed in 1755 and has a gabled roof on the eastern and western walls. Built on the site of an earlier Portuguese convent, this church also has a small graveyard within its premises.
Galle Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, originally built by the Portuguese in the 16th century and then further developed by the Dutch and the British over the next 350 years. It covers nearly 4sqkm and is protected by 12 bastions and connecting ramparts. During the early 18th century, the Old Dutch Gate was the entrance to the Fort, but subsequently the British built the Main Gate that is still used today. Buildings of interest include the Dutch Reformed Church, All Saints Church, Amangalla Hotel (formerly the New Oriental Hotel), the lighthouse and bell tower. The Dutch also developed what was then an innovative tide-based sewage-system within the Fort.
Galle Fort is now comprised of a maze of narrow roads lined with small houses, restaurants, shops, villas and boutique hotels and is an utterly enchanting place to explore. The thick, high ramparts that protect and distinguish the Fort are today used for romantic evening strolls and early morning power-walks and offer wonderful views of the Indian Ocean. Wander through the quaint streets and explore the various art galleries, shops and eateries, or go on our Galle Fort Walking Tour to discover more about the history of the Fort and its vibrant, present-day multi-cultural society.
Galle offers a range of cafes, bars and restaurants within the ancient Dutch Fort and also in its delightful beach village of Unawatuna. Choice ranges from simple fresh seafood and Sri Lankan rice and curries to five-star fusion cuisine. Galle Fort Hotel, Amangalla and Fort Printers are all exquisite boutique hotels situated within the Galle Fort and offers alluring fine dining. There are also a few charming cafes within the Galle Fort set in refurbished heritage villas. A few miles along the coast, Unawatuna has a selection of characterful beach bars and restaurants serving fresh seafood in a relaxed atmosphere where you can also take a dip in the sea to cool off. If you want livelier still, head 25 minutes north to Hikkaduwa, Galle’s bohemian beach satellite.
Learn how to make rice and curry, Sri Lanka’s delicious and underrated traditional cuisine, which is overshadowed on the international culinary stage by the food of its neighbours, such as India. Although it sounds simple, rice and curry is actually a complex dish comprised of seven different elements, including curries, spiced vegetables in a variety of textures, sambols, chutneys and rice.Head on to a village vendor where you can explore a variety of fruits and vegetables which you can choose from and purchase. Sri Lanka is home to a vibrant range of produce, many of which you may never have seen before. Your host will show you some of the most important ingredients in traditional Sri Lankan cooking and explain their uses, whilst selecting the fresh fruits and vegetables that he will be using to prepare your meal.
Make your way to the wattle-and-daub hut where this experience takes place. Surrounded by paddy fields, this is an utterly tranquil and authentic backdrop for your cooking class. Watch your chef prepare a range of traditional Sri Lankan dishes and learn how the locals make coconut milk by cracking open and scraping out the coconuts. Afterwards, feast on fresh, authentic Sri Lankan rice and curry – comprised of eight different dishes – served in a lotus leaf. If you are feeling adventurous, eat the local way using just your right hand.
Enjoy a tranquil yoga class in beautiful surroundings at one of three secluded venues along Sri Lanka’s Galle Coast, led by an experienced practitioner who has been a qualified yoga instructor for many years and has taught all over the world. Your teacher is from Australia and has successfully developed her own style of yoga which gives others to tools to create dynamic sequences suited to their physical and mental needs at any given time – she has even published a book about it!
This private 1.5 class will take place in the peaceful location of either a tree-top yoga shala, your teacher’s house (which is set in glorious gardens) or the privacy of your own villa, and will be tailored to your specific preferences, both spiritual and physical. She can also introduce you to her own personal yoga style if you are interested to explore new practices. A yoga mat and water will be provided, as well as the use of showers, swimming pool and towels if you choose to do the session at house or Tri Lanka’s yoga shala.
Just inland from Galle is Yatagala Raja Maha Viharaya, a fine place to go and visit for temple lovers. This temple is built around and within giant boulder-like rock formations. Quiet and little visited, the temple looks out over paddy fields and small hamlets. It won’t take much time to visit but Yatagala is interesting if as only a comparison to the bigger, famous temples in Sri Lanka.
Whilst many have only heard of Sinharaja Rainforest, Sri Lanka is actually home to two forest reserves. Kanneliya Rainforest, which spans over 100sqkm, was also designated as a biosphere reserve in 2004 by UNESCO and its preservation will play an important part in nature conservation in Sri Lanka. Kanneliya is one of the richest areas in Asia in terms of its flora and houses many animal and plant species native to Sri Lanka, including 20 of the island’s 26 endemic birds, as well as 78 small villages which lie hidden between the trees. Kanneliya Rainforest is just 35km from Galle and is a must-see for nature lovers visiting this region.
Trek through the rainforest with your wildlife tracker and guide, shaded from the sun by the thick canopy above, and keep your eyes peeled for monkeys, birds, chameleons and snakes lurking amongst the tropical undergrowth. There are also a vast range of fascinating trees and flowers hidden in the forest which you guide will help you identify, as well as several precious medicinal plants. Stop for refreshments along the way – tea and cake, cooked by the wife of your local tracker, served at a table placed in the shallows of an idyllic lake.