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Galle
Galle is in Sri Lanka.
Get in
One of the best things about Galle is getting there. The drive from Colombo to Galle along the beach is very pleasing. Don't forget to stop at the famous "Monis Bakery" on your way there.
See
The Kalutara temple is a place you must not miss.Always make a donation and say a prayer at Seenigama temple for good luck.A walk along the Fort's walls at sunset is very pleasant if you don't mind be hassled to buy table cloths or powdered milk.The Peace Pagoda and the view from on a clear day is also quite lovely.
Do
Unawatuna - take a swimGalle Fort - Shopping for gems and antiquesVisit one of the turtle hatcheries along the coast
Sleep
Galle has quite a few small boutique hotels and more seem to be cropping up post-tsunami. Within the Galle Fort there is Amangalla (within the renovated Oriental Hotel) and the Galle Fort Hotel. On the outskirts of Galle there is the Sun House.
On the road into Galle from Colombo there is the Bawa designed Lighthouse Resort.
Budget
Further south you can find many cheap guest houses in Unawatuna and surounding.
Mid range
Splurge
Get out
An around the world sailboat rally (30 boats in 2007) stops in Galle. The rally sails west to the country of Djibouti on the African Continent. Generally, from January to March boats sail in the direction of the Suez Canal. It would be a fun way to "Get Out".
Galle (ගාල්ල in Sinhala; காலி in Tamil) (pronounced as one syllable, rhyming with "Gaul" in English, in Sinhalese, IPA ) is a town situated on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, 119 km from Colombo. Galle was known as Gimhathiththa (although Ibn Batuta in the 14th century refers to it as Qali) before the arrival of the Portuguese in the 16th century, when it was the main port on the island. Galle reached the height of its development in the 18th century, before the arrival of the British, who developed the harbor at Colombo.
Galle lies in Galle District.
On 26 December, 2004 the city was devastated by the massive Boxing Day Tsunami caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake that occurred a thousand miles away, off the coast of Indonesia. Thousands were killed in the city alone.
Galle is the best example of a fortified city built by Europeans in south and southeast Asia, showing the interaction between European architectural styles and south Asian traditions. The Galle fort is a world heritage site and the largest remaining fortress in Asia built by European invaders. Other prominent landmarks in Galle include the St. Mary's Cathedral founded by Jesuit priests.
Galle is the main town in the most southerly part of the island, with a population of around 100,000, and is connected by rail to Colombo and Matara. It is home to a cricket ground, the Galle International Stadium, where test matches are played.
Rumassala Kanda is a large mound-like hill, which forms the eastern protective barrier to the Galle harbour. Local tradition associates...
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| 6 Day Sri Lanka Camping Adventure |
6 days / 5 nights |
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Begin your Camping Adventure with a city tour of Colombo and then proceed to North Western province of Sri Lanka where you will check in at the Kudarama, which is a luxurious permanent tented campsite.
Leave for a visit to Anawilandawa the gateway to the unlocked beauty of the west coast and also visit the Ramsar wetland with a cascading tank system dating back to the 12th century A.D. Enjoy a cruise in the Dutch Canal which is an ancient canal network built by the Dutch. Late in the afternoon visit the Thabbowa Nature Reserve to see the wild elephants having a river bath.
Next day precede to the untamed jungle of Wilpattu the home of Ceylon's largest leopard populations and also see wild animals in their natural environment. Proceed to Anuradhapura where you will gain a better understanding of the island's remarkably rich cultural and religious history and uncover lesser known, but still entrancing, remains of Sri Lanka's cultural past.
Next day leave for Dambulla - take a jungle trek on elephant back and Visit the Dambulla Temple.
Click here for more information and Booking Details
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| 4 Day Sri Lanka Sojourn Tour |
4 days / 3 nights |
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On this four day private tour you will be based in Colombo and have the opportunity to experience the best of Colombo as well as some of the surrounding countryside and cities. Enjoy a half day city tour of Colombo, experiencing the flavor of the local Oriental bazaar, visit mosques and temples and finally the Cinnamon Gardens and the National Museum.
Appreciate beautiful countryside en-route to Pinnawela and Kandy where you will visit a Elephant Park and Temple of the Tooth. You will also have the opportunity to enjoy a day at leisure to further explore Colombo or you may wish to take an optional tour to Galle/Hikkaduwa for the day.
Click here for more information and Booking Details
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| Ratnapura Day Private Tour |
10 hours |
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Enjoy this private guided tour as you head south east of Colombo via Avissawella to Ratnapura - known as the "City of Gems". The drive to Ratnapura is 101 kilometers (63 miles) from Colombo and is the center of Sri Lanka's gem mining industry. The mines are worked in the dry season and the gems found are the ruby and sapphire (plain and star varieties), cat's eyes, alexandrite, topaz, amethyst, aquamarine, tourmaline, garnet, zircon and a host of others.
En-route is very scenic and you will see Adams Peak (in the distance) - a 2,243 meter mountain venerated by Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims. After lunch (included), you will visit one of the famous gem mines of Ratnapura and there will be an opportunity to watch a gem cutter and polisher at work. The last stop is at a lapidary where you will experience the art of cutting gems.
Click here for more information and Booking Details
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