Location: Ambalangoda
Top Things to do in Ambalangoda
Countries
The 6 Best Free Things to do in Ambalangoda, Southern Province
Ambalangoda is a coastal town located in Galle District, Southern Province of Sri Lanka. Governed by Ambalangoda Urban Council, the town is famous for its ancient devil masks and devil dancers. It is approximately 107 kilometres (66 mi) south of Colombo and is situated at an elevation of 13 metres (43 ft) above the sea level.
Restaurants in Ambalangoda
1. Dudley Silva Batiks
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 24 reviews
2. Sri Vijayarama Viharaya
3. Ariyapala Mask Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 143 reviews
Reviewed By JetsetCupcake - Sri Lanka, null
This might just be one of my favorite "off the beaten path" gems in all of Sri Lanka! The museum itself is just so delightfully quirky! It looks as though it were made in the 1960s, and was never remodeled or dusted. Somehow, though, this adds charm to the whole place. Though the museum is teeny weeny, it does actually give a good amount of information as to what each mask means. I also enjoyed learning about the traditional mask ceremony itself. Now when I see these masks all over Sri Lanka, I feel quite good about the fact I know a little more about their meaning and cultural significance now! The real start of the show here, though, is definitely the mask museum upstairs. The masks are absolutely gorgeous and are some of the highest quality craftsmanship I've seen in the whole island. Each mask is handmade with an incredible attention to detail. With masks that you find in the average tourist shop, decoration is merely painted on in broad strokes, but not so with these masks! Instead, the details are hand carved into the wood, and then elegant and unique colors are used throughout. The result is absolutely striking - and unlike anything else you'll find in Sri Lanka! Several reviewers have opined that the shop is a scam, as the prices for these masks are high when compared to masks that you can get in Galle or Colombo. These reviewers, however, are unaware of the huge difference in quality between these masks and the cheaper 2,000-10,000 rs masks that can be found commercially. Having lived in Sri Lanka for 6 months now, I can confidently say that these masks are worth every penny. I returned just a few weeks after my initial visit to purchase two masks for my apartment and couldn't be happier with them!!
4. Ariyapala & Sons
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 42 reviews
Reviewed By CroxleyJD - Croxley Green, United Kingdom
A worthwhile opportunity. We arrived and had an English-spoken tour of the museum. Each mask on display had its own story and purpose. After our tour we got to visit the workshop where we could witness men carving and decorating their handmade masks. Finally, we visited their shop which was full of all types of souvenirs for a very reasonable price. Would recommend to travellers!
