Top Things to do in Galle District
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What to do and see in Galle District, Southern Province: The Best Budget-friendly Things to do
Discover the best top things to do in Galle District, Sri Lanka including Sinharaja Forest Reserve, Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications, Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project, Martin Wickramasinghe Folk Museum Complex, Handunugoda Tea Estate, Seenigama Muhudu Viharaya, Galle Fort, Tsunami Honganji Vihara, Mihiripenna Beach, Japanese Peace Pagoda.
Restaurants in Galle District
1. Sinharaja Forest Reserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 593 reviews
SINHARAJA RAIN FOREST is a world heritage and bio diversity hotspot which is also a major eco tourism destination in Sri Lanka. It is one of the few virgin forests left in the world. This evergreen rain forest, a UNESCO World heritage site, is one of the few virgin rain forests left to date. Damp mysterious and teeming with life, the Sinharaja forest reserve situated 120 KM South East of Colombo, is the last expensive stretch of virgin rainforest on the island. At just over 11000 hectares, line across the wet zone the Southern edge of the hill country, Sinharaja is an ecological treasure trove. It is staggering array of flora and fauna place it among the top bio diversity hotspot in the world. Sinharaja Forest Reserve - A UNESCO world heritage site - encompasses the largest single swath of remaining low land tropical rain forest in the country. Over 130 birds, species are found here including many of the 33 species endemic to the Sri Lanka. There also rich reptile population and myriads of insects species, many yet to be classified. Mammals scenes here including the purple faced langur monkey and the giant squirrel. Sinharaja is also home to the elusive leopard. It is preferable to explore Sinharaja on foot, which makes for the truly authentic jungle experience. Best starting point for visits are Deniyaya Mederipitiya to the East or Kudawa to the North.
Reviewed By malwana - Colombo, Sri Lanka
This is a very big rain forest and in a single tour we can see only a very small area. We stayed in Rainforest Eco Lodge and took the tour from there. There were many leaches but hotel provided us leach socks. Even the small kids around 4 -8 years old joined with us and they too enjoyed the tour.
2. Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,489 reviews
Reviewed By LesleynD - Perth, Australia
We visited Galle on a day trip from Negombo. It's very clean and surprisingly not many people around except many courting couples hidden in the nooks and crannies behind a strategically placed umbrella :) We have a lovely walk around the Clock Tower and enjoyed the views of the ocean, Internation Cricket Ground and activities going on around the fort. A few vendors around the place touting their wares but not pushy. Nice historic fort to visit for a few hours.
3. Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 625 reviews
Reviewed By mands_carter - Petersfield, United Kingdom
This place is well worth a visit to see real conservation in action. From hatching to release, these guys are very careful to preserve as many Turtles as they can. As well as the whole process of hatching and releasing Turtles, there are a lot of other things to understand about the work here. Please make a visit, buy your ticket (and if possible make a donation) to make sure that this vital work continues.
4. Martin Wickramasinghe Folk Museum Complex
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 180 reviews
Reviewed By sunilf2020
Interesting place for a visit. The museum tells a lot about Sri Lankan Heritage. The house of the famous author is pretty Interesting.Really enjoyed the visit
5. Handunugoda Tea Estate
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 524 reviews
Reviewed By LizzyLeeton - Leeton, Australia
Another tea estate we thought but we were really glad we decided to come here. You are taken by tuk tuk and given an individual tour of the plantation and given a great cup of tea along the way. You then go tothe factory where you can see, touch and smell the tea making process which was fascinating. You also learn about the Virgin White Tea which this estate is famous for. There was a shop at the end but there was nopressure to buy anything. There were numerous teas available for taste testing, which we did, and ended up buying some , including the Virgin White Tea. We also bought a great souvenir inthe form of a book called The Suicide Club which is the story of the founder, and thattoo was very enjoyable.
6. Seenigama Muhudu Viharaya
7. Galle Fort
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,404 reviews
Galle is located in the south of Sri Lanka. Close by are magnificent beaches, rainforests and other attractions.
Reviewed By K5433XUjanm - Ostrava, Czech Republic
Nice walk around the old fortifications, fine breeze from the sea :-) i do reccomend in the morning or evening :-)
8. Tsunami Honganji Vihara
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 611 reviews
Reviewed By seevalid - Colombo, Sri Lanka
Five of us visited Tsunami Honganji Vihara on 26th December 2019, exactly fifteen years after the 2004 boxing day tsunami - the most destructive natural disaster to hit Sri Lanka. Over 2000 lost their lives at this village, Peraliya. 1700 of these were caught hapless inside an express train that was plying from Colombo to Galle along the rail-track only a short distance from the sea. The train had halted as there were people on the railway line that was lying above the surrounding land filled with water from the first wave of the tsunami. When the train stopped people climbed on to the stationary train. The second more forceful wave swept the train off the ground along with the people. Most people on the train perished. Thousands of families were devasted in this village. There were many visitors at this temple on that fifteenth anniversary day to remember the lost and loved ones. We too participated in the Buddhist commemoration activities conducted in the evening. The yellow coloured compassionate serene statue standing in the middle of a lake is said to be the replica of the Bhamian Buddha in Afghanistan destroyed by the Taliban in 2001. The 30-metre statue gazes out into the Indian ocean that brought such destruction to that "Peraliya" coastal village. The statue had been built with Japanese assistance. Entrance is free. Since this is a place of worship visitors are required to be modestly dressed. Footwear are left at the entrance. Whilst there, we heard stories of the disaster from several survivors. It was a moment and a place for quiet contemplation remembering and imagining what it would have been for the unsuspecting victims!
9. Mihiripenna Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 145 reviews
Reviewed By dr_nilusha - Colombo, Sri Lanka
One of the safe and sound beaches in Galle. It is a great place to stay at sunset. Sea bath also making us fresh. The only problem is the parking problem.
10. Japanese Peace Pagoda
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 906 reviews
Reviewed By otahala - Prague, Czech Republic
Very nice and religious place with beautiful views. I recommend a walk along the gallery of the pagoda, soaking up the atmosphere, of course, bare feet. Negative are only local residents who want a small contribution even for greeting. I recommend a visit.
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