Excursion A day spent in galle tour at Colombo
Cruise line: SilverseaDifficulty:
Enjoy a day spent viewing the highlights of Galle.
Colombo and Galle
Formerly known as Gimhathiththa, the city that was once the main seaport of the island of Sri Lanka from where King Solomon traded in ivory, peacocks and other valuables. The modern history of Galle begins in 1505 with the arrival of a Portuguese ship, driven to its shores by a storm. The Portuguese ruled until 1640, before they surrendered to the Dutch East India Company; the British took over from the Dutch in 1796. This fortress city saw the height of its development during the 18th century colonial rule of the Dutch.
Stilt fishermen and Southern Coast
Catch a glimpse of one of Sri Lanka's iconic scenes, the stilt fishermen of the southern coast. In water about chest deep, the fishermen sit at a height of about 2 metres on a cross bar, or petta, tied to vertical poles, or stilts, that they've planted before. They're hoping to catch herrings and mackerel which are then stored in a plastic bag tied around their waist or to the pole. Stilt fishing, although now a dying tradition, has been passed from father to son for generations; some of the older fishermen recall that it started after the Second World War as a skillful and innovative way of earning their livelihood!
Folk Museum and lunch
Proceed then to visit a Folk Museum dedicated to late Martin Wickremasinghe, one of Sri Lanka's renowned writers. Holding over a thousand artefacts of Sri Lankan rural life, it is a unique store-house of knowledge on the local folk culture and folk technology dating back hundreds of years. The museum includes many sections representative of this folk culture and way of life: Buddhist religious artefacts, folk religious practices, the evolution of the Sinhala alphabet, writing utensils, fishing, pottery, and metallurgical technologies, folk dance and puppetry, a unique collection of masks, musical instruments and drums, folk games, traditional lace making, costumes and jewellery - are all showcased here.
Lunch will be served at Amari Galle Hotel.
Galle Fort, Dutch Church and free time at leisure
Continue your tour with a stop at the Galle Fort. Enter through the old gates, explore the walled city on foot and walk on the ramparts, for a spectacular view of Galle. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the fort was built first by the Portuguese. The Dutch during their invasion of 1640 captured the fort; hence it is also known as the Dutch Fort. The Fort is really a walled city, and after almost 400 years of existence, it is one of the best preserved examples of 17th century colonial fortifications in the world. Interestingly, the Fort withstood the Boxing Day Tsunami in 2004 which destroyed Galle town. Today, the Sri Lankan government as well as many Dutch people who still own property inside the Fort, are looking at making this one of the modern wonders of the world. Next visit the Dutch Church, an excellent model of Dutch colonial architecture, and the oldest Protestant Church still in use in Sri Lanka. Completed & consecrated in 1755, part of the floor is covered by about 20 heavily embossed and engraved gravestones, moved by the British into this church in 1853 from older locations. The organ loft has a lovely semicircular balustrade while the pulpit's enormous canopy was made of calamander wood from Malaysia. It holds services in English twice monthly. Explore at leisure the surrounding area or walk around the shops displaying an interesting variety of antiques, jewellery and handicrafts. Drive back to Colombo and return to the pier, where you will rejoin the ship.
Points of interests
Points of interest seen on this excursion include: Colombo, Galle, Sri Lankan Southern Coast, Stilt Fishermen, Folk Museum, Galle Fort, lunch at Jetwing Lighthouse Hotel.
Note
Please note: This tour requires a moderate amount of walking for approximately 1720 yards (1.6 km) over uneven surfaces and a few steps and stairs. This tour is not suitable for guests with limited mobility or those who utilise a wheelchair. Vehicles used are the best available in the city; they are not of the same standards as vehicles found in Western countries. Guests are advised to wear lightweight, comfortable clothing with flat, closed-toe walking shoes, and bring sun protection from the ship. Expect crowds at the sites visited. Photography is prohibited at certain parts of Martin Wickramasinghe Folk Museum.