Galle Sri Lanka Travel pictures & information
Bentota beach, Saman Villas, Fort of Galle
I'd come to Galle, on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, the site of the Fort of Galle, about 71 miles (116 km) south of Colombo, the capital. The popular Bentota Beach resort and Saman Villas is 39 miles (64 km) south of Colombo by road; Galle is a further 32 miles (52 km) south of Bentota. The railway runs roughly parallel to the coast and coast highway. I'd come from Kandy and the fortress at Sigiriya. See pictures of some Sri Lanka foods here. Find Sri Lanka hotels here.
.
.
Bentota Beach Sri Lanka Famous for its Sunset Views South of Colombo, this Bentota beach fronts the Hotel Serendib, where each evening, the residents gather to toast the setting sun. The setting, pool and restaurant were fine, but the rooms left a bit to be desired. It's popular with the all-inclusive packagers from Europe, whose clients may be looking for sun and cheap first, free booze second, and not be bothered by the rooms. The patio doors of ground floor rooms could not be locked; overbooking resulted in rooms that had just been sprayed for insects. Check for renovations before booking. I'm sure it's fine by now. |
|
|
|
|
Harbour along coast between Bentota and Galle
Boats were anchored where the waves were calm, not far from several of the area's turtle sanctuaries. We stopped to talk to the fishermen, and a young lad about 8 years old. |
|
Fort of GalleThe fortifications at Galle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988, date back to the 16C and the Portuguese, with further development in the 18C by the Dutch. This whole area is an isthmus that juts out to the southwest and the open ocean. Galle should be a two-hour drive from Colombo, but that city's traffic can easily add another hour onto the journey. We stopped for a very good lunch and ginger beer at what was onetime the Oriental Hotel; I believe it's now the Closenburg Hotel. This area has many street vendors selling cotton clothing decorated with lace, some hand-made lace, for which this area is known, and some machine made lace. The vendors (as were most of the vendors we encountered) aggressively and relentlessly mobbed all who come to walk along the sea wall near the lighthouse. There's a fine old church here, with great views from its upper levels. |
|
|

Add A Comment