Galle & South Coast

Galle's Dutch colonial fort and the south coast, with blue whale watching at Mirissa, stilt fishermen and surf beaches.

Galle lies at the southwest tip of Sri Lanka, about 120 km from Colombo, and is the main city of the south coast. Its core is Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988: within the star-shaped ramparts, begun by the Portuguese and expanded by the Dutch, you will find churches, a lighthouse, the old hospital and colonial lanes, now filled with boutique hotels, cafés and galleries. Heading northwest along the coast from Galle are Hikkaduwa (coral reefs and turtles), Ambalangoda (masks), the Madu River mangroves, the Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project and Bentota Beach; architecture fans can visit Geoffrey Bawa's Lunuganga Estate and Brief Garden. To the east are Unawatuna Beach and the Japanese Peace Pagoda, the stilt fishermen at Koggala and Koggala Lake, the surf bay at Weligama, whale watching at Mirissa and Coconut Tree Hill, and farther east, Dondra Head Lighthouse at the southernmost tip and Sirikatiya Beach. Inland, the Sinharaja rainforest can be visited as a day trip. Seasons: Nov–Apr is the dry season on the south coast, with calm seas, and is the best time for beaches and whale watching; May–Oct is the southwest monsoon, with heavy rain and big waves, and some beach businesses close. Getting there: the coastal train from Colombo takes about 2.5–3 hours, or about 1.5 hours via the Southern Expressway; between coastal towns you can take trains, buses or tuk-tuks. We suggest 3–5 days, staying in Galle Fort, Unawatuna or Mirissa. Notes: rip currents are strong at the beaches, so heed the red flags; stilt fishermen usually charge for photos; choose whale-watching operators that follow distance guidelines.

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