5 Best things to do in Southwest Sri Lanka

Share this...
00000

Sri Lanka, even the name evokes exotic images in one’s mind. I knew very little about this gem of an island of the southern tip of India and after spending a week there, I feel like I still don’t know very much. One thing I am sure though, we will be back soon to explore more!

A couple of weeks ago, I shared a narrative of one of the more negative (but perhaps more interesting) experiences of our recent trip to Sri Lanka.  But, I realized that I haven’t yet shared the highlights!  It was a wonderful trip. We created some sweet memories with our friends, enjoyed a new country and had some unique cultural experiences.

We spent our time exclusively in the Southwestern part of the island. These are our top highlights from this region:

1. Swimming with giant sea turtles – I swam hard against the strong current, getting winded by only trying to maintain my location. I tried to find a sandy area amongst the coral to put my feet down just long enough to catch a glimpse of that prehistoric-esque beast. Ever so often, a green, rubbery flipper would surface and we would head off in that direction. Other times it was the turtle’s head, seeming to smile like a child enjoying the ocean as he glided through the coral. The reef protected lagoon near Galawatta Beach

   

   Cabanas was perfect for spotting Giant Sea Turtles. I had read this in the reviews on AirBnB. However, I underestimated both the frequency that we would see them as well as the awe I would feel by swimming close enough to touch these marvelous creatures. In my first few moments gazing at the ocean from the shore at Galawatta, I saw them, surfacing for a moment. However, even after having spotted these beautiful creatures from the shore, I had not imagined the rush I would feel from swimming so close to something so strong, majestic, and almost prehistoric. Having this opportunity every day was easily the highlight of our trip.

    

2. Stroll around Galle – About 20 minutes away by Tuk Tuk on Matara road sits a city at the crossroads of east and west, modern and ancient. Now the administrative capital of the Southern Province, Galle has long been important as an economic and cultural center in Sri Lanka. A UNESCO world heritage site, the city of Galle has nearly always been a city centered on trade, but nowadays, it is more and more a city of art. I would recommend spending a day or morning strolling the streets of Galle. The historic Fort area has a large number of hotels, cafes and little boutique shops. You can see local and foreign artists, writers, photographers and poets practicing their craft. The fort itself is interesting because it stands in such contrast to the local, South Asian architecture. We had fun picking out remnants of colonialism around the town too – such as a British Crown on an old mail box. Colonialism’s effects are impossible to miss, but it has left us with a beautiful and interesting city.

   

3. Take the train – I absolutely love traveling by train and hubby had never done it so we were eager to experience rail travel in Sri Lanka. We took the southern train line from Galle to Colombo. It was a fantastic way to see the countryside and experience a piece of real life Sri Lanka. We took the 3:30 train, and it was packed with many people returning to Colombo after spending the holiday away on vacation. There are three classes, 1st class allows for seat reservations and had air-conditioning. We were a bit concerned that we would not be able to see out of the windows and experience views of the countryside (and get some great photos). So, we opted for second class. We foolishly bought three tickets so that Miss C would have her own seat. When time for the train to arrive at the station got near, groups of people started rushing the edges of the platform. As the train pulled into the station, several brave souls leapt into the moving train as it went past! Soon I realized why. There were far fewer seats than people on the train. We were going to be left standing for three hours. Now, if I had been traveling before baby, that would have only been a slight inconvenience. BUT, standing on a train for three hours with a one year old while hubby was holding a pack and play was too much for me to fathom. So, at my insistence, we got off the train to attempt to get into the first class cabin, only to find out that 1st was sold out. A very sympathetic station employee must have taken pity on a hot and frustrated mama because he helped us locate seats where at least Joel and I could sit down, and have room to store our things. Granted, the seats were in 3rd class but we couldn’t tell much difference between that and second class anyway (except that there were still empty seats). A few people did end up standing in our cabin as well but it wasn’t nearly as packed as second class.  All in all it was a fantastic experience. Little Miss C was passed all around the cabin where we were the only foreigners and she stood out with her contagious smile and blonde hair. We ate snacks, and enjoyed the countryside. It was a fantastic way to see a bit more of Sri Lanka than we would have seen otherwise. I can confidently say that when we return to Sri Lanka we would use rail travel again.
4. Miss C had a yard to play in! – the kind of thing I never really appreciated until I was a parent, especially the parent of an active toddler living in the city was that our beach house had a yard! It was large, safe and clean and the girls could run and play to their hearts content! The friends we traveled with have a daughter that is practically the same age as Little Miss C. Having a nice green yard for the girls to run and play in is not an amenity that went unappreciated!
5. New Years celebration candle lighting –  We happened to be in Sri Lanka during their New Year’s and many things were closed down for the holidays. One of the only nearby resort restaurants open for dinner on New Year’s Eve was the Sri Gemunu Beach Resort, just a few clicks down the road from our beach house. They offered a set 3 course menu for the evening with a choice of either chicken or fish. Joel and I each ordered one of the choices so we could try both. The food was great and we left quite stuffed. However, as we were leaving, a man who seemed to either be the owner or the manager of the resort stopped us and asked us if we would please stay and enjoy their celebration of New Years. We participated in a candle lighting ceremony and then they offered us some traditional Sri Lankan snacks to try. Unfortunately we were too stuffed from dinner to indulge ourselves very much. But the milk rice and sambal sauce still stands out in my mind as particularly tasty. It was a great impromptu look at Sri Lankan culture – so impromptu that I didn’t have my camera!

Our trip to Sri Lanka was far too short and we can’t wait to get back soon. We definitely missed some major highlights of the country, but enjoyed our more relaxing beach vacation with friends. Next time we hope to visit Yala National Park, Sigiriya, and the area around Kandy.