Exploring GALLE, Sri Lanka With SriLankan Airlines

It’s not even the mid of 2020 and life all over the world has drastically changed for all individuals and different types of businesses thanks to the current global pandemic that we are battling with – Covid-19. Definition of what’s considered normal in this new world has changed too with an added responsibility on each one of us to do our bit, stay at home and maintain all the rules of social distancing no matter what. After all, we as humans are best known to adapt in the most difficult of situations and this is what keeps me going too, as I believe in counting every small blessing during these times especially. All of us need to stand united, support each other, extend help to those who do not have access to the resources that you and I are fortunate enough to get hold of, and emerge together out of this crisis as “One World”! Both Salman and I were so touched to see this beautiful video with such a heartwarming message by SriLankan Airlines that ensures us we are all together in this crisis but at the same time fills our hearts with hope, reminding us that we will soon “rise up” and emerge as winners – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8JDxUG9Fsw

Cheers to our undying spirit and the faith we hold so close in our hearts!!

On this happy and positive note, let me begin by talking about the most frequently asked question to me across all my pages – “Shifa, which was the last destination that you visited before the covid-19 outbreak and how special has it been?” Many of you following me already know the last destination both Salman and I visited was our favourite neighboring country – Sri Lanka where we also got an opportunity to visit Galle for the first time and boy what a memorable trip this turned out to be. For those of you planning a trip to Galle, Sri Lanka, we hope the below trip highlights help you tweak your itinerary better and you make the most of this tropical paradise island visit :

Sri Lankan Airlines Direct Flights – We have always flown to Sri Lanka with SriLankan Airlines and this trip was no different. Their timely departures, prompt check-ins, top-notch services and super spacious, luxurious Business Class Seats always make our direct Mumbai-Colombo trips extra special. Plus, they have dedicated meal plans for Mum-Colombo and Colombo-Mum that also has some of the best authentic cuisines from India and Sri Lanka.

I’ve genuinely had the best vattalapams on this flight while coming back to the bay. Their cabin and crew will be always wearing smiles on their faces and they really walk that extra mile to make your journey as comfortable as possible. Can you tell from the pics how happy and relaxed both Salman and I were?

Stay At Le Grand Galle – Le Grand Galle owned by Asia Leisure Hotels is right in the heart of the city which makes visiting every major attraction such an easy task as all the must see places are just minutes away from this property. It gets 10/10 for accessibility and ideal location!! What we loved about our stay here was the iconic Galle Fort that stands tall bang opposite to the hotel welcoming the guests in all it’s glory.

This luxurious property is equipped with all the modern amenities you might need while holidaying, right from – free wifi, an infinity pool, fitness center, spacious wardrobes, a garden, flat screen tv’s, hot tub or pool facing or sea-facing balcony rooms like ours. Did we mention about the smart sensor-based bathrooms? A feature we sure miss at home now.

Galle Light House – You can easily drop by at the famous Galle Light House which is just 1.1 kms from Le Grand Hotel. Many walk from the Galle Fort to the Lighthouse as it is a part of the old city center. This white Light House is surrounded by palm trees at the corner of the Galle Fort happens to be one of the most frequently visited locations by the tourists.

So I suggest you drop in early to get that picture-perfect spot for your sunset shot or time-lapse. The Fort connects with the Galle Light House through a promenade where you can buy so many different artefacts with the magnificent ocean views in the backdrop!! One can easily spend 2 hours here.

Heritage Walks in Old Galle – Make sure to sign up for these heritage walks to explore Galle, which used to be the island’s chief port during the Portuguese rule. This also used to be the capital under the Dutch rule, until Colombo replaced it in the year 1956. This historic city is best explored on foot while you walk through the narrow streets that have thousands of years of history carved through it.

While exploring the old Galle city, we also saw their original police station, the main hospital building that still stands tall after all these years which has now been transformed into a place that has hip cafes catering to worldwide travelers. You’ll also come across buildings that belonged to the colonial-era, the architecture of which dates back all the way to the 13th century.

Galle Fort – Another major landmark of Galle city is this 15^th Century built Fort that still stands tall overlooking the European architecture that it presents along with it’s beautiful cobblestone streets. It was first built by the Portuguese and then fortified by the Dutch during the 17^th It is safe to call the “Galle Fort” an artistic and a modern wonder of the world since to date it still safeguards a few Government and Dutch-owned properties/houses inside its premises.

It comes as no surprise that it has been declared as a cultural heritage site by UNESCO. This was also a favorite location of the western traders and once you get up there, you get to an aerial view of the majestic city of Galle. Plus, from our Le Grand Hotel, it was just a few minutes’ walks to get here.

Galle Clock Tower – The Galle Clock Tower rests within the ramparts of the Galle Fort and this will be one of the first things to catch your eye when you get here. This tall stone monument is a four story structure which earlier used to be a guardroom to overlook the bastions of the fort.

Fun Fact – The Galle Tower was constructed by collecting the public subscription funding through the locals of Galle. This aged clock tower is one of the most Instagram friendly spots to visit, plus it has a great deal of history too for those who are interested in knowing about the rich cultural background of Galle. The best photo spot would be from the Moon Bastion which the tower faces.

Ahungalla Sea Turtles Hatchery & Conservation Project – It is located in Galle district and by far this happens to be our most favourite activity from the trip’s itinerary. This sea turtle’s hatchery and conservation project is an initiative to care for and save the marine life and help the baby sea turtles hatch safely in a secured home till they are able to sustain on their own in the sea.

Once the eggs are hatched they keep them under observation before sending them into the ocean. These endangered sea turtles are also on the receiving end of many reckless human activities as we saw so many rescued sea turtles belonging to different age groups that are harmed or have met in an unfortunate accident that could be life-threatening for them. For example, we saw a 40-year-old sea turtle that had lost an eye as a sharp piece of plastic had lodged in it’s skin and the volunteers at the conservation center arranged for operations along with the aftercare and medicines required in it’s healing.

This was such a refreshing experience. We also got to hold in our hands cute 1-day old baby sea turtles and see the different marvelous species that exist in the rich marine life of Sri Lanka. Your beach getaways will have a new meaning once you pay them a visit.

Food We Loved – When it comes to trying out their food menu – I would suggest if you’re a fan of going all local then you must try as many Sri Lankan thali meals as possible including their fresh catch of the day specials and my favourite egg hoppers and string hoppers with sambols (chutneys).

Their red crab curry with yellow rice + papadam was a complete winner for me. Apart from that, you can also experience a complete English or continental breakfast along with special international and seafood with a dash of their most favourite local cuisines. A huge shout-out to the chefs for making the perfect and the yummiest Nutella-banana crepes for me on the last day of our stay here!!!

Handmade artefacts – While exploring the old world charm that Galle has to offer on foot and after witnessing a beautiful sunset, on our way back from the Galle Light House, we saw so many local artisans selling their handcrafted products that serve as best souvenirs to take back home. This raw talent needs to be supported as it’s a dying art that few posses and have the courage to carry forward in this era where mass production is the craze.

These handmade artefacts reflect the soul and origin of the roots of a particular country and it takes time and effort to perfect 1 single piece, hence I’m immediately drawn to such local art. Some of the best handcrafted artefacts that you will find in Galle are – wooden carvings, batik designs, and gems jewelry (you can also visit the museums).

Angel Beach, Unawatuna – This is such an untouched and a surreal coastal town in the Galle district of Sri Lanka. Though we spent just a day here, we would love to go back and stay for at least 3 nights with them as they have such spacious and contemporary rooms that are designed to welcome families with kids or couples equally. They have three different room categories – standard, deluxe and Angel Suite. Apart from a humongous pool, Angel Beach Sri Lanka has a private entrance to the famous Una beach which is a white sand and a dreamy blue water paradise.

We enjoyed the day party by the pool, grooving to some jazz and sipping on some fresh coconut water with their signature food items. They also have a rooftop bar and lounge and the location is minutes away from all the major attractions in Galle.

For example, if you’re visiting Angel Beach from the Galle Fort, it is just 11 kms away. P.S. – Don’t forget to make the most of their day beds that are placed sea-facing for you to just soak in these unforgettable Unawatuna views.

A special thank you to Esna Holidays for arranging such an interesting itinerary for us that was tailor-made as per our preferences. You can connect with them on Instagram if you have to arrange for a tour on your next visit to Sri Lanka – https://www.instagram.com/esnaholidays/

We hope you guys have enjoyed traveling along with us to this UNESCO World Heritage Site, GALLE in SRI LANKA, which is famously known as the city of Dutch and Portuguese. Nowhere else in Asia will you get to experience a slice of Europe with a sprinkle of tropical heaven. Galle as a place has given us so much peace, happiness and has allowed us to see how calming holidays can be. After all, it is here that we learned to lay still in the sands while hearing the music of the crashing waves. This was life looking at us while we seize the precious moment. It is magical, GALLE turned me into a poet.

P.S. – This trip is super special as this also was our last trip before the COVID 19 epidemic and this also happened to be our babymoon trip which would be the last trip till our angel is in our arms and the world is safe to travel again!!! So that makes this trip SUPERRRR DUPERRRR SPECIALLL.

Until we travel again lovelies.