Joanna James
Galle is home to UNESCO World Heritage Site the Old Dutch Fort; a sleepy fisher village inundated with busy markets and equally busy streets. Here are travel options for exploring the area.
The Galle Central Bus Stand is located in the city centre. Connections to the commercial capital Colombo are easily found here while buses plying to many destinations in and around the city are readily available. Buses are ideal for exploring the southern belt and run the route on a regular basis. Since most journeys to nearby beach resort towns are a matter of a few minutes most tourists opt to take the bus from Galle city. Guest travelling to one of the Cantaloupe Hotels in the south will find easy connections by bus from Galle.
A tuk tuk is a three wheeled taxi that's an amalgamation of a scooter and little buggy. In the south these zippy little rides are put to good use, it is not uncommon to see a huge surfboard strapped to the roof of a little tuk on its way to the ocean while many tourists enjoy rides in these open vehicles provided the driver sticks to a safe speed. Ideal for sightseeing around Galle or heading out to the nearest town a tuk is an inexpensive mode of transport. If you are heading out to the Old Dutch Fort one of the iconic Sri Lanka attractions; hiring a tuk to take you there would be convenient especially when navigating the traffic congested streets of Galle city. Mind you hop into a tuk with a meter or set off on a predetermined fare to avoid being scammed.
Located in front of the Galle International Cricket Grounds the Galle Railway Station offers connections along the southern belt as well as connections to Colombo. Serviced by the Sri Lanka Railways Southern Line you get connections up to the southern city of Matara. A beautiful coastal view is awarded when travelling by train although compartments tend to get quite crowded. You could opt to book an air conditioned cabin on available trains.
The Southern Expressway offers connections from Colombo to Matara. Travel time to Galle from Colombo is just one hour via this highway while the scenic coastal drive can take up to 3 hours. Hence you are left with the choice of hiring a car and driving into Galle since the journey is under an hour. This way you have a vehicle for exploring the city as well as sightseeing around nearby towns.
Cycle tours are quite popular in the south where many tourist enjoy the laid back rides into sleepy fisher villages past lush lotus ponds and verdant outback's. If your Galle hotel provides the facility opt to hire a bicycle and explore the city. Ideal for beating long traffic blocks and even touring the cobbled stoned streets of the Old Dutch Fort, a cycle tour around Galle will have you in holiday mode in next to no time.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
