Joanna James
Sri Lanka, with its rich history and colonial roots, is a lovely place to explore, especially if you love delving into the past. This article lists some of the best museums on the island to learn more about the fascinating past of Sri Lanka, the nation's rulers, conquerors, and maritime influences.
Established in 1877, the National Museum is the oldest institution of its kind in Sri Lanka. The place is a treasure trove of artefacts, boasting over a hundred thousand. Go there to learn about the countries origins. See the golden throne, which once belonged to a past monarch. On display are coins, bits of pottery and even vintage jewellery, and clothing that belonged to kings and queens of Sri Lanka. There are over 4,000 ancient ola leaf manuscripts, as well as antique masks, old paintings, and religious artefacts. The building in which the museum is located is too an artefact, representing an Italian villa.
This one will treat you to the island's maritime history. Located in the lovely port city of Galle, the Maritime Museum is housed inside the Old Dutch Fort, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The museum is located in an old Dutch warehouse and has a fascinating display of artifacts rescued from wrecks off the Galle coast and other areas. Browse cabinets filled with ancient coins, bottles of rum dredged from the ocean floor, sailors' pipes, and other belongings as well as parts of wooden sail ships. Learn more about the old Galle Fort and fascinating places to visit in Sri Lanka, exploring online websites such as Truly Sri Lanka.
The Mask Museum of Ambalangoda will be a fascinating browse. The place houses several antique wooden masks, intricately carved into grotesque, comic, and serene faces. Each serving a purpose, the masks have been used in exorcism rituals and devil dancing acts throughout the ages. The rituals, which are a part of the local culture, are elaborate and somewhat frightful affairs, with the soothsayers going into a trance wearing the masks, which represent a demon. The masks at the museum represent various demons, demi-gods, and other characters needed for traditional rituals. Some are over 100 years and beautiful works of art, displaying skills handed down over generations.
The Sri Dalada Maligawa or Temple of the Tooth Relic is located in Kandy. The shrine houses a tooth relic of the Buddha and is one of the most visited pilgrim spots in the country. You can visit the historical shrine and learn more about Buddhism and the shrine at the Dalada Museum. The gallery houses gifts given to the temple by visiting devotees, including heads of state and other dignitaries. Also on display are artifacts used for specific rituals performed at the temple.
Koggala is located in the Galle District and is a fascinating seaside town. The Folklore Museum is dedicated to Sri Lanka's accomplished author, the late Martin Wickremasinghe. One of the greatest writers produced by the island, Martin Wickremasinghe wrote many award-winning books, which are now applauded movies screened across the world. The museum is housed in his birth home and displays artefacts under 25 categories, some of which are folk medicine, rare handicrafts, cottage industries, and folk art and music.
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.
