Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
With an entrance behind the iconic old Bell Tower, this updated facility is easily the more
engaging of Galle's two maritime museums. Exhibits include lots of videos and interactive
displays that illuminate the town's maritime past, including the many shipwrecks in the
surrounding waters. It covers two levels that snake though the old walls.
National Maritime Museum
MUSEUM
Nestled in the old walls, this small museum is worth a quick look for its skeleton of a
Brydes whale and a very useful model that explains how tsunamis occur. There are also
some dusty mannequins demonstrating old fishing techniques.
Historical Mansion
HISTORIC SITE
If you think you've got a lot of clutter filling up the shelves at home, then just wait until
you get a load of the Historical Mansion, which is the private collection of a longtime Fort
family. Set in a restored Dutch house, it's not really a museum, as many of the exhibits
have price tags. Look for oodles of colonial artefacts, including collections of antique
typewriters, VOC china, spectacles and jewellery.
Don't miss the places where plaster has been removed to show how the building was
constructed.
Amangalla
HISTORIC BUILDING
The Amangalla was built in 1684 to house the Dutch governor and officers. Later, as the
New Oriental Hotel, it was the lodging of choice for 1st-class P&O passengers travelling
to and from Europe in the 19th century. During much of the 20th century, it was in a
decades-long slow decline and was run by the legendary Nesta Brohier, a grand lady who
was actually born in room 25.
The hotel has a memorable and comic role in Paul Theroux's iconic
The Great Railway
Bazaar
. It was massively restored and reopened as the luxurious Amangalla in 2004.
Public areas like the bar, lobby and restaurants are open and worth a look.
