National Museum Galle — Attraction in Galle

The National Museum of Galle (Galle National Museum) is one of the national museums of Sri Lanka. It is located in the oldest remaining Dutch building in the Galle fort, Galle, a single storey colonnaded Dutch building built in 1656 as the commissariat store for the Dutch garrison at the fort. It subsequently served as a billiards room for the adjoining New Oriental Hotel (now the Amangalla Hotel). The building was renovated by the Department of National Museums and opened on 31 March 1986. The museum houses a limited collection of exhibits from the Portuguese, Dutch and British periods. It has three main galleries, the first contains collections relating to the area's cottage industries, primarily turtle shell jewellery manufacturing, Beeralu lace weaving and traditional wooden mask carving. The second contains a collection of Dutch period furniture and weaponry. The final gallery, the 'Sri Lanka China Friendship Gallery', was opened on 10 September 2013. It is dedicated to the historical and archeological evidence of trade relations between China and Sri Lanka, with displays on the Chinese Buddhist monk Faxian (337 – c. 422 CE) and the 14th Century Fleet Admiral Zheng He (1371 – 1433). Situated in a beautiful...

The Galle National Museum, located within the historic Galle Fort, is a prominent cultural institution in Sri Lanka. It provides a glimpse into the history and heritage of the southern region of the country, focusing on its traditional crafts and colonial past.

History and Building The museum is housed in a Dutch colonial building that is one of the oldest standing structures within the Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Constructed in 1656, the building originally served as a commissariat store for the Dutch garrison. It was later a billiards room for the adjacent New Oriental Hotel before being renovated and officially opened as a museum on...

Sadly, this is a good place with a number of historic items, bad with bad management. Just see how these two-motor bikes of its staff have parked it blocking the entrance, obstructing the visitors’ entrance. A real shame on the authorities on how we invest in ourselves to attract tourists. The lighting inside is not the best, so warm, and few of the display cupboards are empty. The ticket fee for locals is just a mere Rs.20, but it could be increased and in return improve the service to...