Galle National Museum
Galle National Museum
3.5
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
3.5
16 reviews
Excellent
4
Very good
4
Average
3
Poor
2
Terrible
3
Peter M
Melbourne, Australia1,301 contributions
Jun 2023 • Friends
Galle National Museum is with the walls of Galle Forte. It is located in the oldest remaining Dutch building in the Galle Fort area. It was built in 1656 as the commissariat store for the Dutch garrison at the fort. The building was renovated and opened as a museum on March 31 1986.What is even better is that it is free to enter!
Written 8 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lex A
Deventer, The Netherlands3 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
We came just before closing time but the personel gave us enough time to see all the cabinets and spend time to explain exhibited material. We had an interesting change of information.
Because of the excellent service I wanted to tip the person but he refused, because 'it was hid duty'
Because of the excellent service I wanted to tip the person but he refused, because 'it was hid duty'
Written 20 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Film G
New England973 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
In need of attention, the displays are of the usual: Weapons, handicrafts, old coins. Gets hot. No A/C. No toilet. But, the Chinese Government decided to make a large donation and an entire room is dedicated to the ancient Chinese maritime and trading relationship with Sri Lanka. More about China than Sri Lanka, but worth a look.
Written 14 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Deemanka J
Yatiyantota, Sri Lanka1 contribution
Nov 2019
Representing the cultural heritage of the Southern province, as well as Galle with the colonial eras of Portuguese, Dutch & British. As well as a longterm relationship between China & Sri Lanka.
This very building used to be the old Dutch weapons store & Later it used as the Galle Health Department, On 1986.03.26 it has been opened as the Galle National Museum.
There are 3 Galleries at the museum & the first gallery representing the endemic rural industries in the Galle area.which are Ebony wood carvings, Ivory carvings & Jewelry,Turtle shell industrial instruments & Turtle shell jewellery & stuff, Beautiful Masks & Paintings, Lace & Brass artefacts.
The second gallery shows you all the colonial-era artefacts, relics as well as weapons. Like Portuguese, Dutch, British, Indian, Malay & Sinhalese Swords, Guns, Canon balls, Gun powder holders, ancient water clocks, A massive scale that has been used by a local family to export heavy ebony wood carved elephants, massive vessels carrying chair of a local Buddhist monk, dutch period VOC coins, a 1st stone, Kandyan era eve tiles & some dutch ceramic artefacts.
The last Gallery is about the long term relationship between China & Sri Lanka. Where you can see some ancient Chinese coins that has been found in excavations around Sri Lanka as well as two big ceramic lions which are found from an excavation, then a replica of a triangular stone inscription which has been established in Galle by the Chinese Royal Navy Admiral "Zen-Hai" on his 2nd journey to Sri Lanka, describing a massive donation to a local temple to get blessings from the Lord "Vishnu",
Using Tamil, Chinese & Persian.
As well as the Route map of the monk "Faxian"
This very building used to be the old Dutch weapons store & Later it used as the Galle Health Department, On 1986.03.26 it has been opened as the Galle National Museum.
There are 3 Galleries at the museum & the first gallery representing the endemic rural industries in the Galle area.which are Ebony wood carvings, Ivory carvings & Jewelry,Turtle shell industrial instruments & Turtle shell jewellery & stuff, Beautiful Masks & Paintings, Lace & Brass artefacts.
The second gallery shows you all the colonial-era artefacts, relics as well as weapons. Like Portuguese, Dutch, British, Indian, Malay & Sinhalese Swords, Guns, Canon balls, Gun powder holders, ancient water clocks, A massive scale that has been used by a local family to export heavy ebony wood carved elephants, massive vessels carrying chair of a local Buddhist monk, dutch period VOC coins, a 1st stone, Kandyan era eve tiles & some dutch ceramic artefacts.
The last Gallery is about the long term relationship between China & Sri Lanka. Where you can see some ancient Chinese coins that has been found in excavations around Sri Lanka as well as two big ceramic lions which are found from an excavation, then a replica of a triangular stone inscription which has been established in Galle by the Chinese Royal Navy Admiral "Zen-Hai" on his 2nd journey to Sri Lanka, describing a massive donation to a local temple to get blessings from the Lord "Vishnu",
Using Tamil, Chinese & Persian.
As well as the Route map of the monk "Faxian"
Written 19 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Balasubramanian R
Chennai (Madras), India734 contributions
Aug 2019
Galle National Museum is located inside the Gale fort and it is one of the national museum of Sri Lanka. Portuguese, Dutch art sculputre are displayed and it is functioning in ground floor only. Entrance fee of LKR 300 and for camera extra. It is not that much worth for the cost.
Written 25 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nithin M Agarwal
Mumbai, India860 contributions
Mar 2019 • Family
Saw this one on the way to Mirissa. Located inside the Galle fort premises. Wasn't anything worth seeing inside. Extremely hot and humid inside the premises too. Pay some 1000LKR, if I correctly remember.
Written 19 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sapan J
Bengaluru, India93 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
It’s not a museum, it’s a waste of time and money. There are hardly any artifacts and most of it don’t even have any dates on them. Better use that money to buy a drink at any of the cafes.
Written 21 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
viddyapati
Lucknow, India29 contributions
Dec 2018 • Family
This museum is located inside the fort area. Collection is good . It has displayed the art sculpture surrounding Galle. After visiting this place we learned more about culture and history of galle.
People visiting galle must spent 1 hours here.
Viddyapati chaudhary
People visiting galle must spent 1 hours here.
Viddyapati chaudhary
Written 30 December 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
harry w
Burlington, Canada1,070 contributions
Mar 2018 • Couples
It is worth the few dollars and hour spent here to see some of the artifacts from the Portuguese and Dutch periods. Not well air conditioned, if at all.
Written 9 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Simon G
Hurstbridge, Australia70 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
If you want flashing lights and audio visual guide systems, don’t go, it’s not for you.
If you want to see an honest collection representing the past of Galle going back to the 400s, spend the small entrance fee and have a look and you will learn something. Did you know Chinese Admiral Zhe travelled this region on 7 voyages with his huge fleet in the 1400s?
Did you know they bought with them to Sri Lanka a tri lingual tablet (Persian, Chinese, Tamil) along with other tributes.
Have a look ....
If you want to see an honest collection representing the past of Galle going back to the 400s, spend the small entrance fee and have a look and you will learn something. Did you know Chinese Admiral Zhe travelled this region on 7 voyages with his huge fleet in the 1400s?
Did you know they bought with them to Sri Lanka a tri lingual tablet (Persian, Chinese, Tamil) along with other tributes.
Have a look ....
Written 16 May 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Galle National Museum
- Hotels near Galle National Museum:
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- Restaurants near Galle National Museum:
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- (0.17 km) The Bungalow Galle Fort - Restaurant & Bar.
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