Sri Lanka’s southern coast is dotted with tourist hubs attracting hundreds of visitors yearly. Galle, the southern capital is a bustling city and things to do in Galle are wide and varied. Several museums showcasing various aspects of the island’s rich heritage dot the city of Galle. For those seeking to experience and enjoy Galle and the southern coast while living in privacy and basking in serenity, beauty and luxury Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort set in an idyllic coastal setting would be a good choice.
Among Galle’s Museums, a special place goes to the privately owned Historical Mansion Museum owned and operated by Abdul Gaffer. He was inspired by the ‘Salarjung Museum’ in Hyderabad, India, to establish a similar museum to show case his Motherland’s rich heritage in his home town of Galle and built his museum over a ruined, old Dutch Mansion on Leybaan Street in Galle Fort. The Dutch Well in the central courtyard with the insignia of the Dutch East India Company, VOC, and the date 1763 engraved on it .The Historical Mansion Museum displays local handicrafts some of which no longer exists. Many items made of turtle shell, buffalo horn and porcupine quills like jewellery, pill boxes, combs, ornamental bird’s miniature tables and ash trays are in the collection. The art of beeralu lace making was introduced to Sri Lanka by the Portuguese and The Historical Mansion Museum has a fine collection of beeralu lace. Dutch Period Pieces like Chinese porcelain plates bearing the VOC insignia, kettles, vases, a tea cup bearing the head of Queen Elizabeth 11 and the Union Jack issued to commemorate her coronation, are displayed here.
The Museum also has a distinctive collection of lamps including varied oil lamps, old granite lamps, railway lamps, fisherman’s lamps etc., Other interesting items include an old ice cream or butter churn, swords, pistols, old gramophones including one about a century old, antique telephones and typewriters, old radios and antiquated medical items like stethoscopes, delivery forceps and almond shaped feeding bottles from the 1960’s.
Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
