The paradise island in the Indian Ocean has plenty of history and culture, as well as: beaches, mountains and forests. Exploring has been made easy by local tour operators; Sri Lanka being a small country, can be travelled, from coast to coast, in just a few hours. Of course, it would take much longer to discover all the hidden gems along the way! If taking a tour or setting out on an excursion where all the details are taken care of is your cup of tea, just book a seat on a luxury coach from Aitken Spence Travels and be whisked away on an adventure.
Set off along the coast to discover the vibrant south of Sri Lanka. Ambalangoda town can be found in the Galle District, a two hour drive along the Southern Highway from the capital city of Colombo. The town is well known as the home of wooden masks and puppets. Ariyapala and Sons is the biggest name in mask making. They operate a large workshop that is open to observers and a museum, Ariyapala Mask Museum, which displays one hundred and twenty hand crafted masks. You will also find a souvenir shop holding an extensive collection of masks for sale.
Masked dances and puppet shows have found their way into Sri Lankan culture. They are used in traditional dance, theatre productions, ceremonial processions and rituals. The origin of these masks are linked to exorcism. A masked character performs a vigorous dance to rid the possessed of the spirit. Each mask has a story behind it and they are designed to portray an exaggerated image of a human, demon or animal. Sometimes two creatures are combined. Most are hand carved from a light, pliable timber called ‘Kaduru’ that has been smoke dried for a week then polished with rough leaves or shark skin.
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. Google+
