National Maritime Museum

Description

Located within the old Dutch ware house at the Galle Fort, the National Maritime Museum is the only maritime museum of South Sri Lanka showcasing the unique marine biology and anthropology of the area. The Dutch warehouse building itself is a two storey building that dates back to the 17th century and was used as an administrative office complex until 1992 when it was used to house the National Maritime Museum. The museum features several galleries with various marine artefacts and items-of-interest. The first gallery houses numerous models and replicas that depict the traditional lifestyles of the fishing communities as well as various other water crafts of Southern Sri Lanka. The second gallery reflects the rich flora and fauna of the area with models of marine eco systems and coral specimens. The museum also houses various artefacts retrieved from ship wrecks that are over 800 years old.

Ticket Price

Tickets cost around $3 USD for adults and $1.5 USD for children

Opening Hour

Open on Tuesdays-Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Recommended Visit Duration

About 30 minutes – 1 hour

Suitable For

Adults, Families, Young Adults, Senior Guests, Children  

Must See

The shipwreck artefacts

Prayer Facilities

Muslim travellers who require prayer facilities near the museum at the Galle Fort may visit the Meera Mosque which is located within the fort. Built in 1904, the mosque is a prominent landmark in the area and is also known as the Galle Fort Mosque or the Jama Al-Khairat Mosque. Other mosques in Galle include Ya Hussain Masjid, Shekh Yusuf Sahib Valiyullah Mosque and the Baddare Mosque.

Halal Food

There are a few Halal restaurants at Galle Fort where Muslim travellers will be able to find Halal food. A couple of popular spots include the Crêpe-ology Restaurant and the Indian Hut which are both located within the fort premises. Finding Halal food in Galle will not be difficult, with international restaurant chains such as Pizza Hut also serving Halal food.