A holiday in Galle

Galle is breathtaking. Galle is picture-perfect, it belongs on a postcard, every part of it. From the horizon far upon the ocean to the ever-smiling faces of the locals, all of Galle is stunning enough to be captured, preserved forever. Lavanya Kar recalls her perfect holiday to the beach town in Sri Lanka.

We visited Galle in the summer of 2018, bringing my grandparents along: our first and perhaps only international trip with them. Compared to the sunny, bustling streets of Colombo, where we first stayed, Galle turned out to be calm, and felt homely, and more inviting. We had started with a two day stop in Colombo, a city we though was beautiful, but Galle turned out to another world altogether. Our residence for the trip is a sprawling 60-year-old bungalow, high atop a hill. Picturesque and dazzling, it was much like its owners, an old couple our grandparents age who took care of us like thier family and never failed to bring a smile to our lips. The villa was complete with a pool and deck, which soon grew to become our favorite spot in the entire home: my sister and I, in particular, spent hours on end in the cold water, emitting cries of disappointment when we were informed that we had to get out. Music played constantly in the living room, we had a choice of either Sri Lankan traditional music or popular, remastered English hits. Not far away from the lobby was our dining room, where we were lovingly fed a variety of fare, often cooked by the owners themselves, throughout the days of our stay.

Galle was the perfect weather, too: warm, bright, but often rainy in the evenings, a cool breeze settling over the town and nipping against one's limbs. It was never uncomfortably hot though, or particularly muggy. It seemed like a town out of fairytale, where everything was just right, of the exact measure. Not far from our home was where the Galle Fort began, built in the 16th century and having withstood the tsunami of 2004: a truly resilient attraction. A seat on its grass-clothed walls provides you a beautiful view to feast your eyes upon- water as far as the eye can see. Turn around, and you may just be able to view a cricket match in the stadium nearby. If you feel particularly daring, you can perhaps shed your clothing and leap into the water, much like the young boys who spend their evenings cooling off in the ocean. A few steps away is the cricket stadium, which did not fare as well during the tragic tsunami wave. It was almost entirely demolished, but bit by bit, it was funded and rebulit by the citizens.

A short autorickshaw ride away is the Unawatuna beach, complete with a cafe, crabs and a puppeteer who bears an uncanny resemblance to my great-uncle. The sand prickles your bare feet, but it's relaxing as you walk closer to where the waves hit the shore, white as snow when they break. The beach is enjoyable, except for the rather unpleasant feeling of sand sticking to your damp feet once you don your slippers. On your way back, watch the breathtaking sunset: a fitting, beautiful end to the evening. Leaving Galle was like leaving home- the town touches you, whether you stay for a day or a month. But places like Galle are worth coming back to, and if you don't leave, how will you ever return?

India Homepage