Culture and History in the West Coast

There are several ways to explore the culture of Sri Lanka along the island’s west coast, from seeing how traditional masks are carved in Ambalangoda to visiting the ancient Galapatha temple in Aluthgama.

The west coast of Sri Lanka is an area of the island where tourists can delve into the country’s artistic traditions, most prominently traditional dance forms which date back to 4th century BC and local arts and crafts techniques which have existed in the island for centuries.

Go on an art tour in Amblanagoda with a Galle-based artist and explore the many different artistic industries which are prevalent in this region, including puppetry, batik and mask making. The Ariyapala Mask Museum here exhibits some rare Kolam and Thovil masks which date back centuries: Kolam masks are used in drama to enact traditional folktales, whilst Thovil masks are used to eradicate disease.

Alternatively, go to see a traditional dance performance and see how the masks have been used in rituals and celebrations for hundreds of years. Ruhunu is the main type of dance conducted here, based on the folklore of Sri Lanka’s south coast: watch masked dancers depicting tropical birds, reptiles and grotesque demons move to the complex rhythms of the drums whilst miming, chanting and delivering stories of local myths.

As well as exploring the traditional culture of the island, delve into the history of Sri Lanka and visit the ancient Galapatha Vihara in Aluthgama, a Buddhist temple originally built in the 12th century. If you are interested in discovering more about Buddhism in Sri Lanka, you can also visit the Gangatilaka Vihara, which is decorated with murals depicting Lord Buddha’s life story, and Galagoda Temple, which houses the longest reclining Buddha statue in the world.
Another way to explore the culture of Sri Lanka in this region is to view the works of Geoffrey Bawa, Sri Lanka’s most revered architect who came to be recognised as one of the greatest influences on Asian architecture. Visit Lunugana, his spectacular country home and gardens, or stay in one of the hotels he designed along the west coast, which include Club Villa, Heritance Ahungalla and The Villa Bentota.