Tour of Sri Lanka 2025 | Day 2 | Galle | 47.3 kms

I get up around 6:30 am and get ready for my first actual exploration day in Sri Lanka. My plan is to visit the iconic Galle fort which I have bookmarked earlier. I leave the hostel around 7:45 am and in the direction of the fort. I plan to have a local Sri Lankan breakfast and ask one of the person on the roadside. He directs me to one of them. It’s close by as per google maps.

I reach in no time and I am greeted by the gentle owner. One of the local items is finished so I settle for egg dosa with spicy ‘sambol’ and chutney. Meanwhile, I am joined by 2 Chinese girls as they share my table due to lack of sitting area. They order dosa too but in different style. They seem to be aware of the dishes and ask me whether the same items are found in India too.

They are slim but eat like a monster. I am embarrassed with the portion of food I’ve ordered. We get along talking about profession and passion. They have Indian friends too and will be soon visiting India to attend one of their co-workers wedding.

We finish off with ‘masala tea’. Outside, we click photos and bid adieu to each other. I then head towards Galle fort. I park the bike outside and go walking inside. It’s Sunday and the road side vegetable stalls and fish market are crowded with people. I get to see some different fruits and vegetables and same for the fish too. I enter the fort complex through an arched entrance. For visiting the various places inside the complex, I take help of the guide from the ‘Lonely Planet’ and also from the ‘Tourist Map’ which I buy from one of the souvenir shops.

There are more than 30+ places of interest and I cover one by one on foot with the scorching sun above me. Hydration breaks are frequent. The view of the sea from the fort’s several bastion points is quite superb. I explore all the places along the fort’s perimeter first before covering the inside ones. I buy ‘All in One’ museum pass which gives me access to 3 of them.

In particular, the maritime archeological museum is a must watch which has a separate entry ticket. Then there was this weekend bazaar with many stalls being put up by locals selling handicraft and souvenir items. Many of them were tempting. My eyes get locked on one such item, but little out of my budget. The thoughts of it keep on haunting me which force me to buy it later in the evening when the flea market is about to close down.

Exploring all the thing in detail takes time. The Galle cricket stadium is right in front of the fort. I enjoy some evening snacks at the ‘Ceylon Bakery’ before returning back to the hostel to freshen up. I am free in the evening so head back again in the same direction for a night view of the Galle. Spend some time there riding my bike along the perimeter and then later head to Unawatuna to explore some new places and cafes as suggested to me by our hostel manager.

I have my dinner there of ‘Chicken Fried Rice’ with spicy chili paste at a hotel names ‘Roti Shop’. I return back to the hostel for a good night’s sleep around 11:30 pm.