The masks museum here is really good. The Chronology of mask making is well captured. From what I understood, this place was started by an artist and mask maker who used to perform and was renowned. His family owns the place and for generations they have been in this business of mask making and performances. It’s quite descriptive when it comes to information about the various types of masks, the relevance of each and there are historic pictures of some masks 🎭 when those were actually used for performances. The same masks have been displayed next to the pictures and it adds a lot of credibility. If you want to learn about art and culture of Ambalangoda then this museum is a must see. There’s a small workshop right next to the museum where some artists are at work. You can see how the mask making is all about handwork and craftsmanship. We also visited the store on the first floor where you can buy these masks. What I’m not sure about is the pricing. The same size similar masks are available at half the price in One Galle face Mall (which I’m sure has premium pricing already) maybe those are not handmade or there’s a difference in the colors they use. But the masks looked similar. Since I dint have time in hand I dint check other shops in this town to get a better hang of prices. And this place is also one of those tourist guide stop overs where hefty commissions etc are involved so I suspect that prices would anyway be inflated. Nevertheless, the museum is worth visiting. You may decide to not buy from this store and look around if you are seriously buying masks.

Mask making is a popular tradition in Sri Lanka. Many Sri Lankan mask artisans ply their trade along the Western, South Western and Southern coasts of the island. Of these, the Ambalangodaarea on the South Western coast of Sri Lanka is renowned for its talented artisans. Ariyapala and Sons is an important landmark in the town of Ambalangoda that famed for its history and expertise mask carving and culture. And the best place to get your fill of mask lore is the Ambalangoda Mask Workshop and Museum is Sri Lanka.

Entrance free But if you are happy you can contribute (which you will do for sure) as it is pleasing to see the Lankan heritage thriving strong in the museum. Very well maintained, kind people. You can also buy something as a remembrance. Would highly recommend everyone to pay a visit here and keep this tradition grow

I visited SriLanka 2 years back , went to this masked museum in Bentota , a well decorated museum , they make the masks and the sculptures there by hand and small machines , the masked men , women shows their unique culture , living style e.t.c. A must visit tourist spot in there , You can buy some handmade crafts from the gift shop , but you should know that they are overpriced specially for foreigners.

A museum of traditional masks 🎭 of a huge variety. There’s a showroom where you can buy the masks along with other artworks like sculptures and paintings. The price is a bit high. You can visit the workshop and see how the masks are made step by step. The museum gives a clear background story of how the folklore about the masks is born.

This is one of the best place to see traditional masks in Sri Lanka. Next to the museum is small workshop were you can witnesses the mask come into life. On the first floor is a souvenir shop. Product here are bit costly, quality is of top notch. Employee in the shop are not well trained, they couldn't give a detailed explanation of the masks. Masks in Srilanka are originated in South of Sri Lanka, usually made using Kaduru wood in the mask capital of Ambalangoda.

They do have a museum with many traditional Srilankan masks, puppets and other characters performed during various rituals. They have a shop too, where you can buy similar things as well. But, I did feel the prices were a bit too expensive.

Very nice place to visit. You can get a good knowledge about sri Lankan traditional mask manufacturing from hear

It's a nice place though the workshop is very small. And the price seems very high!

This was a great experience and I would definitely recommend it. Entry was free. They had a donation box and we donated. There is a workshop space where we can see masks being made. There is a lady explaining the various masks in the museum. It is also written about and we can explore it at leisure. This was a total eye opener on the history and relevance of masks in srilankan culture. There was a book on it I picked up for 1500/- lkr. The first floor has masks for sale. It is quite expensive compared to masks in Laksala. But there is a lot of variety here. Ample parking available.

Showcases the historical masks from Sri Lanka. Also they sell souvenir masks for customers. In addition you get a unique chance to observe these authentic masks being made from scratch.

Wonderful place, alot different kind of masks we saw. Such an amazing experience

(Translated by Google) Museum of traditional masks, area with daily workshops and obviously store sales in a structure vella open daily. Busy with tourists, it sells common and non-common objects. Masks also many details but much higher than average prices. The paid museum is certainly the most beautiful in the country. Not exciting but a walk yes. (Original) Museo delle maschere tradizionali, zona con workshop quotidiani ed ovviamente negozio di vendita in una vella struttura aperta tutti i giorni. Molto trafficata da turisti vende oggetti comuni e non. Maschere anche molti particolari ma prezzi molto più alti della media. Bello il museo a pagamento di certo il più bello del paese. Non entusiasmante ma una passeggiata si.

The museum was closed for restoration at the beginning of February. In the museum store the seller told us all about masks and their meanings. Masks there are 2-3 times cheaper than in other regions of Sri Lanka. Either you can request a discount.

I visited very recently. It's a very nice place to visit if you are traveling to down south

see traditional masks in Sri Lanka. Next to the museum is small workshop were you can witnesses the mask .. This museum is designed to introduce into the richness of the mask tradition of Ambalangoda and to strengthen this cultural heritage.

The Museum is a fascinating and unique attraction. The exhibits showcase a wide variety of puppets from around the world, each with their own unique cultural and historical significance. The museum also offers workshops and performances, providing a hands-on experience for visitors of all ages. The staff are knowledgeable and passionate about puppetry, making for an engaging and informative visit. Whether you're a puppet enthusiast or simply looking for an offbeat museum experience, the Puppet Museum is definitely worth a visit.

Showcases beautifully carved Srilankan masks. Has a nice store to purchase souvenirs as well. Worth the visit.

This place is marvelous You can see different kind of masks in here. If you are interested, you can also buy it.

Has a good depiction of the masks and the explanation behind it. You can ask for a guide as well to understand the fine details. Not crowded at all. Would take half an hour on average. There's a workshop next to the museum and also a shop upstairs.

Beautiful collection of the masks, if you want a sneak peek into the Srilankan culture then you must visit the museum.

(Translated by Google) Entrance to the museum is free, but donation has not been canceled, cozy and small. Near the working area, you can see how the masks are made. Unlike other places, it’s much more expensive, you can find cheaper, but there is a very large selection of masks and the quality is good than I saw before, as well as a work area nearby where you can see how the masks do. (Original) В музей вход бесплатный, но donation никто не отменял, уютный и маленький. Рядом рабочая зона, можно посмотреть как делают маски. В отличии от других мест намного дороже, можно найти дешевле, но зато очень большой выбор масок и качество хорошее, чем я видела ранее, а также рядом рабочая зона, где можно посмотреть как маски делают.

(Translated by Google) Beautiful masks. Not enough good excursion factory (Original) Красивые маски. Не хватает хорошего эксскурсавода

FANTASTIC 😊

The mask museum contains small library, mask workshop and museum with many displays of masks and tools used to make masks. The mask carving is carried out in the workshop by using trunks of Kaduru tree. They explain everything with out charging any fee. However you can make donations. Further facilities are available to purchase traditional masks.

Really a worth place we visited. Could know more about the artistry and the tradition of Sri Lanka. The explanation by the staff was really useful. She was patient and highly skilled. Really a great initiative by the Government of Sri Lanka. The place eas neatly maintained and was simple. Highly recommended.

Very informative, hands on. Friendly staff and guide in English available.

One of my very favorite spots to take visitors while heading down south! The museum in the basement is tiny and super kitsch, but if you go in expecting a tiny display that hasn't been updated (nor cleaned!) since at t least the 1970s, then you're in for a surrealistic good time! The true gem is the shop upstairs that has the most high quality hand carved and hand painted masks you'll find in the entire country!

Excellent location to visit for those interested in studying the cultural practices and rich Heritage of Ariyapala Masks in Ambalangoda. Let's Unite in Preserving Our Cultural Heritage. 🎭🇱🇰 #CulturalLegacy #AmbalangodaMasks #SupportHeritage"

The museum is small but very nice. You can see many masks and read how they were used, typical stories or healing dances. Interesting and free.

Fun experience, excellent English speaking staff. Original masks at an excellent price.

If you are looking for traditional masks, you should visit this place. The museum is also a nice place to go around, one can learn about masks in detail. Also, you can see how they create and paint these masks. There is a quite good mask collection available with them if you need to go for a purchase. Prices are also reasonable.

Good place with a vast variety of beautiful and unique masks.

Whether you are interested in mask and moppets the best place to acquire knowledge and it is totally free. Moreover, you can purchase souvenirs at a very low price.

The art of Sri Lankan Masks was existing from time immemorial. Mask carving is a local tradition in the southern coastal region in Sri Lanka. Ambalangoda is well known for traditional masks carvings and masks dancing. The present institution named ‘Ariyapala Traditional Masks’. The history of this tradition date back for many centuries and has developed into perfection in the hand of the Wijesooriya family in Ambalangoda. Ariyapala Tradition passing through their seventh generation of traditional masks carving and Low country dancing. The marks of this family’s cultural activities have become a part of Ambalangoda history. “Ariyapala Wijesooriya Gurunnanse”, one of the greatest master craftsmen in Sri Lanka. He handed over his profound knowledge in all traditional masks carving and dancing into Mahindapala Wijesooriya one of the nationally and internationally award winner master carver.

Mask museum portion was dated but interesting. Their mask collection is varied and interesting. I enjoyed reading the stories that the various masks were used in, they're fairly unique. The shop is probably a bit overpriced compared to other locations (haven't comparison shopped) but it does have a very wide selection and they are one of the few businesses that we've been to that accepts credit/debit card for payment.

Nice museum, local lady will give you tour in english, you can also buy hand made masks in the shop above the museum.

Exciting place with the history of masks depicted cleverly. The guide was very good. Entrance is free of charge with an optional donation box. The shop is however quite expensive, although has a wide variety of items

Traditional Sri Lankan Masks of all sorts....all hand crafted at great prices. A must stop over if someone is interested in Sri Lankan masks

Informative place on one of the cultural aspects of Sri Lanka. Near Galle Road. Entrance free but can donate to sustain the museum. Only take 15 minutes to cover the museum. Small workshop is adjacent which masks and handicrafts are made. Upstair air condition showroom is there where you can buy masks and souvenirs. Small parking place -4 vehicles Enjoyed the visit and placed a comment in the visitor's book.

The place has a lot of options for Mask and othe souvenirs but prices are doubled. You can get the same products across the road in another Mask Museum at much cheaper prices . Will not recommend anyone for shopping

Ambalangoda is famous for masks, and this is one of the best places to see traditional masks in Sri Lanka. I had been here few times as a tourist guide. Because of my work I didn’t get time to take lot of photos. If you visiting sri lanka, this is one of must visit place in ambalangoda. The museum, the workshop and the small library (containing all available anthropological literature on masks performances) may serve as a centre for traditional arts and crafts and for research as well. You can also buy traditional masks from here. In workshop area, you can see how the mask creating process happened. If you like to learn more, they always happily guide you.

Good and expeceve.

Traditional Mask Museum and factory

Art

(Translated by Google) It is worth taking a look and hear about the role of masks in Sri Lankan culture. (Original) Warto zajrzeć i posłuchać o roli masek w kulturze lankijskiej.

(Translated by Google) Shop masks, to be precise))) (Original) Магазин масок, если быть точнее)))

You can see from far those colorful paintings of some ancient masks/faces, that throw you back in prehistorical times, and forces you to dance in a crooked way, not like fortnite dance at all, around the huge bonfire and sing a song in unknown language that you suddenly understand. You will not even notice what happened, or how you bought those masks in your bag. The spirit of the history behind all different masks will totally take you away and you will be filled with positivity for the rest of the day. Or maybe I was just high. Big selection of masks, salesman will explain to you what is the meaning behind every different mask. Not so expensive prices.

A good collection of masks and the best place in Ambalangoda to see them. You can buy masks, view a puppet show and visit the small museum. You can even see how they make masks. Worth for children to see.

On my opinion, 3 years ago this shop was more interesting than today. Less choice than earlier. Very expensive

Butifull place

(Translated by Google) Cool and unusual place. You can buy interesting souvenirs. (Original) Классное и необычное место. Можно купить интересные сувениры.

Great place to buy masks. Wide collection of masks from hundred years old to recent creations.

I was amazed to find such good explanation for the ancient art of curing people of their diseases via certain rituals. It made sense at that time when it was practiced when one thinks of the progress science had made till then

An excellent showcase of Sri Lanka's culture and heritage.

Gd, but simple park

Has a huge area, good for playing cricket and next to the road

(Translated by Google) A small workshop with a creative atmosphere👍🏻 here you can see how 🎭 are made, visit a museum and buy a great souvenir in their shop! (Original) Небольшая мастерская с творческой атмосферой👍🏻 здесь можно увидеть как 🎭 изготовляются, побывать в музее и прикупить отличный сувенир в их магазинчике!

Place in down south worth visiting.You can watch how the masks are made.

This is a great tribute to one of the dying art traditions of the country. The explanation of the young ladies in the museum is adequate but if necessary they should be able to give a through explanation of Mask and Low country dance forms. Though limited their original Masks and Puppets collection is quite impressive. The showroom also feature a good collection of traditional and modern carvings and wood works.

Very good place to get information about traditional Mask history.

(Translated by Google) Free, but donate. The museum is cool of course. There is a shop on the second floor. Great choice, "fixed prices", but bargained well. (Original) Бесплатно, но можно пожертвовать. Музей прикольный конечно. На втором этаже магазин. Большой выбор, "фиксированные цены", но сторговались хорошо.

This isn’t really a museum, it’s more of a shop. However it’s nice to be able to see the owner making the masks so you know they’re good quality.

A brief and interesting glimpse into local history and culture. Both museum and shop are worth visiting.

(Translated by Google) A small museum, a workshop is a prelude to a compulsory store. By the way, there are many such museum-shops in Sri Lanka (Original) Маленький музей, мастерская - прелюдия к обязательному магазину. Кстати, таких музеев-магазинов много по Шри-ланке

Traditional masks & muppet ,down south.Sri Lanka.....

(Translated by Google) Nice masks, small museum, free entry, nice selection of souvenirs (Original) Schöne Masken, kleines Museum, Eintritt frei, schöne Auswahl an souvenirs

(Translated by Google) Nice and historically interesting (Original) Ganz nett und historisch interessant

(Translated by Google) Nice shop. It is a pity that tourists do not make discounts. Because of what we are tourists and do not buy (Original) Хороший магазинчик. Жаль ,что скидки туристам не делают. Из за чего мы туристы и не покупаем

(Translated by Google) An interesting museum, though modest. You can learn something about individual masks. Next to it is a workshop where masks and a shop are made. The store has a very large selection of masks, although the prices are very high. Three times overpriced. (Original) Ciekawe muzeum, choć skromne. Można się czegoś dowiedzieć o poszczególnych maskach. Obok jest warsztat, gdzie produkowane są maski oraz sklep. W sklepie bardzo duży wybór masek, choć ceny bardzo wysokie. Trzy krotnie zawyżone.

Good place

(Translated by Google) Little muse in two rooms. Admission is free. They will tell you a couple of stories for reporting. (Original) Маленький музе в две комнаты. Вход бесплатно. Расскажут пару историй за донейшн.

Very valuable place to visit. Entrence totally free. But if you want to help to improve mark manufacturing culture, you can donate.

Very small "museum", the tour we were given was extremely fast (but free, tips welcome). The workshop is small, but you can have a look over the shoulder, which is nice. The shop is rather large, offers a lot standard mass-production items, but also some more unique items. Everything is quite expensive with fixed prices, no negotiation. If you are looking for the standard-items, buy them somewhere else. If you are looking for something different you might be lucky here. I bought a very abstract modern looking mask for 50€ (medium size).

Small but interesting place. Entrance is free, but you can give some donation to this place. Ask the guide to show you the museum. They have also a shop, but prices are very high

(Translated by Google) The museum is so-so, their main task is to give you souvenirs. That's all (Original) Музей тако себе, главная их задача впарить вам сувениры. Вот и все

Wow..

Best mask museum