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Ariyapala Mask Museum

426, Main Street, Ambalangoda, Sri Lanka
94 912258373
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Type: Speciality Museums
13 visitor photos
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12 reviews from our community

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    5
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Date Rating
Albany, NY, USA
Contributor
15 reviews 15 reviews
4 attraction reviews
Reviews in 13 cities Reviews in 13 cities
23 helpful votes 23 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 11 March 2013

Liked: makes possible a successful bank heist. Disliked: The thoughts of conducting a bank heist :) Use of masks is ingrained in local culture. One is exposed to the real as well as surreal when browsing the factory.

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Sydney, Australia
2 reviews
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 10 March 2013

It was interesting to find the history of the masks and to see real artisans making them. These are the real mckoy, not the flat, factory made ones you see all over Sri Lanka

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Hobart, Australia
Top Contributor
161 reviews 161 reviews
95 attraction reviews
Reviews in 49 cities Reviews in 49 cities
66 helpful votes 66 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 4 March 2013

This was not on our itinerary but our guide offered to stop for us to have a look and I am so glad she did. The museum is free and the lady in charge will provide you with information on the history of each exhibition in English. It was very interesting to learn about the masks and the history and... More

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Fremantle, Australia
Top Contributor
72 reviews 72 reviews
24 attraction reviews
Reviews in 30 cities Reviews in 30 cities
87 helpful votes 87 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 14 January 2013

This is one of the places that if you're passing by it is worth visiting but isn't a destination on its own. We were passing through Ambalangoda on our way back to Galle and the driver asked if we wanted to visit the museum (glad he did - certainly was a welcome break). The premises has a museum, a shop... More

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Bangkok
Contributor
12 reviews 12 reviews
Reviews in 11 cities Reviews in 11 cities
10 helpful votes 10 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 2 November 2012

Ariyapala is both a museum and shop. The museum was free and definitely interesting, but basically a gimmick to get you to go to their shop and buy their masks. I found a large selection of masks, which were very beautiful, but extremely expensive. I think since they got a good write up in the Lonely Planet, they have decided... More

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Pune
Top Contributor
58 reviews 58 reviews
9 attraction reviews
Reviews in 21 cities Reviews in 21 cities
33 helpful votes 33 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 22 September 2012

Admission is free and while there are small signs in the display cases, it is difficult to understand the history of masks and the cultural association without a guide.

Was this review helpful? Yes 1
Gdynia, Poland
Senior Contributor
41 reviews 41 reviews
11 attraction reviews
Reviews in 25 cities Reviews in 25 cities
15 helpful votes 15 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 4 February 2012

Unbeliveable collection of masks not to be seen elsewhere

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Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Senior Reviewer
7 reviews 7 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 16 November 2011

wow it was great amazing masks on display and they were truly amazing

Was this review helpful? Yes 1
ISLAMBAD PAKISTAN
Top Contributor
66 reviews 66 reviews
26 attraction reviews
Reviews in 27 cities Reviews in 27 cities
85 helpful votes 85 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 10 August 2011

We visited this delightful museum on the advise of our guide. It was a highly entertaining and informative visit. We saw the whole process of mask making from scratch. The museum educated the kids about the various forms of masks and their significance in the Sri Lankan lives.

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Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
Contributor
12 reviews 12 reviews
4 attraction reviews
Reviews in 7 cities Reviews in 7 cities
8 helpful votes 8 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 6 March 2013
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