Ariyapala Mask Museum
Ariyapala Mask Museum
Ariyapala Mask Museum
4
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience Ariyapala Mask Museum
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
36 within 5 kms
Attractions
23 within 10 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.0
155 reviews
Excellent
49
Very good
59
Average
39
Poor
6
Terrible
2
nir0sh
Colombo, Sri Lanka953 contributions
Apr 2021
Ambalangoda is famous for masks. Ariyapala mask museum has a small work shop, library and a museum. It exhibits different types of masks used at Sri Lanka. The workshop was closed when we visited there. The place has no entrance fee but you can donate if you wish.
Written 18 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elissa
Los Angeles, CA595 contributions
Feb 2023
The museum was very nice, though small, and provided an interesting look at masks in Sri Lankan culture. We felt forced to give a donation (though we did not, as we bought masks upstairs). There is a small workshop downstairs where you can see the men carving and the women painting. I was told this place has the best quality in the area.
Written 8 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jamie S
3 contributions
Oct 2022 • Family
It is a small museum but interesting to know the storylines of the famous masks. The giftshop has a big amount of souvenirs. A bit expensive but we like to contribute to the Sri Lankan economy,they had a hard time. In the giftshop the kind man gave a little puppet show :)
Written 16 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rupert Athaide
United Arab Emirates61 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
Very calm place located enroute to Bentota. It's on the ground floor. The Museum has a lot of pictures that you can take, which narrates stories of different masks. The souvenirs are on the 1st floor in case you need to purchase.
Written 17 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Warren S
45 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
We stopped here for a quick look. It was only a shop unfortunately. Unfortunately you cannot see the workshop and shop staff just interested in selling masks to tourists. We had already seen masks in other tourist shops so our aim was to go to the place that makes them but sadly left disappointed. We had deviated off our driving route to go here but was really a waste of time.
Written 26 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hannes182
Nuremberg, Germany145 contributions
Mar 2017 • Couples
I thought it's a good idea to stop on the way from Hikkaduwa to the airport at this mask museum to understand the story behind the masks, see how are they produced and buy them directly at the factory.
Don't expect something big and I ended up with a much higher price than in other touristic places like Hikkaduwa or Mirissa.
Please click helpful, if you liked my review. Thanks.
Don't expect something big and I ended up with a much higher price than in other touristic places like Hikkaduwa or Mirissa.
Please click helpful, if you liked my review. Thanks.
Written 25 March 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bangkokcritter
Bangkok26 contributions
Sept 2012 • Friends
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 to charge as much as they can. If you have time, walk up and down the road leading to their store and look for smaller shops. I found a very nice shop albeit with a smaller selection at 1/3 of the cost. The quality of the craftsmanship was as good as Ariyapala if not better. I ended up buying 5 masks!!! Yeah, I know I went a bit overboard, but I couldn't resist. My advice is to check out L.A.R Nandana at No. 17 Sriniketharama Road. Definitely worth a visit!!!
Written 2 November 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dingo_6152
Fremantle, Australia3,340 contributions
Dec 2012 • Family
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 and a workshop. The museum is downstairs and worth visiting first. Admission is free and they have english speakers who can guide you through the displays and provide you with a more detailed explanation than necessarily contained on the boards next to the displays. There are a number of historical masks and dioramas (showing how they are used in performances). It gives a good appreciation of the culural significance that masks play. They do ask for a donation on the way out but as we got a guided tour it something we were happy to do. Upstairs is the shop (which is larger than the museum). Prices for the masks (dpendent upon the size) range from $40 - $150 US. Which are relatively expensive but you are paying for the quality and authenticity. For me the real bonus was the workshop at the side of the building, where you can watch the craftsman (& women) at work making the actual masks.
The premises has a museum, a shop and a workshop. The museum is downstairs and worth visiting first. Admission is free and they have english speakers who can guide you through the displays and provide you with a more detailed explanation than necessarily contained on the boards next to the displays. There are a number of historical masks and dioramas (showing how they are used in performances). It gives a good appreciation of the culural significance that masks play. They do ask for a donation on the way out but as we got a guided tour it something we were happy to do. Upstairs is the shop (which is larger than the museum). Prices for the masks (dpendent upon the size) range from $40 - $150 US. Which are relatively expensive but you are paying for the quality and authenticity. For me the real bonus was the workshop at the side of the building, where you can watch the craftsman (& women) at work making the actual masks.
Written 14 January 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Munich1
München22 contributions
Jan 2019 • Couples
There a two parts, one where you can see and experience the various steps how masks are designed and crafted. Very interesting, and the skills of some of the workers are worth watching it.
Second part is the showroom, where you could buy the masks. Although the masks are nice and well made, the price is about much too expensive, maybe the commission paid to drivers and guides prevent reasonable pricing. But 150 meter, down the R.E de Silva Rd – opposite of the museum - you get same style, quality for half the price, just avoid to go there with your driver on your coat-tails
Second part is the showroom, where you could buy the masks. Although the masks are nice and well made, the price is about much too expensive, maybe the commission paid to drivers and guides prevent reasonable pricing. But 150 meter, down the R.E de Silva Rd – opposite of the museum - you get same style, quality for half the price, just avoid to go there with your driver on your coat-tails
Written 8 January 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ardhanareeshvara
Pune, India1,056 contributions
Sept 2012 • Family
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.
Written 22 September 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is there any entry ticket at mask museum and how much it is
Written 27 February 2017
there is no entrance fee but you can make a donation both in the museum and in the laboratory
Written 28 February 2017
Showing results 1-1 of 1
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing