Galle is a charming, coastal city in southern Sri Lanka, located 120 km far from the main Colombo city. The gorgeous looking Dutch Fort in Galle has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It surrounds the older part of the town and is situated on a headland of which three sides overlook the sea.
The ramparts of the Fort are over 2.5 km in circumference and provide a pleasant and interesting walk. Inside Galle Fort, travelers will find winding cobblestone streets, art galleries, jewelry boutiques, laid-back cafes and colonial architecture that echoes the area’s Portuguese and Dutch past.
Galle has been the emporium of foreign trade since the dawn of commerce. The historians have discovered that Galle was the ancient biblical port Tarshish. This city traded with the Persians and the Egyptians. King Solomon sent ships to procure splendorous such as elephants, ivory and peacocks. The port of Tarshish which is now Galle remained an important stop for traders plying the route between India and China.
Europeans first arrived Galle in 1505. Galle Fort was built first in 1588 by the Portuguese, and then extensively fortified by the Dutch from 1649 onwards. The original fort built by the Portuguese to defend Galle was an earthen structure. The Dutch later modified it to be a more sophisticated and stronger fortress by building it with granite stones. The British took over Galle Fort from the Dutch control in 1796 without any fighting. They moved the symbol of the Dutch East Indian Company (VOC) to the back and replaced the front entrance with the British coat of arms. On the outside, the arch on the gate can be seen adorned by the British coat of arms.
Galle is easily reachable within 1 hour from Colombo, by newly built southern expressway. In addition, you can reach Galle by A2 highway or by the coastal railway line. With its marvelous ancient historical monuments and stunning beaches, Galle is definitely a worthy place to visit during your Sri Lanka tour.
Dutch Fort is the major spectacular sightseeing spot in Galle, with small streets and lanes lined with old villas, churches, and other beautiful monuments of the ancient era.
The wonderful beaches of Galle attract lots of visitors to have a fun-filled beach getaway. The stunning beaches in Unawatuna and Hikkaduwa are the must-visit attractions in Galle.
National Museum
Go to the church street in Fort, you can visit the Galle National Museum. It is located in the oldest remaining Dutch building in the fort. National Museum is a single-story Dutch building built in 1656. It displays southern Sri Lankan artifacts such as ritual masks, wood carvings, and objects from the colonial era.
Old Dutch Hospital
Walk along the hospital street in Dutch Fort and then you’ll meet the Old Dutch Hospital, one of the oldest buildings in the Galle Fort. This historical building remained without use for a long time and now it is a famous shopping and dining complex. You can have a leisurely and relaxing time in this shopping center while touring the Galle fort. Remember to see the oldest breadfruit tree in Sri Lanka just beside this building.
Oldest Breadfruit Tree in Sri Lanka
When you are visiting the Old Dutch Hospital in Galle Fort, you’ll meet one of the most historical, ancient trees in Sri Lanka. This oldest breadfruit tree (Artocarpus incisisus) was bought to Sri Lanka by Dutch people around 300 years ago. Now it has grown all over the place into a giant breadfruit tree and still, fruits are flowering in the tree. This historical Breadfruit tree dating back to the Dutch colonial era is a marvelous sight to witness inside the Fort.
Whale Watching
Whale watching is one of the most exciting water activities, which attracts a lot of tourists. This will give you the thrilling experience of watching live sea giants in their natural habitat. You’ll have the rare opportunity of a close encounter with the largest living mammals and spinning dolphins with luxury and comfort. The best whale watching project in Galle is operated by the Sri Lanka Navy from the month of November to April. The rare sight of majestic whales and the marvelous scenery of dolphins swimming around your boat playing and putting up a spectacular show is an amazing sight to experience during your excursion.
Pics courtesy magnificentsrilanka