Galle in Sri Lanka and Galle Fort - the fortified city

Galle in Sri Lanka is unlike any other city we've seen in this country. Here you'll find Galle Fort, a fortified old town framed by a massive wall. Inside the wall, you'll find narrow alleys and charming colonial-style houses. If you're visiting Sri Lanka, don't miss this little gem!

Galle in Sri Lanka

Galle is the capital of the southern part of Sri Lanka, located 110 kilometres south of Colombo. The city is best known for the Galle Fort, the fortified city, which was first built by the Portuguese in the late 16th century. The Dutch then took over in the 17th century, building a fortified and beautiful colonial-style city.

Thanks to intensive reconstruction work, this is still a very beautiful city, which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988. We walked around much of the city in the oppressive heat, admiring all the beautiful and charming white houses.

Just outside the fort and the old town there is also a cricket stadium, Galle International Stadium. Outside, lots of buses were parked, and also an occasional tuk tuk.

Strong bile

The wall around Galle Fort is impressively long, and here and there you can see where the cannons once stood. We walked for a while along the wall, and came among other things to the nice lighthouse, which was erected here in 1939.

We walked on to the bell tower, which was built in 1833. The bell itself was a gift from a grateful patient who wanted to honour the doctor Dr Anthonisz. The doctor lived in the 19th century and belonged to the minority Burghers, the ethnic group in Sri Lanka descended from the Portuguese, Dutch and British.

Just below the bell tower you can also see a statue of a Dutch soldier and a Sri Lankan labourer.

Galle Fort has a colourful history, and today the population is both multi-ethnic and multi-religious. Within the walls are two churches, the Dutch Reformed Church and All Saint's Church, and a mosque, the Meera Mosque.

Beautiful beaches

You might not visit Galle in Sri Lanka primarily for the beaches, but if you want to sunbathe and swim, you can do so. There are several smaller beaches around the city and the water here is crystal clear.

Shopping: precious stones and clothes

Inside the walled city there are lots of small shops. Gemstone shopping is particularly popular in this part of Sri Lanka and there are plenty of shops selling sapphires, topaz and other stones. There are also plenty of shops selling clothes, jewellery, art, crafts and souvenirs. For us, it was some cool summer clothes, and our friends bought a ring with a small blue topaz.

Many restaurants

We had two meals in Galle: lunch and dinner. At lunch we found a place called Summer Green. Here you sit in a nice relaxed environment among green plants and pink flamingos.

Here we ordered chicken wraps and prawn curry, and everyone was very happy. Tasty and well cooked! We must say that the restaurants in this city feel a bit more "modern" than what we have experienced in other places in Sri Lanka.

When it was time for dinner, we found the large white building called "Old Dutch hospital", which is a former Dutch hospital. There are now lots of different restaurants, both on the ground floor and upstairs.

We were not completely satisfied with our order - the starter was good, but the main courses did not live up to the price at all. On the other hand, there are many places to choose from here. An advantage is also that all the restaurants seem to have rights to serve beer and wine, which not all other restaurants in the city have.

Cosy Guest house

If you are planning to travel to Galle, we can really recommend the Beach Haven guesthouse. This family-run guesthouse is not only charming and affordable (we paid around 350 SEK per double room), but also perfectly located in the centre of the walled city.

The rooms are personally decorated and the family, who speak good English, are very keen to make you feel comfortable. Breakfast on the balcony in the morning was a perfect end to our visit to Galle in Sri Lanka.

See more in Sri Lanka

If you want to see more of Sri Lanka, there is plenty to choose from. Here are some examples of interesting places to visit, without having to travel too far from Galle:

• Weligama suitable for those who want to sunbathe, swim and surf
• Madu Ganga River offers an exciting river safari
• Ella is a charming tourist resort where you can take the famous train to the holy city of Kandy.

Facts about Galle in Sri Lanka

• Country: Sri Lanka
• Provins: Southern Province
• Population: 93 000 (2012)
• Location: Galle is located at the southwestern tip of the country, about 110 kilometres south of Colombo.
• Unesco World Heritage Site: The older parts of the city and its fortifications were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988.
• Attractions: Galle Fort (The Fort), Lighthouse, Clock Tower, Dutch Reformed Church, All Saint's Church and Meera Mosque.

History of Wales

• 5th century: Galle is mentioned as early as 545 in the geographical works of Kosmas Indikopleustes.
• 14th century: When the Arab-Berber traveller Ibn Battuta arrived in Sri Lanka, which he then called Qali, Galle was the country's main port.
• 15th century: Around 1409, the Chinese admiral Zheng He visited the city. He brought with him a 'stele' (decorated stone with inscriptions), which later disappeared, but was rediscovered in 1911 and is now in the National Museum in Colombo.
• 16th century: In the 16th century, a group of Portuguese sailors, originally destined for the Maldives, got lost in a storm. These Portuguese built the first fortification in Wales, called the Black Fort, which includes three bastions and a moat.
• 17th century: In 1640, Galle fell to the Dutch. The fortification was now expanded and greatly improved, with a total of 14 bastions. The town became the administrative capital of the Dutch and during this period it took on a distinctly Dutch flavour.
• 18th century: With the completion of the seaward ramparts in 1729, the city reached a kind of zenith. In 1769, Galla was handed over to the British after the fall of Colombo.
• Present tense: Galle was severely affected by the 2004 tsunami, which wreaked havoc on the city and led to the loss of many lives. Today, the city has been rebuilt.

Travelling to Galle

• Car from Colombo: It takes just over 2 hours to drive from Colombo to Galle (125 kilometres). You can hire a car yourself (international driving licence required), but the most common way is to hire a car with a driver.
• Trains: You can travel by train from the capital Colombo and from Matara in the south of the country.