Historical city Galle (Sri Lanka) is located at south coast country, 116 km from Colombo and only 5 km from Unawatuna beach. Built in the 16th century by Portuguese sailors, the port embodies South Asian traditions and elements of European architecture, being a UNESCO protected site.
Until Colombo, Galle remained a major city and main port of the country for 400 years. Then the Dutch recaptured it, redeveloping the entire defensive system. The city was conquered from the Dutch by the British, who did not change anything, so the atmosphere of that era is still preserved here. In the late 19th century, the British expanded Colombo's borders, making it a major port.
Galle was once largest center Sri Lanka to conduct trade between Persian, Arab, Indian, Greek and Roman merchants. A little more than 100 thousand inhabitants live here, among whom there are Buddhists, Hindus, Islam and Catholicism are preached. Developed industries such as textiles, food and glass.
There are many good hotels and restaurants, and although the city is on the coast, tourists prefer either Hikkaduwa. In spite of clear water greenish-turquoise hue, there are stones everywhere under the water, sandy beach the city does not have.
Fort Galle
Galle city in Sri Lanka is divided into old and new parts. The border is marked by three powerful bastions above the cricket stadium. Here you will find many old buildings made in European style... Popular attractions in Galle include the Galle Fort, built by the Dutch from granite at the end of the 17th century.
The ancient fort has remained almost unchanged since colonial times, so the old part of the city should be visited for a sense of that atmosphere. Above the gate you will see the symbol Ottoman Empire- a stone with the image of a rooster. According to legend, lost portuguese sailors only thanks to his cry they swam to the nameless harbor, after which the city was named.
The fort is included in the UNESCO heritage list. The architectural structures of the fort are considered to be of particular interest. The weight of the roof is supported only by the walls, without the use of internal supports. You can walk inside the fort all day long. The popular New Oriental Hotel is located on its territory. This is the oldest hotel in the country and was built at the end of the 17th century for the governor. Here and now, high-ranking officials and wealthy people prefer to rest.
The port of Galle in Sri Lanka still hosts fishing and cargo ships, as well as private yachts. The most prominent part of the fort is the lighthouse, which illuminates the way for distant ships in the evening. The harbor has its own unique and unrepeatable atmosphere that tourists love so much. Photos of Galle in Sri Lanka show that you can admire not only historical buildings there, but also the beautiful Indian Ocean and unique sunsets.
New town
In the new part of the city there is a shopping center with shops and small cozy cafes. The stations and the central market are located on the banks of the Dutch Canal. Tourists enjoy visiting St. Mary's Cathedral.
Although there are almost no significant ancient monuments here, modern Galle is considered the heart of the city. Open windows with wooden shutters, terraces and spacious rooms in the best Dutch tradition are still preserved on the narrow streets of Moriche-Cramer-Strat and Lane-Bun.
Attractions Galle
You will always find what to see in Galle. The city is usually visited for excursions to learn more about the culture of this region.
On Church Street there is National Museum of Culture where you can learn everything about the history of the city. The entrance is paid, the visiting time is from 9.00 to 17.00 from Tuesday to Saturday.
National maritime museum
Deserves attention National Maritime Museum on Queen Street. On the ground floor, you will find an exhibition dedicated to the fishing life. The Museum can be accessed from 9.00 to 17.00. Working days are Tuesday-Saturday.
V Dutch Period Museum the most interesting exhibits of the era of Dutch rule are exhibited. The museum is housed in private houses on Leyn Baan Street. Free admission, visiting time from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm daily.
Meera Mosque Tourists love to visit and the ancient gothic church Grote Kerk, which is located near the Amangalla hotel, on the Church street. There you will find ancient gravestones with images of skulls and bones.
Mosques have been built behind the Catholic Church of All Saints, especially tourists like Meera Masjid, but you need to visit this place in appropriate clothing.
Opposite the Dutch church is the house of the Dutch rulers with original stoves inside. Ghosts are rumored to be there.
Cricket is a popular sport here, and the local national team has won many prizes. The cricket field is considered perfect for this game and is located among the most ancient and valuable monuments next to the Galle Fort, which makes it even more unique.
What to see in the vicinity
In the central part of Weligama Bay is located beautiful island Taprobane or Yakinige-Duva in Sinhalese. At the beginning of the 20th century, a luxurious house was built here by the French Count de Manet, and the writer P. Bowles used it in his novel "The House of the Spider". Now this place is a private resort where you can rent a villa.
Unawatuna... The secluded Unawatuna Beach is surrounded by coral reefs on all sides and is only 5 km from Galle. In contrast, the highway passes through the central part, so it is quite busy here. The popular resort place is popular with tourists and locals, because here you can not only relax and swim, but also go diving, snorkeling and surfing.
Mirissa. In this small resort village near Weligama, you can spend your vacation economically. In addition to spacious beaches, there are excellent conditions for surfing and snorkelling. Tourists who value a relaxing holiday will especially like it here.
More detailed information with a photo about the resort of Mirissa is presented in.
How to get to Galle
Inside the city, the traffic intersection is quite developed and has many forks. The city is connected with the nearest large ones and Matara by railways. Galle can be reached by train, bus and taxi, at the train station you can always find out where the city of Galle is and how to get there.
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From Colombo. WITH railway station to Galle station. Only class 2 and 3 carriages or Rajadhani Express carriages, tickets for which can be bought via the Internet. Travel time 2.5-3 hours.
From Nuwara Eliya, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Kandy, a train follows to Colombo Fort, then change to the Colombo Fort - Galle train. Before you travel take a look current schedule movement railway transport and the cost of tickets on the website www.railway.gov.lk.
WITH bus station There are many bus routes from Colombo to Galle. The highway can be reached in 2-3 hours. If the route runs along the coast, it will take about 4 hours to get there. The Galle bus station is across the street from the Fort, the city's main attraction.
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Weather
You can visit this spa center at any time of the year. It is always warm in Galle (Sri Lanka). Slight temperature drops are typical in summer and winter. It almost never rains here from December to April. Even from May to November, intermittent rains do not interfere with sightseeing.
How Halle looks from the air and some practical information for those who want to visit the city - in the video.
Related entries:
History
Galle was founded by the Portuguese in the 16th century. In 1598, the Dutch came here and destroyed all traces of the Portuguese presence, building their own port of 36 hectares - now it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is interesting for its mixture of Western architecture and South Asian traditions.
Until the British decided to use Colombo as the main port, Galle remained the country's first port, largest city Sri Lanka, the administrative center of a European colony for over four centuries. The Portuguese built the first port to repel the attacks of the rulers of Sri Lanka from the north. The Dutch, who recaptured the coastal cities from the Portuguese, rebuilt and improved the system of defensive fortifications, in particular, they widened the moat and strengthened fortifications. The architectural structures of the fort are interesting for their design - the weight of the roofs is supported only by the walls, without the use of any other supports inside the buildings. The British, who recaptured the city from the Dutch, almost did not change anything, and then moved the capital to the north, to Colombo, and the atmosphere of the era of Dutch rule remained in the city.
Halle lost its significance only in late XIX c., when the British expanded and deepened the harbor of Colombo, after which the capital became at the same time the main port. Today, the Galle harbor still receives fishing boats and part of the cargo ships, and luxury yachts dock here. The city lives in a halo of past glory, and this gives it a unique, inimitable atmosphere.
New Halle
Halle is conventionally divided into two parts - Old city and new. To the north of the Colombo-Matara highway is present-day Galle. Here you can visit a shopping center with many shops, warehouses and small cafes; the central market, railway and bus stations are located on the banks of the old Dutch Canal; Of the architectural structures, perhaps only the Cathedral of St. Mary, built by the British in 1874, deserves attention.
And also from this part of the city there is a magnificent view of the old Galle. Yes, in the new Halle there is no historical monuments, he has a different role - it is the heart of the whole city, without him old Galle simply would not have survived. The new areas were severely affected by the tsunami and are currently being rebuilt.
To the south of the Colombo - Matara circuit is an open plot of land that houses the International Cricket Stadium, which separates the shopping center from the old fort. The status and reputation of the stadium is growing every day, which contributes to the even greater success of the national cricket team of Sri Lanka. In 2007, the third qualifying round of the championship was held here.
Old Galle
Old Galle begins to the south of the stadium. The boundaries of the old city are clearly defined - these are three massive bastions towering over the playing field. Fortress walls separate the peninsula from the hustle and bustle shopping center, one might even say - from all the realities of the XXI century.
Old Galle, which covers 26 hectares, houses several museums, a clock tower, churches, mosques, a lighthouse and several hundred private houses.
Particularly significant Buddhist temples here is not, and the Dutch presence for more than two centuries is felt only in the gradually collapsing Grote Kerk, which belongs to the Dutch Reformed Church.
The true beauty of old Galle can be experienced by walking along the quiet streets and alleys of the ancient fort, which has not changed much since colonial times.
The fort can be accessed through two entrances - the Main Gate, built by the British in 1873, and the more significant Old Gate. The main gate is located between the Sun and Lunar bastions, and the Old ones are located at Baladaksha Mav (Baladaksha Maw), that is, on the Customs road. The old gate is adorned with the British coat of arms carved into the outer stone lintel. On the inner lintel, the letters VOC are visible, bordered by two lions and crowned with a rooster. This inscription was made in 1669, the letters VOC stand for the Dutch East India Company (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie).
The rooster became the symbol of Galle. It is believed that the name of the city itself comes from the Portuguese word galo - rooster. Right behind the Old Gate is the Black Bastion, the oldest surviving fortification, most likely built by the Portuguese.
With the exception of the Black Bastion, the internal structures of the fort belong to the period of the Dutch stay there. Several narrow streets still bear Dutch names such as Lane Ban (Kanatny Lane) and Morichet-Kramer-strat (street of the Mauritanian merchants)... Under the ancient streets, the sewerage system created by the Dutch still operates, which is "washed" by the Indian Ocean. On many streets, buildings retain traces of their former luxury - large rooms, open verandas and windows protected by massive wooden shutters.
In the northern part of the fort, the English-built Clock Tower and a small square just outside the Main Gate stand out. Church Street goes south from here (Church Street) where the National Museum of Culture is located ... The museum is dedicated to the history of the city during the colonial period, but its exposition is not of particular interest. On the neighboring Korolevskaya street (Queen Street) the fortified Dutch warehouse houses the National Maritime Museum (open: Tue-Sat 9.00-17.00; entrance fee) heavily damaged by the tsunami, but reopened in 2008; a new exhibition on the first floor is dedicated to the life of fishermen.
Also noteworthy is the Museum of the Dutch Period, housed in several private houses on Lane Ban (Leyn Baan) (open: daily 8.30-17.30; admission is free)... The most interesting exhibits related to the period of Dutch rule are exhibited here.
Much more attractive than museums is the dilapidated Grote Kerk - a Dutch Reformed church located on Church Street, south of the hotel Amangalla. The church was built in 1754 by order of the Dutch governor of Halle and is well worth a visit for the old Dutch gravestones. The stones are almost entirely covered with images of skulls and bones, reminiscent of the harsh nature of Dutch Protestantism.
Opposite the Grote Kerk is the former home of the Dutch rulers - beautiful building, built in 1683. A rooster is also depicted above its main entrance; the original Dutch ovens have been preserved inside; the house is believed to be haunted.
There is a madrasah and two mosques, especially the beautiful Meera Masjid. Everyone is allowed into the mosque, but remember to respect the feelings of believers: do not forget about proper clothing.
Galle Cricket Stadium
Cricket is the most popular sport in Sri Lanka and the national team has achieved great success in it. In recent years at Halle International Stadium (along with stadiums in Colombo and Kandy) cricket qualifying matches are held. The fans say that the Galle pitch is ideal for this game.
The proximity to the sea makes the atmosphere in the stadium very pleasant, the sea beckons to itself, so those who serve the ball have something to strive for, at least in the first half hour of the game, until it completely captures the athletes.
Since 1998, when international competitions began to be held in Galle, the Sri Lankan team has hardly lost here. Perhaps there is no other international cricket stadium located among such ancient monuments. Unfortunately, Galle Stadium was badly damaged by the tsunami, but was rebuilt and reopened in 2007.
Neighborhood Galle
Unawatuna
There are beautiful secluded beaches to the southeast of Galle. And the first of them is Unawatuna. Wide, curving like a smooth crescent, he seemed to descend from the pages of a book about Robinson Crusoe. Today, the once modest village of Unawatuna is rapidly becoming a popular resort.
This is a great place for surfing, snorkeling, diving and just to bask in the sun carefree. Unawatuna is located just 5 km from Galle. Unlike neighboring Hikkaduwa, a busy highway does not pass through its center, so the atmosphere here is quite resort.
Taprobane Island
In the center of Weligamskaya Bay, not far from the coast, there is a very beautiful island. Once it belonged to the French Count de Manet, therefore it was usually called either “the island of the Count de Manet” or “the island of Taprobane”, while its Sinhalese name is Yakinige-Duva, that is, “the island of the Devil”.
In the 1930s. de Manet built a luxurious house on the island; American writer Paul Bowles chose it as a scene for his novel "The House of the Spider".
Now the island has been turned into a private resort where you can rent a villa. Food, newspapers and other items are delivered here by cable car.
Mirissa
This small village 4 km from Weligama, on the road to Matara, is considered an economical resort. It has excellent beaches and truly ideal conditions for snorkelling. You can also go surfing. Compared to Upavatuna and Hikkaduwa, it is very calm here.
Maldivian tribute
For centuries, the sultans of neighboring Maldives- they are in Indian Ocean about 500 km south-west of Sri Lanka - paid tribute to the rulers of Ceylon, delivering it to the port of Galle.
The tribute formally confirmed Ceylon's authority over the Maldives. The tiny sailboats called the baggala made the perilous journey from Male, the capital of the Maldives, to Galle, loaded with the finest mats, lacquerware, sweets, palm honey, fish paste and the precious ambergris prized by the Ceylon rulers. Apparently, the offering ritual was solemn and colorful. Last time the tribute came in 1948, the year that Sri Lanka gained independence. The Maldives became an independent republic later, in 1968.
When we lived in Unawatuna, we came to the city of Galle for food, so we drove past the fort many times. Many in this country came to see him. Not in the know how much tourists pay for the excursion, but we were there twice on our own, without paying a single rupee. Locals apparently they also arrange excursions to Fort Galle. We have spotted schoolchildren, monks and just groups of local tourists here. The fort is in excellent condition.
Fort Galle: photos and impressions
Dutch Fort Galle is best visited when the weather is clear
Fort Galle looks darker in rainy weather
Everything about Galle Fort is reminiscent of Europe. Small narrow streets, architecture not typical of Sri Lanka, drawings on buildings.
The massive walls surrounding the castle in Galle create a sense of tranquility. The space is large, so if you come on your own, you can calmly walk and breathe in the air, admire the ocean and no one will rush and rush you. The views are beautiful. For the sake of the views, it is worth going here.
Where can I book a transfer from the airport?
We use the service - KiwiTaxi
We ordered a taxi online, paid with a card. We were greeted at the airport with a sign with our name. Drove to the hotel in a comfortable car. We have already talked about their experience in this article.
From a distance you can see that the city lives its own life 
Naturally, the place is not suitable for swimming, because strong waves hit the rocks and break into smithereens.
There are no special attractions in Galle itself. People just walk and look at the old buildings. Young couples sit on benches and show mercy. They say that renting a hotel here is not cheap. Whether this is actually the case, we cannot say, we were not interested. It is worth visiting this place. Just take a break from the endlessly buzzing tuk-tuk, feel the salty sea breeze and let go of thoughts.
As if Sri Lanka is far away
Self-guided tour
Firstly, it is cheaper, since the entrance is free, you will have to pay only for the road.
Secondly, here it is pleasant to wander slowly through the old streets, sit on the wall of the fort and admire the surf. There will not be such an opportunity on the excursion, you will be given 15 minutes of free time to take pictures and then they will drive you onto the bus.
How to get to Fort Galle
Fort Galle is located in the city of Galle, which can be easily reached by public transport... You need to take a bus to the final stop, the bus station of the city of Galle (pronounced by the locals Gol) on any bus labeled "GALLE". Then walk 10 minutes to the main gate.
On the way to the fort, locals may pester you, say that the fort is allegedly closed, or that the entrance is paid, or something else like that. Ignore them. The fort is always open and admission is free.
How to get to Fort Galle: If you are resting in Unawatuna, Koggal, Mirissa, then take a bus towards Colombo. If you are staying in Hikkaduwa, Balapitiya, Bentota, Kalutara, Panadura, Wadduwa, then you need to go in the opposite direction from Colombo - to Galle by train or bus. Many buses have a terminal here.
Hello friends. This time we will tell you about one of the five sights of Sri Lanka from the UNESCO list. Once King Solomon sent his ships here for gems and ivory. Now it houses the largest surviving European fortress in Asia. Intrigued? The Galle Fort will be the subject of our attention.
Sri Lanka. The administrative center of the Southern Province is the city of Galle. City Approximately 2 hours from.
The closest beaches to Galle are Bonavista, Unawatuna and Hikkaduwa.
History
Driving in the south of the country, it is almost impossible to ignore the city of Galle, located near Colombo.
It is believed that the first foreigners to set foot on the island were the Portuguese. They, having heard the crowing of a rooster here, gave the city such a name. "Halo" is translated from Portuguese as "rooster".
They built the first fortification that was supposed to guard the port by the 16th century after the battle with the Kandyans.
But by 1640 the fortress surrendered under the onslaught of the Dutch.
It was the Dutch who built a fort here, which they called the Galle Fort.
On its territory was erected whole city with churches, mosques, a prison, residential, administrative buildings. Many buildings were naturally given Dutch names.
But the main gate from the north of the fortress, as they came down to us, was already built by the British by 1873. Although before that, the Portuguese and the Dutch had a hand in their creation. The latter greatly increased this part of the wall, and also divided it into bastions.
Guided tour of the fort
Well, now is the time to move on to the sightseeing of the fort. The entire fortress occupies the territory of the Old Town. It is a mixture of different architectural styles.
- Old Gate
Above them is the coat of arms of the Dutch company. The National Maritime Museum is located here.
- Black fort
Located to the left of the Old Gate. This is the oldest bastion of the fort. It was built by the Portuguese.
- Ends Eastern walls at the Utrecht bastion.
- By the beginning of the 20th century, an 18-meter lighthouse was built here.
- Another lighthouse was located on the Triton bastion.
- There is also a windmill. She served the townspeople to supply water.
- In total, there are 12 bastions on the territory of the fortress.
- Not far from the gates of the fort, a forty-meter clock tower rises.
In addition to National Museum, which we have already mentioned, you can visit a number of others.
- The Maritime Archaeological Museum, which has collected many finds from sunken ships.
- The Dutch Museum is located under the roof of one of the private houses.
- And you can learn more about the history of the city in one of the oldest hotels in South Asia - the East Hotel. The history of Galle is explained here by maps and graffiti.
- Behind the hotel you will see the Great Temple. This is a Dutch structure built in 1640. Its floor is paved with tombstones from the old cemetery.
- Opposite the temple is the bell tower of 1701 and the House of the Dutch Government.
- The space above the doorway is still decorated with the symbol of the Dutch company - the rooster.
- This house is also known for the fact that it contains very old stoves and, according to legend, ghosts live.
- Fans of antiques and old household items should definitely visit the Historical Museum in the building of the mansion. Here you will learn a lot about the peculiarities of Dutch architecture and life.
- Among the religious attractions here, one can single out the Catholic Church of St. Mary, a Buddhist temple, and a white mosque.
In fact, you shouldn't be upset if you miss all these museums in time. Just take a walk in Galle: jewelry workshops, picturesque towers, antique shops and colorful streets will already give you a lot to understand this unusual place.
Working hours
The fort is open all the time.
What is the price
The entrance to the fort itself is free. However, different fees apply for access to individual attractions.
Where to stay in Galle
Now a lot of housing options in Halle have appeared on the service AirBnb... We have written how to use this service. If you do not find an available hotel room, then look for accommodation through this booking site.
We offer good options for hotels in Galle
How to get there
- There are trains from Colombo, Matara, and buses to Galle.
- To get to the fort you need to take any Galle bus in the city of Galle and get to the terminal station.
Fort Galle on the map
Address: Lighthouse St, 65a, Fort Galle
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Fort Galle is located in the bay of the same name in the southeast of Sri Lanka. It is archaeological, architectural and historical heritage, which has retained a magnificent view for more than four centuries thanks to the reconstruction work carried out by the specialists of Sri Lanka.
Galle (city), Sri Lanka
It is a fairly large port city. Its population is over one hundred thousand people. In the past, the city was the main water gate of the country. Its history is interesting. The name of the city is not local, but Portuguese. The word "galle" is translated as "rooster". It all began in 1505, when a Portuguese merchant ship wrecked. In the morning after the tragedy, the team realized that they were on uncharted land. Only the crowing of a rooster spoke of the habitability of this place. This is where the name of the city comes from. Its main attraction is the fort, which was built for almost a century and a half.
Fort history
It was the Portuguese who built a fortress on this land. This happened in 1588. But when the Dutch came here in the 17th century, it was rebuilt, so the Galle Fort is considered a Dutch fortress. 1663 is considered the date of its foundation. For 200 years, the fortress was the main port of the country, it was the place where ships moored on their way from Europe to Asia.
Fort today
The modern fort of Galle (Sri Lanka) is an urban area called the Old City. He is also the main one tourist area... Behind the high walls of the fort are shops and hotels, restaurants and cafes, banks and offices, there is even its own market. Here, a calm and measured life flows as usual. There is no bustle in this place, which is typical for neighboring districts located at a distance of several hundred meters from the fortress.
Fort Galle (Sri Lanka) has a quiet, almost romantic setting, which is conducive to walking along the ancient narrow streets. This is a whole complex of sights and memorable places, since in addition to the walls and ancient buildings on the territory of the fort there are museums, a lighthouse, antique shops, jewelry workshops, a mosque and a church.
Fort Galle (Sri Lanka), the photo of which you can see in the article, is a network of bastions that once reflected the attacks of the invaders. Everyone who wishes as part of an excursion group or independently can walk through the ruins of this citadel.
Bastion Rocky Cape signaled sea vessels about the approach of the enemy. From the fortress of Pigeon Island, located nearby, the soldiers fired at the enemy ships. At the Triton bastion was located She supplied sea water, provided the economic needs of the town. The bastions of the Moon, the Stars and the Sun are sequentially one after another on the narrow isthmus of the peninsula. And the bastions of Tsong, Shter and Maan defended the fort from the side. Only the Tsvat bastion has survived to this day.
Fort Galle (Sri Lanka) is always open because it is part of the city. You can get to the territory through two entrances (the old and the main gate). There is no admission fee, and you will have to pay for some sightseeing. If you have enough time, then we recommend that you not only walk along the streets and the center of the fort. Go around it along the perimeter, along the walls, to which several stairs lead.
sights
We invite you to get acquainted with interesting places Fort Galle (Sri Lanka). And you should start your acquaintance with the ancient walls, along which anyone can walk: the paths are wide, completely safe. Sunset walks are especially popular, when the sun sinks across the ocean, painting it and its surroundings in a variety of colors. Bright and picturesque views will make a huge impression even on a person completely devoid of romance. For contemplation of these beauties, small, but very comfortable benches are equipped on some parts of the walls.
New East Hotel
This is not only the oldest hotel in the country, but also the oldest in Asia. The magnificent colonial-style building was erected in 1864 as the governor's residence. Today, the house of a senior official has become a hotel, which has practically not undergone any changes either outside or inside. The cost of living in it is overpriced. But this does not stop wealthy tourists who are willing to pay for accommodation in an ancient mansion located on the territory of the famous monument.
Lighthouse
To the east of the Galle Fort (Sri Lanka) is the Utrecht Bastion. In 1848, a twenty-four and a half meter high lighthouse was built on top of it. At that time, he played an important strategic role - he showed the way to ships in a difficult navigation bay.
After a fire in 1934, the lighthouse was destroyed. Five years later, a new one was built in its place. It is a white rounded tower with a height of more than 26 m and a diameter of 47 m. Its flash illuminates the sky at night every ten seconds.
Clock tower
In part of the bastion, which was built in 1663, this tower was erected with a height of forty meters. Once it also played the role of a beacon for ships entering the port. Over time, this need disappeared, and a clock with a Roman dial was installed on the top of the tower. Unfortunately, they cannot boast of the accuracy of the move. Tourists are not allowed inside the building.
National Museum
The museum is located in the oldest building of the fort, which was built in 1656, although the exhibition halls were opened to the public only in 1986. They introduce archaeological finds discovered in the south of Sri Lanka. These are dishes and ritual masks, jewelry and household items. There are also exhibits of the Dutch era: earthen vessels and weapons.
Maritime museum
This museum is the only one in the country dedicated to ichthyofauna the region... Here you can also get acquainted with the difficult life of fishermen. The museum worked quite successfully until 2004. It was in this year that a devastating tsunami swept through these places.
The costs of restoring the complex were covered by the Dutch government. In the museum, visitors can see several rooms in which they are invited to get acquainted with life and everyday life fishing villages... The exposition of turtles and corals, invertebrates and fish deserves special attention. The highlight of the exhibition is the whale skeleton. Expansion of expositions is planned in the near future.
Historical Museum
It is the largest private museum in the country. It contains things that once belonged to the wealthy jeweler Abdul Ghaffar. For forty years he collected paintings and original pieces of furniture, unique antiques. Today, all this is part of the exhibition, which is now available to the general public.
Great temple
Initially, there was an old church on this site in the Galle Fort (Sri Lanka), which was erected in 1640. In 1752 it was reconstructed and turned into a two-level Great Temple. On the first level, the floor is laid out with Dutch gravestones. On the second floor there is a functioning organ, which was installed back in 1760. Multi-colored stained-glass windows deserve no less attention.
Government House
This colonial era building, erected in 1701, is located opposite the Great Temple. The image of a rooster is still located above the massive entrance doors. And today, real Dutch ovens are heated in the building. Tourists cannot get inside, but no one will prevent you from admiring the architecture and beautiful facades.
Where to stay?
In the fort itself, there are many who are ready to offer accommodation and quite a decent level of comfort. Below we present to you some hotels in Galle (Sri Lanka), where you can stay during your trip.
Tropical Retreat hotel 3 *
This friendly hotel offers its guests comfortable rooms. All are equipped with a seating area, balcony, air conditioning and minibar. Travelers have a bathroom with a shower, hairdryer and toiletries. The rooms overlook the beautiful garden. The hotel has an outdoor pool, a cozy restaurant.
Green Casa hotel 3 *
Located in Galle, 1.7 km from the fort. All rooms are furnished with modern functional furniture and have a well-equipped bathroom. Amenities include LCD TV, air conditioning. The hotel offers rental bicycles. Private parking is available on site.
Era Beach 5 *
This luxurious hotel belongs to the family of mini-hotels, in which the small number of rooms is compensated by the exquisite atmosphere and excellent service. Guests will enjoy private accommodation in a picturesque old mansion. There is a modern spa center on site that offers Ayurvedic massages, aromatherapy and other body and face treatments.
Here you will be offered to make an exciting boat trip, watch dolphins and whales, do your favorite aquatic species sports.
Sri Lanka, Galle: reviews
The impressions of a trip to Galle are different. Most tourists are satisfied with their visit to the city; they remember the picturesque landscapes and unique ancient monuments. Negative reviews most often they concern some hotels in which there are frequent interruptions in water supply and unprofessional work of the staff is noted. But this does not apply to hotels with 4 and 5 stars.
