Galle

 

 

The Galle is 116 Km away from Colombo by road. It was down the south coast of Sri Lanka. So, you can also take the Southern Expressway If you need of course.  The Place of the name Galle is explaining as probably an altered form of the Sinhalese word “gala” a cattle fold or posting-place from which the Portuguese named it Point-de-Galle. This was Portuguese capturing in 1587 and Dutch Landed in 1640 of course. This is famous for Dutch Fort, Lace-making, embody carving and gem Polishing.

Dutch Church

Dutch Church is dedicated in 1754. It was built in Portuguese Capuchin Convent and on an earlier Protestant, “Groote Kerk”, built in 1640. The church merits half an hour of the visitor’s time and perusal. Within, is an organ loft which once held a cumbrous Dutch organ, hatchments on the walls and engraved tombstones on the floor.

Splendid Mansions

In Land to the Portuguese and Dutch, there are many British relics found in the town. They are harbor was building around the Colombo roadstead in 1870. Then, today only two have survived, the New Oriental Hotel within the Fort and Closenburg overlooking the harbor.

Antiquities of Galle

Galle was handing over to the British in terms of a treaty signed in Colombo in February 1796. So, the Dutch Commander’s residence or Government House, Queen’s House in the British era, can be seen down the street opposite the Dutch Church which leads to the old gate.

Unawatuna Bay

Unawatuna bay provides safe swimming and snorkeling. Rhumassala Kanda is associating with the legend of the traditional Ramayana story. This is very Beautiful and very famous in the view.

Galle Lighthouse

This is a beautiful city seeping in centuries of history. The remains of this history can still be seen everywhere from it is cobblestoning streets, to the historic monuments, to the many still functional structures such as the LightHouse. This was currently operating and managed by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. So, the current lighthouse structure was built in 1939.

Galle Fort

Finally, this Fort is a fortification first built by the Portuguese on the Southwestern coast of Sri Lanka.  The initial fortifications, which were built in the late 16th century, were quite basic of course.  Because Galle is also mentioning in records of the 6th-century traveler Cosmas Indicopleustes as a port of call of the ship Levant during his visit to Sri Lanka.