galle fort short essay in english

Galle Fort: Things to do and How to Visit

Galle Fort is the most beautiful coastal town in Sri Lanka . Here, life slows down as locals play cricket alongside the beach, travelers walk on the ancient fort walls, and street vendors sell fresh tropical fruit under the palm trees. Its history makes it a melting pot of culture, with a unique fusion of European and Asian influences, as seen in the whitewashed Dutch -style buildings that line the cobbled streets. Head to the most southwestern corner of the country and enjoy all the beautiful things to do in Galle Fort, Sri Lanka.

Things to do in Galle Fort

In the 18th century, the Dutch built their headquarters, Galle Fort, on the Sri Lankan coast, taking over from Portuguese rule since the 16th century. They fortified Galle, leaving behind beautiful European -style buildings still there today. Later, the British took over the town until Sri Lanka became an independent nation once again. 

Here are all your hotel options in Galle Fort.

Because of its extraordinary history, the fort has enormous cultural and architectural value. As such, it’s recognized as a UNESCO Heritage Site to preserve the area’s beauty.  It was also an important trading port for hundreds of years!

Nowadays, the beautiful old buildings are transformed into trendy shops, cafes, and restaurants. From shopping, exploring the history, or sunset at the fort’s wall, you could spend an entire day exploring the beauty of Galle Fort.

Tip: You can only enter Galle Fort from the main gate side, and it takes about two hours to walk around the whole fort. To avoid busy streets, make sure to visit Galle Fort in the morning. However, don’t miss out on sunset as this is one of the most beautiful times of the day!

1. Beautiful Shops at Galle Fort

One of the best things to do in Galle Fort is simply to walk around the ancient streets, visit the incredible handicraft shops, and admire the old-fashioned Dutch buildings. In fact, Galle Fort has some of the best shops in Sri Lanka ! It’s the perfect place to buy souvenirs and mementos from your trip. 

Hotels in Galle Fort 😴

Some of our favorite shops in Galle Fort are:

• Barefoot – on the corner of Church and Pedlar Street. This shop is the southern outpost of the stylish Colombo homeware shop.
• Orchid House -near the Dutch Hospital. This lovely shop sells beautiful handicrafts, sarongs, and gems.
• Stick No Bills – A fantastic design shop selling fun and colorful graphics printed on postcards and wallpaper.

Tip: Make sure to also visit the local markets in Galle Fort. Here you’ll find tropical fruits, local veggies, and Asian spices you can try there and then or take back in your suitcase as a reminder of Sri Lanka . It’s also a fantastic place to see locals going about their day-to-day life in Galle.

2. Visit some Impressive Monuments

Galle has such an incredible fusion of culture and architecture that you could easily forget you are in Sri Lanka . There’s a uniquely European feel as you wander among Dutch -style buildings under the shade of coconut trees. 

Even if you’re not a cultural person, the buildings inside Galle Fort itself will take your breath away. The fort is a vast monument, and within its walls, you’ll find a selection of fascinating museums and beautiful churches. Don’t miss the magnificent clock tower that stands high above the fort, looking out to sea. 

Read: Things to do in Unawatuna

Some of the must-see sights in Galle Fort are:

• De Groote Kerk (Church St) – the most famous of all the churches in Galle. It’s beautiful white facade is impressive, as well as its intricate interior.
• Old Dutch Hospital (Hospital Road) – one of the oldest buildings in Galle with beautiful white archways that perfectly complement the orange tiled roof.
• National Maritime Archaeology Museum (Queens St) – an exhibit of ancient marine artifacts removed from shipwrecks off the southern coast of Sri Lanka .
• All Saints Church (Church St) – Anglican style church in a gothic, victorian style.

3. Galle Fort Lighthouse

Galle Fort Lighthouse is an icon of the town, bordered by palm trees and the deep blue ocean. It’s this image that’s used for many postcards, brochures, and adverts, luring travelers to the beautiful shores of Sri Lanka. 

 This extraordinary building is also the oldest lighthouse in Sri Lanka (built by the British in 1848), and it’s still used today. It’s one of the must-sees on your trip to Galle Fort, with the perfect outlook at sunset for some great photos.

Read: 14 Travel Photography Tips

4. Walk Along Galle Fort Wall

Galle Fort’s wall is where locals and tourists come together and enjoy the beautiful view of the city and the sea. Best of all, you can walk along the perimeter of the fort, gaining various perspectives of the UNESCO heritage site and the town.

Start at Galle Fort Lighthouse on the southeastern part of the fort. As you walk towards the northwest side of the Fort, you’ll see the Clock Tower, which is the connection between Galle City and Galle Fort. The walk around the fort is around a 2km walk with beautiful views over the ocean along the way. 

5. Sunset on the Fort’s Wall

Enjoying the sunset on the Fort’s wall is one of the top things to do in Galle Fort. Both locals and travelers grab a spot alongside the wall with beers and snacks, ready to watch the sun disappear into the sea. Watch the sky explode in color and strike up a conversation with locals nearby.

Tip: Look out from Flag Rock Bastion, where you’ll see adrenaline seekers jumping from the cliffs. It’s heart racing watching them jump from such a height so close to rocks, but the locals are pros, and they put on a great show for onlookers. 

Also read: Ultimate Sri Lanka Travel Guide

6. Take a Day Trip to the South Coast

Galle Fort is the perfect jumping-off point for numerous day trips to the beautiful south coast of Sri Lanka . This stretch of coastline is home to some of the most famous beaches in the country, with white sand, rock pools, and tidal islands. It’s particularly well known for surfers, who come from all over the world to enjoy the great waves and warm waters.

Choose from day trips to the nearby beach towns of Unawatuna (10-minute drive) or Mirissa (1 hour), where you can find Instagram-famous locations like Coconut Hill or palm tree beach swings.

Also read: Best Things to do in Mirissa

7. Watch a Cricket Match 

Whether it’s on the streets or alongside the fort walls, cricket is a massive part of Galle’s way of life. Cricket is synonymous with Sri Lanka – it’s their national sport – so watching it in the flesh here is an experience. Head to the famous Galle cricket ground, which is a lovely place to enjoy a refreshing drink on a warm summer’s day.

How to Visit Galle Fort

Galle Fort has excellent transport links as it’s one of the most popular destinations on the south coast. You can take the train from Colombo in roughly 2 hours directly to the Galle Fort rail station.

There are numerous trains every day, and you book your train tickets easily online here . You can find a full timetable via the Sri Lankan rail website .

We recommend to rent a car in Sri Lanka through Sunny Cars with free cancellation and insurance included. Book your rental car here .

Getting Around

Galle Fort is a small town, so it’s perfect to walk around. It’s also the best way to see attractions like Fort Wall or Pedler Street. Alternatively, you can arrange for a tuk-tuk to take you around the town or on a day trip further down the coast. 

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Where to Stay in Galle Fort

Anywhere within Galle town is lovely. However, accommodation within the fort itself is the best option, as it’s beautifully peaceful, away from the traffic and buzz of the city. Choose from a more expensive traditional hotel within the walls, or opt for a more reasonably priced guesthouse outside the fort.

Alternatively, spend time in one of the beach towns further down the coast and visit Galle Fort on a day trip. 

Best Time to Visit Galle Fort

Sri Lanka has two monsoon seasons that happen at opposite times of the year on opposite sides of the island. In Galle, most rain falls between May and September, and during this time, the ocean can get very rough, causing the beaches to be dirtier than usual. However, prices of accommodation in the monsoon season are much lower, and the quieter streets of Galle make it an excellent time to sightsee. 

For sunshine and dry days, visit Galle between December and April, with the absolute best month being February.

Best Cafes & Restaurants in Galle Fort

After a full day of walking, shopping, and sightseeing, it’s now time to enjoy the delicious flavors of Galle Fort. Some of our favorite places to eat are:

• The Blockhouse (cheap Sri Lankan food and a spectacular roof terrace)
• Lucky Fort Restaurant (authentic Sri Lankan food)
• The original Rocket Burger (best burgers in Sri Lanka!)
• Chambers Restaurant (tasty Turkish and Middle Eastern)

Not only are there some fantastic restaurants serving a variety of cuisines, but you can find excellent street food close to the fort walls.

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AmazingLanka.com

AmazingLanka.com is a website that serves as a comprehensive online resource focusing on Sri Lanka's rich cultural, historical, and natural heritage. It features articles, photographs, and information about various landmarks, historical sites, religious monuments, natural attractions, and other points of interest in Sri Lanka. The website aims to promote tourism, educate visitors about the country's diverse heritage, and provide practical travel tips for exploring Sri Lanka.

Dutch Fort of Galle (ගාල්ල කොටුව)

The pride of a nation and the country in the eyes of the world is enhanced by its civilization, its culture and its natural beauties. Endowed with these qualifications with a 2500 year old history supported by ancient archaeological treasures, Sri Lanka is rated as a biodiversity hot-spot of the world.

The historical importance of the Galle Fort is unchallenged. The origins of Galle though lost in antiquity still survive through artifacts which confirm its existence in pre-Christian and Roman eras. Through the medieval ages, the Galle Fort emerged as Ceylon’s major southern international port attracting Chinese, Indian, Indonesian, Persian, Roman and Arab traders.

The Galle Dutch Fort is a rare historical jewel protected by dark, thick stone walls – with the endless ocean on one side. The roads inside the Galle Fort have hardly changed, like the squares on a chess board crisscrossing in regular patches. Straight and narrow lanes branch in and out inviting the visitor to a delightful walk into the 17th century.

Today’s Peddler Street was called “Moorse Kramerstraat” by the Dutch, Lighthouse Street was “Zeeburgstraat and Middelpuntstraat”, Hospital Street as `Nieuwe Lijnbaanstraat and Lijnbaanstraat (New Ropewalk Street), Old Ropewalk Street as Oude Lijnbaanstraat (Old Rope-Walk Street), Church Street as Kerkstraat, Parrawa Street as “Parruasstraat” and Chiando Street as “Chiandostraat”. Through this memory walk, one would however miss the 17th-century familiar vendors who traded in cinnamon, lace, elephants, tortoise and turtle shell ornaments besides the famous down south sweetmeats like “Bondi Aluwa” hanging in garlands from the shoulders of vendors.

In 1505 a group of Portuguese sailors led by Don Lorenzo de Almeida arrived on the island and they built the first fortification in Galle on a cliff, jutting out into the sea. It was called the Swart Bastion or the Black Fort in 1520.  Later it was fortified and enlarged by the Dutch in 1667.

14 bastions have been identified on the fort today.

Sun Bastion

It is recorded that by about 1620 this deference bastion was very strongly built by the Portuguese. It was named Sao Iago .

On 4 th August 1667 it was renamed by the Dutch as the Zon (Sun) Bastion . On this occasion, the first canon shots fired as a guard of honour from this bastion were in honour of the fiancé of the Dutch Governor Hester D. Solomin Razikloff Van Govassas.

In 1697 the base of the bastion was further strengthened. By about 1760, there were about 15 canons installed on this bastion.

Moon Bastion

The Portuguese had named this bastion as Conceycao , which meant “the pure conception.” The Dutch originally identified as the Middle Point . In 1667 it was officially named as Mark or the Moon Bastion .

By 1760 there were 19 canons installed on this bastion. The main entrance to the fort lies between the Sun Bastion and the Moon Bastion.  This entrance was made by the British by carving out the rampart.

Star Bastion

This bastion was named by the Portuguese as Sao Antonio (St. Anthony’s) . The Dutch first named it the Zee Punt (Sea Bastion) . In 1667 it was officially named by them as the Star Bastion . After it was renamed, the first canon shot was fired by the daughter of the then Dutch Commander of Galle Adrian Ruthas.

There were about 6 canons installed on this bastion.

Aeolus Bastion

To defend the western approaches to Galle Fort the Dutch built a long rampart wall linked by four gun platform bastions between the Sun Bastion in the northwest corner of the fort and Flag Rock in the southwest corner. All these bastions are open to the public and ideal locations for enjoying the sunset over the sea.

Aeolus means the sea breeze. It is believed that it was so named because the Dutch Naval Commander’s official residence was located here and due to the importance of wind for ships.

Clippenburg Bastion

Neptune bastion.

This is a minor bastion on the western ramparts of the fort. During the Dutch period, it had been named Neptune’s Bastion. In British period maps it is marked as Neptune Bastion. This bastion was occupied by flag staff and a signalling station during World War II.

Triton Bastion

Another minor bastion is seen on the exploratory map of Galle Fort which was drawn by chief engineer Reimer in 1790. It is recorded that there was a windmill erected here to draw water which filled tanks with sea water to supply carts which went through the roads of the fort spraying sea water to keep the town dust-free and cool.

Flagrock Bastion

This bastion lies at the southernmost end of the fort and has also been known as Visser’s Hoek and Viaggeklip Bastion in the past. According to J.W. Heide, the Dutch flag had been hoisted here by 1733.

In Gems Cordine’s book Description of Ceylon , it is stated that in 1796 the British flag was hoisted here.

In 1848 the first lighthouse in the island of Sri Lanka had been constructed here. The light had been powered by kerosene oil and gas. It had been destroyed by fire around 1930.

Today this is one of the most popular places for tourists to catch the sun sinking beneath the sea over the horizon and during the daytime, you can find a group of local daredevil group jumping off the bastion in the rocky waters below for entertainment of the tourists.

Point Utrecht Bastion

It has been named after the hometown of the first clergyman of the Dutch Reformed Church who arrived in Galle in 1641, namely, the Rev.Anhenrio Husaivers. By 1760, it had 6 canons installed.

After the first lighthouse on the Flagrock Bastion was destroyed by fire, the new lighthouse which is 92 feet high was erected here in 1939. Bunkers had been built around the lighthouse during the Second World War. They were removed some time ago.

Near the lighthouse, there is a flight of steps leading to the beach where there is a bathing spot. During the British period, it was used as the Ladies’ Bathing Place.

There is a gunpowder magazine close to this bastion which bears a Dutch inscription from 1782, facing the road.

Aurora Bastion

This bastion is named after the Roman God Aurora. It is believed that it was so named because it is the point in Galle Fort from which one could get the best view of sunrise.

By 1760, 6 canons had been installed here.

Akersloot Bastion

This bastion has been named after the hometown of Commander Wilhelm Jacobs Coster who led the Dutch conquest of Galle Fort. This is located next to the old Dutch hospital building.  It is said that it was once used during the Dutch period for postmortem examinations. It has the inscription “Akersloot 1759” although in fact it was erected earlier.

It is an excellent vantage point for the observation of the Galle harbour and bay. From the British period onwards, it has been used as the official residence of the Harbour Master. It is believed that there were 7 canons installed here to protect the bay from invading vessels.

Another interesting feature of this bastion is the old breadfruit (Artucarpus incisisus) tree found here which is believed to be the first breadfruit tree planted by the Dutch on the island of Sri Lanka.

Zwart Bastion (Black Fort)

This is believed to be the original fort of the Portuguese thus the oldest section of the fort. This has been restored and is open to the public.

See here for details of the Black Fort.

Commandment Bastion

This is marked in Reimer’s map of Galle Fort (1790).  It is believed that was named due to its proximity to the Dutch Commander’s official residence

Fishmark Bastion

his is also found in Reimer’s map of Galle Fort (1790). It is believed that it was named Fishmark because fishing craft could be well observed from here.

Ancient monuments within this historical complex included the Lighthouse, the clock tower, the first Dutch Reformed and Anglican churches, the Meera Mosque, the Buddhist Temple, and the Commander’s Residence. Worthy of mention is the Dutch Reformed Church with its baroque facade and the usual double scroll mouldings on its gables which testify to indigenous influence. The military architecture of the Fort is European in design. The unique Galle Fort is still the best preserved fortified city in South Asia.

The fortification of the Galle Fort as a seat of administration was seen during the Portuguese, Dutch and British periods. The neglect of the Fort began after 1948 with vandalism being prevalent.

Considering its importance as an outstanding architectural and archaeological monument in Asia during the colonial period and to prevent its further degradation the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the International Committee on Monuments and Sites (COSMOS) registered Galle Fort as a World Heritage Site. Subsequently, the Government of Sri Lanka enacted legislation under the Galle Heritage Foundation Act No. 7 of 1991 for the conservation and management of the Galle Fort and its environs.

Since then the Galle Public Awareness Programme was launched with assistance from the Netherlands Government in association with the Departments of Archaeology and Museums, the Ceylon Tourist Board and the Amsterdam and the Netherlands Departments of Conservation. A Maritime Museum was opened on March 28 1999.

After government the withdrew restrictions on land ownership by non citizen a large number of heritage buildings within the Galle Fort were grabbed by foreigners and has been converted into eateries, pubs and hotels.  Some have blamed these overseas owners have carried out changes to buildings within this world heritage city violating provisions of the Antiquities Act and of bribery to government officials to look away.

The Galle Fort World Heritage Protection Society (GFWHPS) too has appealed to the made an appeal to Government urging their immediate attention to protect our World Heritage Sites. They allege that foreigners who purchase sites within the Galle Fort have contravened the Antiquities Act which is a non-bailable offense.

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Map of  Galle Fort

The map above also shows other places of interest within a approximately 20 km radius of the current site. Click on any of the markers and the info box to take you to information of these sites

Zoom out the map to see more surrounding locations using the mouse scroll wheel or map controls.

Driving Directions to Galle Fort

Travel time from Colombo to Galle is approx 1.5 to 2 hours if the new Southern highway is used. For a picturesque drive, you can take the A2 route along the coastline. This trip would take 2.5-3 hours from Colombo. The best time to visit the fort is in the evening.

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Galle Dutch fort

Discover Galle Fort’s Dutch Legacy, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. Dive into history and culture within its ancient stone walls.

Nestled in the heart of Lakdi, Galle Fort stands as a testament to Dutch architectural brilliance. Upon the Dutch arrival, this area was christened Galle Fort, enclosed by formidable black stone walls. These walls served not just as mere structures, but as guardians, enabling secure administrative activities within.

Cultural Heritage and Natural Beauty: A Pride of Sri Lanka

Galle Fort isn’t just bricks and mortar; it’s a reservoir of civility, culture, and natural splendor. With a history stretching back 2500 years, this site boasts ancient scientific artifacts, showcasing the deep-rooted heritage of the land. Recognized as a Global Biodiversity Hotspot in Sri Lanka, it captivates the world with its rich ecological diversity.

Encased in Stone: Galle Dutch Fort’s Unique Appeal

Imagine thick stone walls embracing history. Galle Dutch Fort stands as a remarkable historical gem, its magnificence intensified by the vast expanse of the ocean lapping against its foundations. These dark stone walls, enduring the tests of time, encircle a world frozen in history, preserving the essence of a bygone era.

Changing Paths, Enduring Legacy: Evolution of Galle Fort

The roads within Galle Fort have witnessed a rapid transformation, mirroring the ever-changing face of the world. Despite these shifts, the fort’s legacy remains unscathed. Each cobblestone pathway, each weathered brick, narrates tales of the past, making Galle Fort a living museum of history.

UNESCO’s Recognition: Galle Fort as a World Cultural Heritage

Acknowledging its cultural significance, UNESCO has bestowed the prestigious title of World Cultural Heritage upon Galle Fort. This recognition underscores its value as a global heritage site, inviting visitors to explore its intricate lanes, time-worn buildings, and the echoes of centuries past

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Vestiges of Sri Lanka’s Colonial Past

Long used as a trading hub by Arab, Chinese and Indian merchants, the Port of Galle became a significant player in Sri Lanka’s colourful colonial history when it was fortified by the Portuguese in the 16th century, expanded by the Dutch in 1640 and then by the British in 1796. Today, the country’s famed Galle Fort is a figurative bastion of its colourful colonial past.

The Port of Galle – An Ancient Trading Hub

The natural harbour off the coast of Galle is believed to have been a busy port pre-dating the Christian era, although it may have grown in importance only after the 12th century. Galle’s earliest historical record can be traced to Ptolemy’s world map of 125-150 AD when it was a port of trade for Greek, Arabic and Chinese traders. Galle is mentioned as a ‘port of call of the Levant’ in the cosmography of 6th century AD Greek merchant Cosmas Indicopleustes. Arab explorer Ibn Battuta also visited the port, which he recorded as Qali, in the mid-14th century. The Port of Galle appears in this manner, throughout history, thanks to its strategic location in the shipping trade routes of the Indian ocean.

Sri Lanka is a luscious land that has always been rich in natural resources. There are records of her ancient kings engaging in trade with many foreign nations, thanks to the abundance of agriculture, exotic wildlife and precious stones found on the island. James Emerson Tennent, who served as the colonial secretary of Ceylon from 1845-1850 asserted that Galle may have been the ancient biblical city referred to as Tarshish. Tarshish is referred to in the Hebrew Bible as a place far across the sea from the land of Israel. It is linked closely to King Solomon, being identified as the city where he obtained peacocks, gold, ivory, gems and spices such as cinnamon and pepper – all key trading goods of ancient Sri Lanka. This has led many to believe that Sri Lanka was indeed the land of Tarshish, open to the world via the Port of Galle. Even if King Solomon’s ships didn’t make it all the way to Galle, it is possible that they traded with merchants who had already procured these items from the trading port.

The great Chinese admiral, explorer and diplomat Zheng He commanded many expeditions to Southeast Asia, West Asia, South Asia and East Africa during the 15th century. He is believed to have visited Sri Lanka at least twice, and possibly five times, during this period. In 1411, the admiral erected a tablet to commemorate his second visit to the island. It is believed that the tablet was inscribed in Nanjing in 1409, before the fleet set sail on the voyage. What is most interesting about the tablet, apart from its historical significance regarding the explorations of the Chinese Ming Dynasty, is the fact that it was inscribed in three languages – Chinese, Tamil and Arabic. The inscriptions mention offerings to Buddha, the Hindu god Tenavarai-Nayanar and Allah, in the respective languages. This tactful diplomacy by Admiral Zheng is indicative that he was dealing with a cosmopolitan trading community – a community of different nationalities, cultures and religious beliefs. The Port of Galle is possibly one of the earliest examples of a cultural melting pot – where so many different people came together, their lives weaving and intertwining with each other.

The stone tablet was discovered in 1911 by provincial engineer H.F. Tomalin, covering a culvert near Cripps Road in Galle. There was great excitement for the discovery, but scholars were able to decipher the inscriptions only with great difficulty. Today, the original tablet is housed at the National Museum of Sri Lanka.

The Galle Fort – A Strategic and Economic Stronghold of Colonial Sri Lanka

The Arab, Indian, Malay and Chinese merchants dominated trade in the Indian Ocean till about the beginning of the 16th century. The region had a relatively long-standing open trade competition, and was not controlled by any one party. This began to change when the Portuguese joined the foray in the early 1500s with their armoured ships. The new force, backed by the high speed and fire power of their vessels, soon implemented a policy of control over trade in the region, undermining the so far peaceful system that was in place.

Portuguese Era

In 1505, a Portuguese sea captain, Lourenço de Almeida, was sent to explore the Maldives for the purpose of forming trade relations. However, due to contrary winds, Almeida’s fleet was knocked off course towards the coast of Galle. After a brief stop in Galle, the Portuguese vessels continued to sail along the western seaboard of the island and subsequently arrived in Colombo. Almeida was graciously welcomed by the reigning King of Kotte, Veera Parakramabahu. The Portuguese realized the commercial and strategic value of the island, which led to a settlement being established in the city of Colombo in 1518 for the purpose of trade.

The Portuguese were soon embroiled in the troubled politics of the Sri Lankan kingdom. In 1521, the reigning King of Kotte, Vijayabahu was killed by his three sons, who divided the land amongst themselves. The eldest brother continued to rule in Kotte, while the others set up independent kingdoms. As expected, the brothers started fighting each other in order to expand their respective kingdoms, and this led to the older brother, Buvanekabahu, relying on Portuguese assistance to keep his ambitious brother Mayadunne at bay. Buvanekabahu’s successor increased his reliance on the Portuguese, who were now benefitting economically for their support of the weak king. The Portuguese were momentarily stalled in their quest to take control of the island by King Rajasinghe, Mayadunne’s successor, who managed to launch a successful campaign against the Europeans and drive them out of Colombo.

Taking refuge in Galle, the Portuguese proceeded to hastily construct a fort named Santa Cruz de Gale, from earth and palisades in 1588. The fort consisted of a rampart and three bastions to defend the peninsula on the northern side, but didn’t extend to the seaward side, as the Portuguese believed it to be impregnable. Not much remains today of the Portuguese constructions, as they were almost completely replaced after the city fell into Dutch hands after the great Siege of Galle in 1640. The battle for the Galle Fort lasted over four days, with the Portuguese fighting valiantly to defend their position and the Dutch fighting hard to take control of the strategic location. Both sides suffered heavy losses, but the Dutch managed to finally capture the Santa Cruz de Gale on the fifth day of the siege.

With this hard-won victory of the Galle Fort, the Dutch gained access to a large port and naval base, which assisted them to blockade Goa and attack Portuguese strongholds in southern India. They also gained control of valuable cinnamon lands, which generated the highest revenues in southern Sri Lanka. Galle became the Dutch headquarters in Sri Lanka, until the capture of Colombo in 1656. The new fort, constructed in stone and coral, was named Point de Galle by the Dutch, and remains to this day.

Unlike the Portuguese, the Dutch decided to encircle the entire peninsula by constructing impregnable fortifications, in anticipation of having to defend their position against other colonial forces that were bound to recognize the strategic and economic value of Galle. The Dutch proceeded to build a well-planned city in a grid layout within the fort, replete with public administration buildings, trade establishments, warehouses, armouries, barracks, a forge, carpentry, church and Dutch style houses which were occupied by approximately 500 families.

British Era

Great Britain began its occupation of Sri Lanka in 1796, when it settled in the coastal areas of the island with little resistance. The Galle Fort fell into the hands of the British at this time. In 1802, as a result of the Treaty of Amiens, the Dutch ceded control of the parts of Sri Lanka that they were occupying to the British crown. The British successfully invaded the Kingdom of Kandy in 1815, the last stronghold of the locals. With this victory, Great Britain controlled the entire island, a feat that neither the Portuguese nor the Dutch were able to achieve.

Although Colombo was the main headquarters of British Ceylon, the Galle Fort remained an administrative center in the south of the island. The British made some modifications to the fort to further fortify its defenses. They closed the moat, added a new gate, constructed a lighthouse, built blockhouses and constructed a tower to commemorate the jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1883. Further modifications were carried out during the Second World War to restore the defensive functions of the fort.

As the modifications carried out by the British were so few, the Galle Dutch Fort still retains much of its original plan. It is considered to be one of the best examples of a fortified city built by Europeans in south and southeast Asia, and is indeed an important vestige of the country’s troubled, yet colourful colonial past.

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• Historical Places

Galle Fort – Sri Lanka: UNESCO World Heritage Site 2020

Introduction to galle fort – sri lanka.

In the southwest coastal area of the island, there lies the famous bay of Galle shaded from the picturesque surrounding. Its history extends back to 545 AC, as one of the most ancient ports recorded in the Cosmography of Cosmas Indicopleustes. It was the main port of the country, by the time Portuguese arrived here. After their withdrawal from the Colombo area, the Portuguese selected Galle as their main center and constructed a simple fortress to defend the attacks from landside at the latter part of the 16th Century, with a rampart and three bastions enclosed by earthen banks and palisades. In 1640, after the area was captured by the Dutch, the fortification of Galle Fort – Sri Lanka: UNESCO World Heritage Site was subjected to a wide range of modifications enclosing the whole peninsula with a bastioned stone wall demarcating their supreme power over the sea area.

The Galle Fort which we see today is this fortified city built during the Dutch period within an area of 52 hectares. Most walls enclosing the area were built in 1663 defended by altogether 14 bastions from both landside and seaside. The northern fortified gate protected by a drawbridge and a ditch and also the city area is laid out on a regular grid pattern where the streets are parallel to the ramparts belong to the date 1669. In the year 1729 after the completion of the sea wall, Galle city reached its climax being a center for public administration, trade establishments, and religious activities. It is evident from the churches, especially the oldest Protestant, baroque-style church in Sri Lanka constructed in 1775 and Commandant’s residence, the arsenal, the powder house, and the war houses. The forge, carpentry, and ropemaking workshops, the naval guardhouse, and barracks are prominent features to highlight the trade development and military security. In 1796, the Galle Fort was dominated by the British and Galle remained the administrative center of the south of Ceylon as a British territory. During their period also, the fortification underwent significant changes, including the construction of new blockhouses, a gate between the Moon bastion and the Sun bastion, establishment of a lighthouse on the Utrecht bastion, and a tower erected for the jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1883. Especially, during the Second World War, the British made alterations to the fort with the intention of strengthening the defensive role.

Hence, the Galle Fort – Sri Lanka is still the best-preserved and best example for the fortified city in Asia which portraits the mix of European architectural styles and South Asian traditions. In 1988, UNESCO declared Galle Dutch Fort as a World Heritage under the name of Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications.

Galle Fort – Sri Lanka on Google Maps

The old outer gate of the Galle Fort – Sri Lanka can be reached, entering the Fort from the road parallel to the beach. The significant feature seen on this massive gate is a plaque carved with the Royal Emblem of Ireland dating back to the period of King George III of England placed after the capturing of Galle by the British. British Crown is held by a lion from its right side and by a unicorn from the left side is displayed on this plaque. The motto of the British Emperor, (Dieu et Mon Droit) meaning ‘GOD’S and MY DOMAIN’ is marked on a strip at the plaque. The Coat-of-Arms of the VOC fixed here was removed and placed above the inner archway. The old gate with this plaque is a reminder of the historical event taking over the administration of the Fort by the British from the Dutch in 1796.

During the period of Portuguese around 1620, they had built a palisade facing the rampart in front of the Gate. But after the arrival of the Dutch, the entrance was changed and made it to a part of a huge warehouse connecting to the rampart. Emblem of the Dutch East India Company can be noticed above the main entrance passing through the warehouse. Here the name “Dutch East India Company” is represented by the monogram of the VOC. The rooster upon a rock in the picture on top reminds the legend of the discovery of Galle by the Portuguese. At the bottom of the plaque shows the date of the completion of the gate: 1669 AD. This emblem which was formerly at the front face of the Main Gate was fitted upon the inner face by the British.

Maritime Museum

The Maritime Museum in Galle which was established in the year 1992 functions under the Department of National Museums. This museum displays exhibits about the Sri Lankan culture connected with the sea and all the living beings in the marine environment, ranging from tiny single-cell life forms to the largest living being, the blue whale. It displays the habitats of all these beings, including mangroves, salty wetlands, sand dunes, beach, seagrass, and coral. Additionally, it presents various types of boats and water rafts used in the Sri Lankan society from ancient times and also the lifestyle of fishing villages along the coastal area through models and replicas. Due to Tsunami occurred in of 26th December 2004, this museum was almost totally destroyed, and it was renovated and re-opened for public viewing in 2009.

Maritime Archaeology Museum – CCF

Maritime Archaeology Museum operated under the Central Cultural Fund is opened for the public on 4th March 2010 and is situated at the Dutch warehouse of the Galle Fort – Sri Lanka, which was built in 1671. It is the only museum that showcases the marine biological and anthropological aspects of the Southern coast of Sri Lanka. The museum is divided into seven display galleries to exhibit artifacts about the maritime archaeology and history of Sri Lanka. Most of the exhibits comprised of underwater artifacts were collected from Galle harbor following underwater expeditions carried out on the sites of the shipwrecks; The Hercules (1661) and Avondster (1659). The museum exhibits comprise objects, replicas, models, and information on panels and videos that cover a long period of the history of the country which spans from 5000 BCE to the late 19th century CE.

National Museum of Galle Fort

The former New Oriental Hotel was converted to house the National Museum in Galle which was opened for public viewing on 28th March 1986. It is a provincial museum managed by the Department of National Museums. Part of the Building was demolished in 1865 to construct the New Oriental Hotel and as a result, it is difficult to imagine how the original building looked like. The main objective of the museum to protect the social and cultural heritage unique to the Southern Province of Sri Lanka, and also provide education, knowledge, understanding, and entertainment. This museum contains three exhibition galleries; the first gallery depicts the historic Galle Fort – Sri Lanka and the cultural and social heritage of the Southern Province of Sri Lanka, the second exhibits artifacts belonging to the colonial era whereas the third displays the historical relations between China and Sri Lanka.

Governor’s House Galle

Governor’s house was an administrative sub-division of the Dutch known as a Commandement and the chief was the Commander who was always a European. When the British took over possession from the Dutch in 1796, the Commander’s House was converted to King’s House and later to Queen’s House. Over the years maintenance of the building became a burden to the British administration and then sold it at a public auction in 1872 to Clark Spence & co. and later to Walker Sons & co. It again changed ownership and now in the hands of another institution. Above the doorway of the building, a carving of the cock on the rock is mounted with the date 1683. This building has been subjected to numerous alterations in the past two centuries and the original structure is no longer recognizable.

The Dutch Reformed Church

Famously known as the Groote Kerk, the Dutch Reformed Church in Galle Fort – Sri Lanka was built in the year 1755 and is among the most prominent and oldest churches that are still in use on the island. It was constructed on the 4th of July 1752 under the supervision of Abraham Anthonisz. The Church was built, according to a tradition, as a thank offering to God on the birth of a daughter to the Commander of Galle: Casparus de Jong (Lord of Spanbroek) and his wife Geertruyda Adriana Le Grand. Located down Church Street, this ancient church features gables on both western and eastern walls without the tower. This Galle church was constructed on a Portuguese convent and also houses a small well-tended graveyard and crypt within its premises. The church was constructed in the Doric style of the period, similarly to the Wolvendaal Church in Colombo. It is also in the form of a cruciform, only the transepts are shorter. This church is the finest example of this style of churches in Sri Lanka with magnificent gables suitable for a Protestant place of worship.

Churchyard and Tombstones

A churchyard is a holy place where burials took place, and it represents the practice of laying a memorial tablet in the churchyard in memory of the deceased. High-ranking distinguished persons got priority to have their burials closer to the church and the rest received a place within the courtyard. Hardly any natives enjoyed this privilege. The text of the majority of tombstones is in Dutch, composed in a set pattern framed with decorated designs together with the heraldry of the deceased. The hourglass, skull, and crossbones symbolizing the uncertainty of life is the common symbol that can be noticed on almost every tombstone. Underneath the floor covering the whole area of the head of the cross is the burial vault of the church. Here too it was a privilege to have the remains placed in the vault after paying a high fee. The vault is now closed and the last burial that took place in this vault was in 1863.

Anglican Church

The Anglican Church or All Saint’s Church located right across the Commander’s residence was consecrated during the British regime on 21st February 1871 and still holds services today. It is believed that the church was constructed on the site of a former Magistrate’s Court House which existed in the place. This magnificent edifice was designed by Sri Lanka’s most famous architect of the 19th century, James G. Smither. It was built on a basilican plan in a Victorian Gothic Revival style of architecture, modified to suit local climatic conditions. The plan of the Church is cruciform adamantly supported on stone columns and arches carved beautifully in timber. Masonry arches built-in local kabuk and lime mortar. The heavy pews, with carvings of the Jewish Star of David, and the sanctuary are all made from Burmese teak.

Sun Bastion

The main defense works with three bastions on the landside were completed by the Portuguese in 1620 and the one to the south was named after the Roman Catholic Saint, Sao Iago (St. James). Since the Portuguese then had the power in the sea, they were rather cautious about native attacks and expected more protection from the landside than from the seaside. When the Dutch conquered, it was reconstructed and renamed it Sun Bastion on 4th August 1667 by Hester de Solemne, the fiancé of Governor Rijcklof van Goens by firing the cannons stationed here. In 1697, the base of the bastion was further strengthened. By about 1760, there were about 15 canons installed on this bastion. It gives a beautiful view facing south overlooking the natural harbor and Rumassala range of mountains.

Moon Bastion

The central-northern bastion of Galle Fort in Sri Lanka is called the Moon Bastion. The Portuguese had named this bastion as Conceycao, which meant “the pure conception.” The Dutch originally identified it as the Middle Point. The seriously damaged bastion due to the war was reconstructed and renamed in 1667 as the Moon Bastion by Hester de Solemne, referred to in connection with the Sun Bastion. This was the strongest and the largest bastion out of three facing the mainland. By 1760 this bastion was mounted with nineteen cannons. Passing the drawbridge was the Main Gateway from landside which was fixed to this Bastion. On the top of the rampart was a broad path between Sun and the Star Bastion where soldiers might have marched to observe any possible danger up and down from the land.

Star Bastion

Star bastion which is at the northern end was named by the Portuguese as Sao Antonio (St. Anthony’s). The Dutch first named it the Zee Punt (Sea Bastion). In 1667, it was named Star Bastion by the wife of Commander Adriaan Roothaas. On this occasion, the first cannon was fired by the daughter of the Dutch Commander to mark the occasion. By the year 1760, there were about 6 canons installed on this bastion.

The lighthouse, painted white, was located on the southwest bastion, Utrtecht Bastion, of Galle fort on the western side of Galle Harbor giving it full view of any ships entering Galle Harbour. This was constructed in place of the iron structure formerly fixed at the Flag Rock built in 1848 and burnt down in 1939. The present lighthouse was completed in 1940. The lantern is fixed 92 feet above the water level of the sea and it is built approximately 6 meters (20 ft) above the road level on the ramparts. The original light was furnished with a glass prism lens floating in a bath of mercury (to reduce friction) and was powered by a weight-driven machine.

Hospital Building

The Old Galle Dutch Hospital is one of the oldest buildings in the Galle Fort area dating back to the Dutch colonial era and it has been used for several different purposes, over the years. The hospital was constructed on the site between the Black Fort and Aurora bastion. The Dutch established the Galle hospital to look after the health of the officers and other staff serving under the Dutch East India Company. In 1850, the British used this building first for the office of the Collector of Galle and subsequently the Galle Kachcheri or the Office of the Government Agent of the Southern Province. It is remarkable to note that experiments were conducted against Smallpox in this building as this deadly disease was spreading widely in the vicinity of Galle before smallpox vaccination in Europe was invented. In 2014, the building was converted into a shopping and dining precinct, with the historic architecture having been preserved. The building reflects seventeenth-century Dutch colonial architecture. As many Dutch buildings of the era, the walls are 50 cm (20 in) thick. The structure features massive teak beams. The upper floor can be reached with a wooden staircase. The upper story has a wooden floor. Long open verandas run along the length of each wing of the building.

The Roman-Dutch law was introduced by the VOC to their newly acquired territories in the East including Sri Lanka. Consequently, it became the law of the maritime districts of Sri Lanka in 1656. It was adopted and continued during British times and has become the Common Law of Sri Lanka. The Councils of Justice functioning in the three judicial districts of Colombo, Jaffna, and Galle, each consisted of seven members, appointed by the Governor from the officers of the Company serving in Sri Lanka. The Commandeur of Galle simultaneously exercised the civil and judicial powers. In the 18th century, there was a small building used for the Council of Justice, and the present building was constructed for the purpose just after independence in 1948. It is also known as Court Square since it is in front of Galle’s Magistrates Court Building. It has four white columns in each corner which support a pyramidal clay tile roof in the old colonial Dutch style.

Galle Fort Ambalama

The Galle Fort Ambalama is situated within the open space of Courthouse square at the far end of the Galle Fort. It is a simple structure made up of brick and mortar with four pillars holding its roof. The Ambalama stands on a raised platform but does not have any side walls common among the other brick and mortar ambalamas found elsewhere. The building of the Ambalama was renovated in 2008.

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Welcome to Galle Fort, Sri Lanka

ATTRACTIONS

Galle provides an outstanding example of an urban ensemble which illustrates the interaction of European architecture and South Asian traditions from the 16th to the 19th centuries. The most salient feature is the use of European models adapted by local manpower to the geological, climatic, historical, and cultural conditions of Sri Lanka. In the structure of the ramparts, coral is frequently used along with granite. In the ground layout all the measures of length, width and height conform with the regional metrology. The wide streets, planted with grass and shaded by suriyas, are lined with houses, each with its own garden and an open veranda supported by columns, another sign of the acculturation of an architecture which is European only in its basic design.

The bay of Galle lies off the south-west coast of Sri Lanka, sheltered by a rocky peninsula. Mentioned as early as 545 in the cosmography of Cosmas Indicopleustes, it is one of the most ancient 'ports of call of the Levant'. When Ibn Batuta landed there in 1344, it was the principal port of Ceylon. Portuguese navigators settled there in 1505, two years before settling in Colombo. It seems that they preferred Colombo at first. In 1588, they decided to withdraw to Galle and they hastily constructed a rampart and three bastions to defend the peninsula on the northern landside. The seaward side was considered invulnerable and was not fortified.​​​​​​​​​​

History of Galle Fort

Few vestiges subsist from a Franciscan chapel that was built in 1543. When the fortified town fell into the hands of the Dutch in 1640, they decided to replace the precarious Portuguese defences constituted partially of palisades and earth banks. They encircled the whole of the peninsula with a bastioned stone wall so as to render it impregnable against the English, French, Danish, Spanish and Portuguese fleets vying with Holland for the supremacy of the sea.

This fortified city, built by the Dutch, exists still, but with few changes. It has an area of 52 ha inside the walls defended by 14 bastions. The majority of the curtain walls were built in 1663. The northern fortified gate, protected by a drawbridge and a ditch, bears the date 1669. Much of the city, laid out on a regular grid pattern adapted to the configuration of the terrain (north-south peripheral streets are parallel to the ramparts and not to the central traffic axes), dates from this period.

During the 18th century, protected by a sea wall finished in 1729, the city reached full development. It housed 500 families, and a large number of public administrations, trade establishments and warehouses were located there. A Protestant, Baroque-style church, the oldest in Sri Lanka, was constructed in 1775 for the European colonists and a few Christian converts from plans drawn up by Abraham Anthonisz. However, Galle remained essentially a stronghold. In the layout of the city the Commandant's residence, the arsenal and the powder house were prominent features. The forge, carpentry and rope-making workshops, the naval guardhouse, and barracks rounded out a system that closely linked prosperous trade to military security.

The fort of Galle was handed over to the English only on 23 February 1796, one week after the surrender of Colombo. As a British protectorate, Galle remained the administrative centre of the south of Ceylon. A number of unfortunate modifications were then made: ditches filled in, new blockhouses added, a gate put in between the Moon bastion and the Sun bastion, a lighthouse installed on the Utrecht bastion, and a tower erected for the jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1883. Other work was undertaken during the Second World War in order to restore the defensive function of the fortifications.

Source: UNESCO/CLT/WHC

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• Chiang Khong
• Ko Pha Ngan
• Luang Prabang
• Ho Chi Minh
• Whale Island
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• Kuala Lumpur
• Pangkor Island
• Cameron Highlands
• Gili Islands
• Lombok to Flores
• Trincomalee
• Lake Atitlan
• About my journey

GALLE FORT – A BEAUTIFUL SRI LANKAN OLD TOWN

LIGHTHOUSES, WALKING ALONG RAMPARTS, BEAUTIFUL SUNSETS, JEWELLERS, ORGANIC FOOD AND CRAZY SNAKE CHARMERS

Arriving in galle.

After the nightmare train journey from Colombo  it was a relief to finally arrive in Galle. We jumped in a tuk tuk from the train station and headed down to Galle Fort – the area where we were staying.

There are two separate areas to Galle – the main town of Galle and the old ramparts area of Galle fort.

We were staying in the latter and it is beautiful. I can’t comment too much on the main area of Galle, as in the two days we were here, we remained within the fort area, but this was definitely the place to visit.

Galle Fort has quite a history. Originally built by the Portuguese in 1588 and later, when overrun by the Dutch in 1640, was fortified even further.

The British later took over the fort in 1796 around the time when they were colonising Sri Lanka.

Despite the amount of time that has passed and the effect of the horrendous boxing day tsunami in 2004, the fort is still incredibly well preserved and is a Sri Lankan national heritage site.

The walls of the fort make for a fantastic walk. With the ocean lapping at its walls beneath, there are amazing views to be had and incredible sunsets.

Here’s some snaps from walking the walls of the fort.

Set within the fort’s ramparts is this impressive clock tower. This was apparently built by the British and the Lonely Planet guide brags about the standards of British engineering and how it is testament to this that the clock still shows the correct time.

These photos were taken around 11am.

Also within the walls we encountered some locals who were keen to show off their snakes (no pun intended) in exchange for a few rupees. This guy unleashed a king cobra, taunted it and let it bite him repeatedly and then explained to me that it wasn’t venomous. Mental.

Then there was this guy who proudly held his python aloft as we walked by.

INSIDE THE OLD TOWN

Inside the ramparts there is a lot more to be seen. Old crumbling Dutch architecture is on show, down peaceful and pretty streets.

Here’s a few more snaps from inside the old town.

This guy, above, who was openly trying to chop meat in the street was drawing unwanted attention to himself from birds, cats and dogs. Look at that cat ready to pounce.

Speaking of food, there is an abundance of choice for dining, with many quaint restaurants and some fantastic organic food to be had.

None more so than this place called ‘Calorie Counter’. We stopped by for a lush breakfast. If you’re in town it’s definitely worth checking out.

One other thing to mention is that there are some shops dotted along the town’s streets, but don’t expect too much diversity. Strangely the vast majority of these shops are jewellers. I’m not too sure how they all stay in business, but I think there’s more jewellers than there are restaurants.

I guess it must be the trade in Sri Lanka, much like Hoi An in Vietnam with tailors.

LEAVING GALLE

After 2 days in Galle, we were moving on to the beach town of Mirissa.

Galle is a beautiful and picturesque place and it definitely warrants a stop off on any trip to Sri Lanka. There’s not loads to do here, but certainly a day or two wandering the old town is a must.

Read on for Mirissa and how our search for blue whales went….

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A Guide to Galle Fort: Sri Lanka’s Dutch Colonial Gem

• Last Updated March 17, 2024
• Sri Lanka , Asia

Occupying Sri Lanka’s south-west corner, Galle is thought to have been an important trading port for millennia, with a history dating back to the reign of King Solomon in the 10th century BC and remained as Ceylon’s most important harbour until the 19th century until it was overtaken by the growing commercial exploits of Colombo. It has expanded from its early origins and expanded inland to become the modern city that it is today, Sri Lanka’s fourth-largest.

While the majority of the city has little to differentiate it from other towns, tourists flock here to visit the old Dutch Quarter, Fort, an area strangely detached from the rest of Galle on a small peninsular surrounded by impressive stone walls and a chain of bastions.

What you will find inside the fortifications is Sri Lanka’s best-preserved colonial town; a grid of streets lined with beautiful white and pale, pastel yellow villas topped with red-tile roofs. In stark contrast to the busy, tuk-tuk-filled streets of the main city, Fort is like stepping back in time to an ambiguous European settlement. At the right time of day, it is a magically serene place to amble around, taking in the atmospheric old streets, quaint churches and wonderful seafood scene.

Getting to Galle

Galle is best reached from Colombo as it is served by both train and bus routes from the city. Non-stop, comfortable air-conditioned coaches leave Colombo’s southern suburb of Maharagama approximately every 30 minutes between 5am and 5pm, at the cost of around Rs.400. This bus is much faster (1hr 15) than taking a cheap local bus (3 hours journey time) as it uses the new E01 highway rather than the slow two-lane coastal road. Buses along the southern coast towards Weligama and Mirissa leave every 15 minutes.

Trains between Colombo Fort station and Galle leave 5 – 10 times per day and can take anywhere between 2 hours and 3.5 hours.

At 9.33am on 26th December 2004, a devastating natural disaster hit the coast of Sri Lanka. Just a few miles off the coast of Sumatra, an enormous earthquake had unleashed energy 550 million times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb sending shockwaves around the world. It only took 90-minutes for the Tsunami to hit the Sri Lankan coast.

In the wave’s midst, entire villages and towns vanished. A wall of water travelling at 600mph rose from the shallows and smashed its way through the buildings and coconut palms. Entire boats were shipwrecked inland, buildings were scattered and cars, tuk-tuks, and remnants of hotels were found miles from their original locations. It was the deadliest day in Sri Lanka’s history, even during a civil war that was currently tearing the country apart. 35,000 people lost their lives in the government-controlled territory while a further 19,000 died in the LTTE-held northern provinces.

Travelling down the coastal A2 now in our mini-bus there isn’t much indication that this entire stretch of land had once been destroyed. Occasionally you will spot a little rubble and sheets of corrugated iron along the foreshore, but if it wasn’t for the beautiful Peraliya memorial – a towering Buddha statue erected at the spot where the tsunami washed away a packed commuter train with the loss of over 1200 lives, the world’s worst-ever train disaster – you wouldn’t know what had occurred here.

In the decade and a half since the disaster, Galle has been completely restored. The city that had been all but demolished has been nurtured back to life and is once again Sri Lanka’s 4th largest. The train station was rebuilt, the cricket ground completely brought back to life, and the streets of the town centre now bustled with traffic, cafes and glossy new hotels.

On this section of coast, only Galle’s Fort had survived the sea’s assault, sitting high on its promontory beyond the cricket pitch, surrounded by thick stone walls. It’s easy to see how the structure ended that day intact. Passing through the Fort’s gate, a small passage beneath a little archway, you find yourself in another little town, one that encompasses just 89 acres and feels completely separate from the main city.

I arrive mid-afternoon, just as the air is beginning to cool and the previously quiet Fort begins to thrum with life. Once the day’s heat starts to dissipate, tourists and locals alike clamber up on top of the walls to walk or sit and stare out at the ocean. From the main gates and clock tower, added by the British in 1873 on the spot where the Dutch built 3 brutally impressive bastions named Sun, moon, and star, it’s possible to walk almost the entirety of the wall in one continuous path past all 14 of the towns bastions, most of them still with archaic names like Clippenberg, Akersloot and Zwart.

Despite the names, this tiny peninsula wasn’t originally Dutch. Many are convinced that Galle was once the biblical port of Tarshish, where King Solomon sent ships to procure splendours such as elephants, ivory and peacocks and remained an important stop for traders plying the route between India and China until the Europeans first arrived in 1505. They finally settled here for good in 1587, not before looting the city’s warehouses and settling the harbour ablaze.

After a bloody, 18-day siege, the Dutch took control of the region in 1640, choosing Galle as their seat of government and setting up a trade route to supply Europe with spices and elephants. As you can imagine, the native Kandyans didn’t take kindly to the loss of this land and following King Rajassinha setting fire to the coast in 1656 despite the Dutch trying to win him over by showering him with gifts, they decided to expand the fortifications, just in case he returned.

Within the walls, there is still a small Dutch town, as if this period of the 17th century has been trapped in time and perfectly preserved. Although the crumbling old hospital has been transformed into a series of up-scale restaurants, the Dutch Reformed Church, or Kerk, remains much as it did then. As do the colonial mansions, cottages, and terraces that line the pretty, cobbled streets with their shuttered windows, fading pastel facades and fancy verandas, although these are now mostly home to boutique hotels rather than traders, diplomats and governors.

Even the cavernous warehouses that once belonged to the VOC (Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie, or Dutch East India Company) sit unchanged in the centre of town, empty and waiting to be bought and turned into the next hip restaurant or foreign-owned hotel. I find myself wandering around one, led by a security guard that said he didn’t mind indulging my curiosity. Walter is dressed in a perfectly pressed uniform – a beige shirt with starched brown embellishments on the shoulders – with a proud smile as he guides me from room to room and up crooked, broken wooden staircases. He spends most days sitting at a table in front of the missing front door, ensuring that no one wanders in unaccompanied. Guarding emptiness, a custodian of nothing. There isn’t a great deal to see; litter, broken furniture and discarded tobacco boxes. A shipping manifesto remains on the wall with information chalked onto the blackboard as if the ships are waiting to return. On one wall, a paper banner reads ‘Happy New Year 2007’, giving the feeling that this building was abandoned quickly on the 31st December 2006.

The contents that are missing from these warehouses can be bought around town. There is an antique shop on almost every street selling plundered Georgian wares and hawkers stand atop the bastions trying to flog worn  Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie  coins. Even a little enclave of Dutch culture can be found in Galle. Look carefully and you will find a  bakkerij  selling bread and vendors dishing up  breudher and edam  while beside the walls, women make intricate lace to see to passing tourists.

The only Dutch thing that has been lost from the region are Dutch people. For a time, Sri Lanka’s smallest minority, the Dutch Burghers – Sri Lankans of Dutch descent – were numerous, occupying important government roles under the British. Being neither fully European nor fully Sri Lankan, Galle was an important spot for them, a place that mirrored their mix of cultures. However, the majority left in the 1950s, disillusioned by Sinhalese nationalist laws.

Nowadays, despite half a century of independence, Galle is still dominated by foreigners. Over the course of the last decade a foreign influx of visitors – mostly wealthy Brits with a keen interest in arts and crafts – has brought money to the region, transforming Galle Fort from a sleepy and dishevelled town into Sri Lanka’s most cosmopolitan enclave, filled with stylish boutiques, grand hotels and chic galleries. Along Pedlar Street alone you can find cool cafes, upmarket clothing stores and handicraft shops. Since my first visit to Sri Lanka in 2016, I’ve had mounted and framed posters from ‘Stick No Bills’ – a store selling incredible Ceylon themed prints – on my hallway wall.

It’s these disparate influences that make Galle so beguiling; the mix of Sinhalese and European cultures; the contrast of the cool and modern with the antique is unlike anywhere else in Sri Lanka. It’s neither completely Dutch nor Sri Lankan, British or Portuguese. Macaques sit atop the red George V pillar boxes that are dotted around town while peddlers come wheeling through the streets to sell bread from their converted tuk-tuks with tunes blaring out similar to those blasting from ice cream vans. Street signs are in any combination of Tamil, Sinhalese, and English and the architecture is just as confused: there are 2 churches, the old Kerk and the stone-clad British All Saints as well as a Buddhist temple whose white stupa stands out amongst the colonial low-rises, and even a beautiful mosque that looks more like a baroque church than the usual building with a dome and minarets.

There’s a sort of magic to Galle and it’s hard not to be enchanted by its spell. As the sun slowly falls from the sky to be swallowed by the horizon, I climb the rampart walls beside the old lighthouse. Most of the town appears to be here with me. On the green, howls of victory and defeat from teenagers battling in an intense game of cricket while  Buddhist  monks watch on, their orange robes whipping in the wind.  

For a few rupees, teenagers leap backwards from Flag Rock, arms outstretched and legs tucked up to their stomachs, plunging into the waves below. Muslim families emerge from the white, latticed mosque and sit on the grass with their  rolled-up  prayer mats amongst the snake charmers and musicians, waiting for that evening’s call to prayer. When the  ethereal  wailing finally reverberates around the Fort like a curtain call for the day, everything has turned a pale, dusty purple. The hand-holding couples and wide-eyed tourists begin to dissipate. The boys with their worn willow cricket bats disappear into the  twilight  and the walls are silent once again.  

Where to Stay in Galle

Fairway sunset.

Located 10-minute’s drive along the coastal road from the Fort’s entrance, this hotel overlooking Dewata beach is one of the area’s best budget options. All 65 rooms are clean and modern with a large number of them offering perfect sea views over the bay. The on-site, rooftop restaurant serves a good mix of local and western cuisine and is ideal for sundowner cocktails.

Antic Guesthouse

Embracing Galle’s newly-found influx of artists, this beautifully renovated colonial mansion has shutters and doors spattered with paint and communal areas bursting with rustic, local art. Each room in this boutique guesthouse is individually styled with the higher-priced accommodation featuring open balconies strewn with cushions and hammocks where you can relax with a view of Fort’s narrow, cobbled streets.

Galle Fort Hotel

The Galle Fort Hotel is a boutique hotel with 13 rooms. They all have four-poster beds, and are unique. The Loft Suites are split level; the Admiral Cheng Ho suite is dedicated to the Chinese explorer who visited Galle in the 14th century; the Porcelain Suite has a collection of Dutch pottery; and the ornate Grand Apartments used to once be the home of a gem merchant.

Things to do in Galle Fort

While there isn’t a great deal to do or see in Galle Fort beyond a few quirky museums and impressive colonial buildings, the real joy comes from spending a couple of days soaking up the area’s beautiful atmosphere, walking the pretty streets and savouring the town’s slow pace, something you are unlikely to find elsewhere in Sri Lanka’s tourist hotspots.

Visit the Lighthouse

Guarding the jagged rocks that line the southern point of Galle’s coastline, Pointe De Galle Light is Sri Lanka’s oldest lighthouse. There has been a structure on this spot ever since 1848, although the current 27m working lighthouse dates from 1939. It is a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Dutch Reformed Church

While the church isn’t particularly impressive from the outside – it’s a great white slab of a building, the only ornate part of the façade being the triangular gables that bookend the red-tiled roof – however, the interior is sparse and cavernous with the floor etched memorials to the city’s early Dutch settlers the southern wall dominated by a carved dedication to E.A.H Abraham, former commander of the city which is decorated with a skull, armour and what is left of his baptism shirt.

The Groote Kerk was constructed in 1755 on the site of an earlier Portuguese Convent and is possibly one of the town’s most striking buildings.

Walk The Ramparts

A series of bastions and walls surround the Fort area of Galle. Existing since 1589 when the town was established by the Portuguese and later expanded by the Dutch when, in 1640, they captured the city following a four-day siege, the fortifications enclose the entirety of Galle’s sea-facing promontory. There are 13 bastions in all, evocatively named with titles like Neptune, Aurora and Moon. It is possible to walk an unbroken path along the old fortifications anti-clockwise from Star Bastion, past the lighthouse to Aurora, which is the perfect way to get an overview of the town and catch your bearings.

While this walk is enjoyable at any time of day, it is best done at sunset when an orange glow hangs over the Indian Ocean and almost the entire town is drawn to the bastions for a festival atmosphere of street food, cricket and mingling while cliff divers fling themselves from Flag Rock into the seafoam below.

Historical Mansion Museum

Galle has a number of quirky – and often quite dismal – museums, however, the idiosyncratic Historical Mansion Museum is the most entertaining of the bunch. Originally set up by Mr Gaffar, who spent half a century building up this eccentric collection of junk, bric-a-brac and trinkets, the exhibits are more a weirdly compelling collection of curiosities than a coherent showcase of local history.

Nearby is the rather lacklustre Maritime Archeology Museum, a rather cheerless and dull assemblage of old rope, pots, and waxworks that is best avoided.

Where : 39 Leyn Baan St. When : Daily 9am – 6pm (closed for Friday Prayers 12pm – 2pm)

Sudharmalaya Vihara

The small, bright-white stupa of Sudharmalaya Vihara stands out amongst the churches and colonial architecture of Galle Fort but the Buddhist temple has been located on this corner of Rampart and Parawa Street since 1889. The buildings small belfry indicated that this was once a Christian house of worship but it now contains Buddhist paraphernalia such as a large, reclining Lord Buddha and several smaller statues. Guests are free to enter and wander around the temple, which also hosts regular yoga classes in its prayer hall.

Hit the Beach at Unawatuna

Despite its coastal location, the beaches around Galle are few and far between, other than small patches of sand beyond the Fort’s ramparts and a narrow stretch of unnamed beach along Matara road occupied mostly by fisherman’s huts and oruwas.

However, just a 15-minute drive east is the intimate beach of Unawatuna, a small, horseshoe-shaped cove not much more than a kilometre in length, terminated by the picturesque Rumassala, a grand outcrop of rock thought to have been left by the monkey god Hanuman. Both Unawatuna and nearby Jungle beach – a quieter spot with clear turquoise sea backed by dense jungle – are great for snorkelling and the perfect place to spend an evening, drinking at beach bars or enjoying a meal of freshly-caught fish while gazing out into the Indian Ocean.

Where to Eat & Drink in Galle Fort

As the Fort’s interior continues to undergo regeneration and gentrification, there are myriad dining options within the area’s sturdy walls, including an influx of high end, sophisticated eateries. Don’t worry though, there are still plenty of budget cafes, guesthouses and locally-owned cafes serving up cheap Sri Lankan cuisine.

The Tuna and the Crab

The recently renovated Galle Dutch Hospital is occupied by a number of great restaurants, but the most notable has to be The Tuna and the Crab in the complexes eastern wing. Owned by former Sri Lanka cricket captain Kumar Sangakkara and the island’s most renowned chef Dharshan Munidasa, this is the sister restaurant to Colombo’s Ministry of Crab, serving up a mix of seafood, from lagoon crab to sushi, in an elegant setting.

Where : Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct, Hospital St When : Daily 12pm – 9.30pm

A Minute by Tuk Tuk

Also situated in the Dutch Hospital complex overlooking the rampart walls with splendid sea views, A Minute By Tuk Tuk specialises in luxurious, contemporary variations of classic Sri Lankan dishes in the form of tapas or sumptuous main courses such as Wild for a While, black pork & thibbotu mallum served with cashew ghee rice and tempered manioc and Takka Takka, the restaurants own take on kottu roti.

Where : Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct, Hospital St When : Daily 11am – 11pm

Even if your budget doesn’t quite stretch to staying the night at one of Galle’s more up-market hotels, it is worth stopping by the luxurious Galle Fort Hotel’s colonial-era veranda bar. It is easily the most atmospheric and memorable places in town for a nightcap. Make sure to try their signature cocktail.

Where : 28 Church St  When : Daily 11am – Late  

Poonie’s Kitchen

Hidden away in a cool little boho-styled courtyard beside the adjoining Mimi Mango lifestyle store, Poonie’s is the place to visit for health nuts and those that have had their fill of curries and string hoppers. The light menu leans more towards South East Asia than Ceylon, featuring Thai noodles, Vietnamese pho and colourful salad bowls that wouldn’t be out of place in Bali.

Where : 63 Pedlar St When : Mon to Sat 10am – 5pm

Isle of Gelato

Isle of Gelato’s Sri Lankan owners, Shalini and Suranjan, spent 3 months in Bologna learning how to make traditional gelato before bringing their new-found skills back home to Galle. They aim to blend these Italian ice cream making techniques with local flavours, such as lemon curd, lychee, and passionfruit.

Where : 60a Pedlar St When : Daily 10am – 10pm

When is the Best Time to Visit Galle?

Due to its location just north of the equator, Sri Lanka is temperate all year round. However, it is affected by two separate monsoon seasons during the year. With southeast being hit from April until September and the northeast from November until March. Head to Galle between December and March for the best chance of some sun.

I visited Galle as a guest of Sri Lanka Tourism. However, all views are my own.

Dave McClane

David McClane is a photographer and travel writer based in Leeds, UK. Since first picking up a camera on a yearlong journey through Central and South America in 2014/2015, He has carefully documented his travels through almost 50 countries.

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