Galle City
Founded in the 16th century by the Portuguese, Galle reached the height of its development in the 18th century, before the arrival of the British. It is the best example of a fortified city built by Europeans in South and South-East Asia, showing the interaction between European architectural styles and South Asian traditions.
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.
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.
A beautiful port city, Galle is located on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka and is about 119km from Colombo. Galle serves as the capital of Southern Province of Sri Lanka and is also the business center of southern Sri Lanka. The city is the best way travelers can explore the local culture. Galle saw massive development in the 18th century during the Dutch Colonial Period.
The Galle Fort Masjid is the main Masjid in the city. The Jummah Salaath starts around 12:30 PM and the sermon is delivered in Tamil. Galle has a sizable Muslim population. As such there are number of restaurants serving Halal food there. However almost non of them are certified by the Halal Authorities in Sri Lanka.
The Galle Fort is a world heritage site and is the largest, remaining fortress in Asia built by Europeans. The Fort was first built by Portuguese in 1589 and was taken over by the Dutch in 1640 and was then reformed and enlarged. The Fort saw another take over by, the British in 1796, however no transformations were made. Travelers can enjoy a walk along the walls of the Fort at sunset. The walk is free of cost and visitors should be wary of guides and local hawkers.
The National Maritime Museum is located inside the Galle Fort and is a worth visiting attraction. Before the Tsunami hit Galle in 2004 the museum housed flora, fauna of the sea and undersea artifacts. The museum was reopened at the Dutch warehouse of the Galle Fort, as the National Maritime Archaeology Museum in 2010. Galle also houses the Galle International Stadium, which host "Test" cricket.
Visitors can enjoy a great diving experience in Galle. The Unawatuna Bay next to the Galle Harbor is a great place for travelers to observe see triggerfish, pufferfish and several other species. Further away from the coast there are a number of artificial reefs where more marvels of nature can be observed. Travelers can also visit one of the numerous turtle hatcheries located along the coast.
If you are visiting Galle, then you could extend the trip to the Yala National Park, the Kottowa rainforest, Hikkaduwa, Unawatuna and the Dodanduwa Lagoon. Also not very far from Galle are the Doovili Ella waterfall in Hiniduma and the Kaneliya Nature Reserve. Although these places not very far in terms of distance from Galle, due to the nature of the roads it could take 1 to 3 hours to reach.
A trip to Galle is incomplete without enjoying a great gem shopping experience. Most of the shopping in the city is centered in the Galle Fort where visitors can find souvenirs, gem shops and gift stalls.
