Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications



"In 1505 a group of Portuguese sailors led by Don Lorenzo de Almeida arrived in 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"





Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, originally built by the Portuguese and then further developed by the Dutch and the British, covers nearly four sq kms, and is protected by 12 bastions and connecting ramparts. During the early 18th century the Old Dutch Gate was the entrance point to the Fort. Subsequently the British built the Main Gate which is still used today. Buildings of interest include the Dutch Reformed Church, All Saints Church, Amangalla Hotel (formerly the New Oriental Hotel), the lighthouse and bell tower. The Dutch also developed what was then an innovative tide-based sewage-system within the Fort.


A maze of narrow roads lined with small houses and shops with Dutch names still remain. Recently, a spate of old colonial houses within the Fort have been attractively renovated and made into exquisite boutique villas and hotels retaining the colonial architectural features including arches and columned courtyards, verandas, and high ceilings.


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Unawatuna & Roomassala





High on the headland of Unawatuna Bay is Roomassala Temple. With beautiful views stretching out over the Indian Ocean, a walk around the headland near the temple is very special. Famed for the natural medicinal herbs nearby you will walk through hidden villages and verdant jungle valleys eventually finding yourself on “Jungle Beach”- a little known and secluded beach.


Just inland from Galle is Yatagala Raja Maha Viharaya, a fine place to go and visit for temple lovers. This temple is built around and within giant boulder-like rock formations. Quiet and little visited, the temple looks out over paddy fields and small hamlets. It won’t take much time to visit, but Yatagala is interesting as a comparison to the bigger, more famous temples in Sri Lanka.



Koggala Lake and the Islands





Koggala Lake scattered with 16 small islands, is a peaceful setting where rural life unfolds and nature reigns supreme. Fish eagles to monitor lizards share this habitat along with generations of villagers with a rich southern heritage. Some of the more interesting islands on Koggala Lake include Fish Eagle Island where hundreds Eagles come to nest at dusk; Madolduwa – steeped in folklore, has remains of the home of late Martin Wickramasinghe, one of Sri Lanka’s famous Sinhala authors; and Cinnamon Island where four village families do processing of cinnamon into essential oils. Boating, kayaking, canoeing in a traditional 'oru' and fishing and trolling on the lake are possible.



Explore Old Town of Galle !


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Stilt Fishing at Koggala Beach



Old building at Galle Rampart



An aerial view of Galle Fort



Unawatuna Jungle Beach



Fishing in Koggala Lake



Galle Fort Lighthouse



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