Galle
Galle is the gem of the south coast. This unique city is a historic delight, it’s main attraction is the fantastic Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Fort is blessed with many old Dutch colonial buildings, ancient mosques, chuches, luxurious mansions and museums.
The entire Galle Fort can be explored on foot. Walk along its rambling lanes and take in the trendy boutiques, idyllic cafes, restaurants and boutique hotels which greet you. There are also several administrative buildings, courts and schools that make the Fort very vibrant.
The Galle fort also has a vibrant local community which have lived there for centuries. Though a lot of them have sold their properties and moved on, the area still has plenty of locals and local families living there.
The Fort was built by the Dutch in 1663. The first wave of colonizers to come to Sri Lanka. The fort is a walled enclave surrounded by ocean on three sides. After the Dutch the Portuguese and then the English took over.
Walking along the ramparts is one of the best things to do in the Galle Fort. At sunset the whole space turns golden in the evening hue. Lots of locals and tourists gather and some bathe off the Southern edge of the fort which features a nice if a little rocky beach.
The fort is peopled by many interesting individuals who sell, perform and make many things. Try some of the delicious local food, if you are lucky home-made at one of the houses at the Galle fort itself and served hot from a doorstep. The famed cliff divers who take off from the southern bastion are great to watch.
Galle is also smack in the middle of an area which boasts some fantastic beaches. Hikkaduwa is just a few kilometres to the North. While the beautiful Unawatuna is just 3 kilometres away.
Jungle Beach, the exotic tiny miracle, lies just across the bay from the Fort, on the mythical Rumassala hill. Rumassala is a hill that has many associations with ancient myths. Close to Galle, there is Dewata Beach, a place ideal for beginner surfers.
The Fort offers some fantastic places to stay, ranging from the ultra luxurious to the quaint and homely. Some of our favorites include Villa Republic, Tamarind Hill by Asia Leisure, Le Grand Galle, Fort Bazaar, Era Beach, Amari Galle and Sielen Diva.