Galle, or as it is called by the locals, Goal, is the third largest city in Sri Lanka. In 1505, the Portuguese landed in this place by mistake. After hearing the cock in the morning, they called the area Galle (in Portuguese "galo"). According to another version, the name comes from the Sinhalese "gale", a stone. Because of their great military power the Portuguese occupied the entire coast. Government of Sri Lanka was able to save only Kandy, as it was located in the center of the island. In 1589, after a collision with the locals, the Portuguese built a fort. Their attitude to the locals was not very good, so the king of Sri Lanka requested help from the Dutch. After a long war, in 1640 they drove out the Portuguese from the island. And in 1663 the Galle Fort appeared, which is one of the best preserved colonial forts in Asia.
Galle was badly damaged during the tsunami in 2004, thousands of people were killed. But during our visit in 2012 there were almost no visible signs of the tsunami. There are residential buildings inside the fort, the territory is beautiful. Admission is free.
Galle Fort ©Yuriy Buriak
Streets inside the Galle Fort ©Yuriy Buriak
Galle Fort ©Yuriy Buriak
Church of All Saints ©Yuriy Buriak
Shield with the monogram of the East India campaign at the Galle Fort ©Yuriy Buriak
Walls of the Galle Fort ©Yuriy Buriak
Cricket field and a street of Galle ©Yuriy Buriak
Galle Fort ©Yuriy Buriak
Lighthouse at the Galle Fort ©Yuriy Buriak
Clock tower at the Galle Fort ©Yuriy Buriak
Getting there: Galle is connected by daily buses to all major cities both in the south and in the west coast: Colombo, Unawatuna, Hikkaduwa, Matara. There are also trains on these routes, plus there is a daily train from Kandy.
