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Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications

Galle · Sri Lanka

Background

World Heritage since
1988
Type of site
Cultural
Portuguese and Dutch fort
1588–18th c.

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. UNESCO calls it 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.

The Portuguese built the first fort in 1588; the Dutch fortified it extensively from 1649. The fort withstood the 2004 tsunami that damaged the coastal town, and today holds a multi-ethnic, multi-religious community among cobbled streets and colonial villas.

More on the UNESCO listing More on Wikipedia

  1. 1411Admiral Zheng He leaves a trilingual inscription at the port
  2. 1505The Portuguese first land at Galle
  3. 1588The Portuguese build the first fort
  4. 1649The Dutch begin the fortifications that stand today
  5. 1796The British take over and keep the fort intact
  6. 1988Inscribed as World Heritage

Find Your Way Around

The main parts of the site, in the order most visitors see them

  1. 1
    The Ramparts
    Walk the Dutch walls to the lighthouse; sunset at Flag Rock is the local ritual.
  2. 2
    Dutch Reformed Church
    On Church Street, worth a look inside.
  3. 3
    National Maritime Museum
    In the old Dutch East India Company warehouse.
  4. 4
    Fort Streets
    Colonial villas, boutiques and the Historical Mansion Museum.
  5. 5
    Meeran Mosque
    On Rampart Street, part of the fort's mixed community.

Know Before You Go

From Wikivoyage and the GoGo guides

Coast Train from Colombo
Wikivoyage: trains and buses follow the coastline from Colombo, about three hours.
Walk from the Bus Station
The fort is a short walk from the central bus station; no need for a tuk-tuk.
Walking the Walls Is Free
Be wary of 'guides' who offer a paid walk round the fort; it is free for everyone.
Sunset on the Ramparts
Locals and cricket on the walls at dusk.

Walls and Streets

From the GoGo Galle guide · Open the Galle Guide ›

  1. 08:00
    Galle Fort Ramparts2 hrs
    The walls to the lighthouse.
  2. 14:00
    National Maritime Museum1 hr
    In a Dutch warehouse.
  3. 15:00
    Galle Fort Streets90 min
    Dutch church and colonial villas.
  4. 17:45
    Flag Rock Sunset1 hr
    Dusk on the walls.

Best Time to Visit

Best months: Jan–Feb, Jul–Aug. Rainy season Apr–May, Sep–Dec.

Typical highs

Best monthsRain: wettest Nov (334 mm), driest Feb (85 mm)

Climate: NASA POWER

Pair It With

Other World Heritage sites nearby, by distance

WORTH A NIGHTDAY TRIPSAME DAYDistance not to scale · tap a site
Do These Together
Sinharaja rainforest is 53 km inland; Kandy, the other great town of the south, is 148 km.
Sources
UNESCO World Heritage Centre, listing 451 · Wikipedia: Galle Fort · Wikivoyage: Galle (CC BY-SA 4.0) · GoGo Galle guide · UNESCO listing