The seaside town of Galle is 116 Km away from Colombo by road or rail, down the south coast of Sri Lanka. Both routes are picturesque, following the coastline closely for much of the way. You can also take the Southern Expressway if you need to reach the city by half the time but there is not much scenery to admire.
Galle
It is of no doubt that a vacation in Galle will provide you with a truly magical experience where a range of attractions are available for those who look for a dynamic holiday package.
The famous Galle Dutch Fort, known as a World Heritage Site provides a magnificent views of the Indian Ocean. Architectural enthusiast will be awed by the immense architectural value of this ancient fort. Therefore an evening walking tour of the fort will undoubtedly add pleasure to your stay.
If adventure is your desire, Unawatuna beach is the ideal place for it where it offers facilities for scuba diving, surfing, and boogie boarding on nearby beaches and snorkeling. Deep sea fishing can also be experienced around the coastal area of Galle where you can gather more knowledge about the fishing techniques that are practiced in the South Asian region.
If you want to spend your vacation away from the sea and sand, there is enough number of places that you can visit. Temples and churches of ancient value are frequently visited by most tourists where they are amazed by the architectural designs of the ancestors. A visit to one of the low land tea estates in Galle district will make you feel as if you are in the hill capital of Sri Lanka. On the other hand the travelers can also visit Sri Lanka’s largest Silk Factory in Gintota, Galle or see Sri Lanka’s best batiks in the area of Ambalangoda.
A river cruise or a half day boat ride on the Koggala Lake is another excitement which can be experienced in Galle. You can visit the small islands that are situated around the lake, the most famous being the “Madol Doowa”.
Something that you don’t want to forget during your trip to Galle is to shop in and around Galle. Galle offers its visitors unique souvenirs such as batiks, some of world’s best lace, pure silk and much more.
Galle Fort
in the Bay of Galle on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, was built first in 1588 by the Portuguese, then extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century from 1649 onwards. It is a historical, archaeological and architectural heritage monument, which even after more than 423 years maintains a polished appearance, due to extensive reconstruction work done by Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka.[1]
The fort has a colourful history, and today has a multi-ethnic and multi-religious population.[2][3][4] The Sri Lankan government and many Dutch people who still own some of the properties inside the fort are looking at making this one of the modern wonders of the world.[4][5] The heritage value of the fort has been recognized by the UNESCO and the site has been inscribed as a cultural heritage UNESCO World Heritage Site under criteria iv, for its unique exposition of “an urban ensemble which illustrates the interaction of European architecture and South Asian traditions from the 16th to the 19th centuries.