Galle

Location: Southern Coast, 116 kms from Colombo
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. It is the quintessence of a fortified city built by Europeans in South and South-East Asia, showing a rich medley of European architectural styles and South Asian traditions. A must visit for the colonial architecture freaks!

Attractions of the city
The Dutch Fort: The main attraction of the city is the Dutch fort built in the 17th century. It is one of the most extensive monuments left by European colonialists. Although many of the structures that made up the fort are in serious decay, the outer walls are completely intact. A stroll along the top of the walls at dusk gives a fantastic view of cricket games, an old lighthouse, and breath taking sights of the town's harbour.

Churches and Quaint Buildings: Within the fort there are several old churches which deserve a visit. A Dutch church dating back to the mid 18th century holds the place of prominence among all the churches.Walking down the narrow streets one can have a good look at the old buildings reminiscient of the colonial era.

The New Oriental Hotel: The New Oriental Hotel, one of the oldest in Sri Lanka, is a nice place for a visit. However, more than the rooms its the porch and the balcony which are in a somewhat better shape.

The Dutch Museum: This small museum at 31 Leynbaan Street housed in a restored Dutch mansion contains paintings, prints, documents, furniture and ceramics belonging to the Dutch colonial era.

National Maritime Museum: This small museum housed in the Old Gatehouse has a collection of- shabby ship models, charts and other maritime memorabilia.

Around Galle
Unawatuna Beach: Located 5 kms away from the main city, this is pretty good place along the sea side.

International Connectivity
Air: The Bandarnaike international airport is located 32kms away from Colombo, the capital city.

Sea: Galle is an international sea port with passenger services to and from various important ports across the world.

Domestic Transportation
There are no flight services to Galle. However, a good network of road and rail services connect it with other parts of the country. For local transport tourists can rely on the taxis and tourist cabs.

Staying
Excellent accomodation is available at the various hotels and guest houses in and around Galle.