GALLE
The fortified old town is enjoying an artistic renaissance and the beautiful beaches around it are dotted with villas and hotels and Galle Fort offers increasingly interesting shopping. The Galle fort is a world heritage site and is the largest remaining fortress in Asia built by European occupiers. Galle is thriving and features a tropical rainforest climate.
Other prominent landmarks in Galle include the city’s natural harbor, the National Maritime Museum, St. Mary’s Cathedral founded by Jesuit priests, one of the main Shiva temples on the island, and Amangalla, the historic luxury hotel. Important natural geographical features in Galle include Rumassala in Unawatuna, a large mound-like hill that forms the eastern protective barrier to Galle Harbour.
- Galle Dutch Fort
Galle city plays an important role in history of Sri Lanka especially when considering about the international relationships. Also it was considered as the place where Portuguese first arrived to Sri Lanka in 1505 and city is famous all over the world due to Gall Dutch Fort. This is originally built by the Portuguese on the Southwestern coast of Sri Lanka and then further developed by the Dutch and the British and also one of Sri Lanka’s most-loved areas. This UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is said to have been a busy port trading with many foreign vendors such as Arabs, Chinese and Greeks.
The Portuguese were able to make a close connection with the Sri Lankan king and got his blessing to build a camp, to ensure the safety of country but ultimately this place became a prison for the local community who were against the cruel Portuguese rulers.
- Unawatuna beach
Unawatuna is a coastal town in Galle and plays a role as a major tourist attraction in Sri Lanka and famous for its beautiful beach and corals.
Unawatuna is rich in its biodiversity and greatest potential attraction was the marshland or mangrove, Kadolana. Terns, egrets, herons, sandpipers and kingfishers, as well as rarer species such as the lesser whistling duck, the Asian palm swift, the white-breasted waterhen, Loten’s sunbird, black bittern these birds are mostly sighted in the remaining marshy area and Rumassala Hillock. Also a great variety of fish and turtles can be seen in there.
- Hikkaduwa Beach
Hikkaduwa has a beautiful, sandy, very wide and pretty clean beach. And many species of fish and large turtles are found here. The coral sanctuary of Hikkaduwa decorated with layers of multi colored corals and is home to countless numbers of vibrantly colored fish. It is a well-known international destination for board-surfing and reputed as the second best surfing spot in Sri Lanka. The extraordinarily attractive beach of Hikkaduwa is a place of gift from mother nature. There are many shops selling Masks, Gems, Jewelry, Batik, Antiques and surfing equipment’s.
- Jungle Beach – Rumassala
Golden sandy beach and high bio diversity background may be an amazing experience. Can be seen the sun bath facilities around the cafeteria when entered to the beach also this place is worth enough for visiting. Jungle Beach is located nearly Galle city, Unawatuna area. It is very suitable for swimming and to relax yourself peacefully. Travelers love to the pathway to this beautiful beach due to can be seen uncommon plants and birds, animals in this way. It seems like a jungle feeling.
- Musium
Lovely looking round this collection of curios and things were very informative and knowledgeable about Sri Lanka’s colonial heritage. The museum is jam packed with what seems a random collection of antiques and artefacts, all displayed in a higgledy piggledy fashion but that all added to the charm.
