Galle
The port town of Galle, about 60 miles (100km) south of Colombo
and a short distance west of Matara, is steeped in the heritage of
the Dutch presence in Sri Lanka, and is dominated by the 36-hectare
(89-acre) Dutch Fort, originally built by the Portuguese in 1588,
with its massive ramparts on a promontory. Galle is a delightful
and unexpected mixture of dilapidated colonial history and exotic,
tropical beauty.
Inside the walls of the fort, which has been declared a UNESCO
World Heritage Site, is the oldest part of Galle, with Dutch
homesteads, museums and churches, as well as Amangalla (formerly
known as the New Oriental Hotel), originally the home of the Dutch
governors. Galle is home to a creative community and has attracted
many foreign artists, writers and poets.
Inside the fort there are many galleries, boutiques and craft
shops to investigate, and many travellers choose to spend a few
nights in the fort, which is at once an interesting historical
monument and a thriving modern centre. Galle has a small beach, but
most sun-lovers find better beaches a little out of town along the
coast road.
Getting to Galle from Colombo is a treat, because both the train
and bus routes wind along the coast, offering gorgeous views. It
takes between two and four hours to get to Galle from the capital
by bus or train.