In 1505 the Portuguese landed in the Pearl of the Indian Ocean in the hopes of trade and conquest and from the years that followed the island gained many influences and endowments, from cuisine, to social customs and monuments and many more. From all of these, there stands tall and proud to this day, a monument which embodies the rule and power of Portuguese, and that is the magnificent Galle Fort. Walk inside the walls of this great structure and you will be transported into the 17th Century with all its glory…
Located on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, 2 hours from Colombo, Galle Fort was built by the Portuguese in 1588 before it was extensively fortified by the country’s second Colonists, the Dutch, during the 17th century from 1649 onwards. Thanks to the extensive reconstruction work done by the Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka, the fort to this day maintains a well-preserved appearance. Because of its historical, archaeological and architectural value, the Galle Fort has been named as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO who has described it as “an urban ensemble which illustrates the interaction of European architecture and South Asian traditions from the 16th to the 19th centuries.” If you’re planning a visit to this World Heritage Site it is always important to be comfortably settled down in an accommodation close to the site as the Fort with its many attractions is worth exploring in more than one day. Thus, Cantaloupe Aqua by Cantaloupe Hotels is one of the ideal choices among the hotels near Galle you can find as it is only within just approximately 20 minutes distance away.
The exterior of the Fort consists of dark, thick stone walls which has two entrances. At the main entrance you can see the two symbols on the top, the motto of the British Monarch in England “Dieu et mon droit” can be seen on the outside, while on the inner side you can see the Dutch VOC symbol, which symbolized the Dutch East India Company. Inside the fort, you will find a range of historical buildings that includes the Galle Fort Temple, Galle Fort Light House, Old Dutch Hostel, Police Barracks, Court Complex, Maritime Museum and Maritime Archaeological Museum and the Galle Fort Anglican Church among many others. Shoppers will love the bounty of antique and furniture boutiques, book stores and fashion outlets found within.
Uditha Dharmawardhane is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Roland Lefevre. He specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe. Google+
