The Old City of Galle is a historical city of Sri Lanka and the city is surrounded by sixteenth century walls. This place is considered an archaeological sanctuary since the colonial period of the Dutch, Portuguese and British and has the status of World Heritage Site. The name Galle comes from the Sinhalese ‘Gala’ meaning house of cattle and the Portuguese named it Point de Galle. The place was occupied by the Portuguese and they took it from the Sinhala kings in 1587 and built its first fort, which was a single wall from the sea to the harbour. After that, the Dutch came here with 12 ships to conquer this land. If you are planning a tour to Sri Lanka, keep this guide with you and learn more about the old city of Galle.
Season
Since the place is located on the Sri Lankan coast, the old town of Galle has the atmosphere of a tropical rainforest. Although the city is sunny for most of the year, the month of August is considered to be the best time to visit the old town of Galle. The summer season lasts from December to February and the temperature remains around 29 to 31 degrees Celsius and it is always rainy and sunny during this time. This time period is also good for outdoor activities. From February to April is the spring time and the weather is extremely suitable for beach activities and you can also relax by the pool. There will be light rain during this period, but that will make the weather better. From October to November the weather remains cool and the best part about this place is that the rains move towards the north east and the sea becomes calm and beach activities are also preferred.
how to reach
old town of galle sri lanka It is 116 km away from the country’s capital Colombo and you can reach this place by road or rail and it will be down the southern coast of the country. Whichever road you choose, the picturesque value of both is the best, and since the road follows the coastline the view is always spectacular. You can avail another option to reach Galle, which is the Southern Expressway and you will reach there in half the time, but there will be less views to experience.
Places to visit in Galle Old Town
There are lots of great places to visit galle old town And you will also be mesmerized by the age-old beauty and buildings. Thus, here we have listed three major places that you can visit.
1. Dutch Church
As you know the Duchess established her colony here and thus her religion also flourished here. The church was built in 1754 on a Portuguese Capuchin convent and named after a Protestant one, ‘Grote Kerk’, which was built in 1640. Now the Dutch Church is founded by Gertruda Adriana Le Grand, wife of Commander Gaspar de Jong, and it was she who had long prayed for the birth of her son. It is an old church in Sri Lanka and is an area of interest for the Orthodox Forum because of the wonderful iconography found here. Fully grained calamander wood with hexagonal shapes and satinwood panels can be experienced here. There is an exquisite carving, in pomegranate pattern, below the pulpit, and a sounding board hung on the wall with hoops and iron rods.
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2. Antiquities of Galle
It was the home of Dutch commanders and the government house of that time. It was used as the Queen’s residence during the British period, and can be seen opposite the Dutch Church down the road leading to the Old Gate. When you are here, you will see a large stone slab at the entrance with a rooster carved on it, and this stone slab has been here since 1683 making it one of the main antiquities of the old town of Galle and its Is. Fortification.
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3. Unawatuna Bay
Apart from the historical importance of the old town of Sri Lanka, there are many places where you can also go for water sports and swimming. Unawatuna Bay has amazing facilities for snorkeling, and since the place is protected by a reef, it makes this place perfect for it. The place also has a mythological significance, as it is linked to a story from the Ramayana, which states that the wounded warrior Lakshmana was found at this place, and the monkey god Hanuman came to bring herbs to save the warrior. He had flown, but he had forgotten the name of the herb, and thus he broke a piece of Himalaya and threw it here.
This is where you can buy lots of souvenirs from the small shops along the beach, and rare gems, blue sapphires and rubies among many things, are found in the shops. There are many places where you can buy gall lace, handmade items and even some jewelry.
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things to do
There are many things to do when you are visiting the old town of Galle, and you will definitely enjoy your best time here. Thus, here is a list of three best things that you can do here.
1. Lunch at Crepe-ology
This eatery is located next to the Mansion Museum in Galle, and it is home to the most delicious crepes you have ever eaten. If you want to taste Sri Lankan curry, that is also available here. You can have a wonderful lunch time at this place with your family. The crepes here are small but made of fruits and powdered sugar, and you will get different delicious flavors, and you can have ice cream, chocolate sauce with it. This place is also very bright and colorfully decorated.
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2. Galle Lighthouse
It is the oldest light station in the country and is one of the most important places to see in the old town of Galle. The place dates back to 1848 and was destroyed by fire in 1934. This lighthouse is still in use and is located in a prime location in the city, and you will get a full view of the harbor from here.
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3. Isle of Gelato
There can be no excuse to gorge on ice cream cones and the weather in Galle is humid and hot at the same time, thus, you can always have the best ice cream from the Isle of Gelato. This place is small but it gets very crowded to taste the great tasting ice cream and you may have to stand in line to get your turn, but it will all be worth it!
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Did you get an overview of your next trip this year and it is to the old city of Galle in Sri Lanka. Pay attention to the above tips, and you will be good to go. From these above mentioned points you will get all the information about visiting site and you will be able to find a way to have a good time in old town Galle with your family and friends while holidaying in Sri Lanka. If you are looking for a seaside place then you will find it here because the beaches are there to entertain you.
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