Galle Fort - Dutch Legacy

Second last destination in Sri Lanka was Galle Fort. Strategically located amidst Indian Ocean trade routes, Galle served as an international trading port well before the arrival of Europeans to Asia, However, it was during the 16" century that the Portuguese established a fort in this promontory for trading and defensive purposes. The Dutch who succeeded Portuguese in 1640, strengthened the fortifications with massive ramparts thats enclosed the entire promontory with bastions positioned at strategic points in both sea and land fronts It reflects the fusion of Dutch fortification engineering knowledge and native construction techniques utilizing local materials and manpower. The fortified town also offers an outstanding example of an urban ensemble in South Asia, illustrating the interaction between Dutch town planning principles and South Asian architectural traditions. The British who took over the fort from the Dutch in 1796 also made a number of modifications to the fort Galle is the best representation of a fortified colonial town in South Asia. Due to its Outstanding Universal Value Galle Fort was inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1988.
We just walked around enjoyed the buildings, churches (Anglican, Dutch Reformed, Catholic), the Lighthouse, shops, restaurants with great Sri Lankan cuisine and cafes. We had a room in a very nice historic building with veranda. Was perfect! In the late afternoon rain arrived on both days and therefore no sunset on the Fort walls.Read more