During the 16th and the 20th centuries, the impact of three significant imperial powers the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British have changed the course of Sri Lankan history. Therefore displaying colonial influences, the history of Galle is absolutely fascinating.
The beautiful city of Galle, still and quiet at night echoes the intrigues of the past and is a delight to keen explorers and history buffs. The Galle Fort built initially by the Portuguese and enhanced further by the Dutch is a UNESCO World heritage site. Take a tour through the fort and walk on beautifully paved roads imitating that of the roads in Europe. These streets maintain the cultural legacies of the locale and are named after different communities. Visit other significant landmarks such as the Dutch Reformed Church, the National Maritime Museum near the Old Gate, the Meera Mosque and many other fascinating sites. Therefore those really yearning to probe in to the history of Galle, should consider a Galle boutique hotel such as Era Beach by Jetwing and stay within accessible proximity of the fort.
For the past several centuries Galle has been a city of trade. The port of Galle in ancient times has traded with empires of Greece, India, China and is therefore an important part of the country’s trade history. To any observer it is evident that Galle has adapted to the modern whilst maintaining a strong connection to its historical past.
Intrigued by history, art and food, Shazzana Hamid is a writer who is passionate about the extraordinary. Disguised as Lavinia Woolf she writes of the exhilarating and enchanting. Google+