A salty, sensual breeze lingered for a moment to greet the old and the new visitors strolling along the stone wall of Galle Fort. Keeping guard over the charming ensemble of European and South Asian cultural mix that makes up Galle’s quirky landscape and way of life, the Galle Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, it is known as one of the well-preserved fortresses built by the colonials of a bygone era. A scattering of quaint structures and architectural wonders adorn the streets. When travellers enter this land, they leave behind their worries to inhibit a unique world where life seems to flow with the ease of a wayward wind. There are a myriad of unique places to stay in the area. In particular, some of the hotels in Unawatuna such as the CoCo Bay Unawatuna can feel like blissful havens to sooth your body and soul.
Built on a peninsula, where the sea and the land greet each other affectionately, in many ways Galle Fort can feel like the home you never had. It is a place where art & poetry thrive in unison with the mundane. The city’s unique charm has attracted a large community of writers, artists, photographers and designers.
While Portuguese first constructed the fort with the blessings of the then King of Ceylon, the Dutch built the walls around it to shield their stronghold from enemy cannon ball and to this day, it seems like a giant guardian angel overseeing the city’s many activities. As far as activities go, the area is abuzz with people of many nationalities, curious artefact shops, hotels, cafés, a cricket stadium and beautiful sunsets.
Moments before dusk envelops the area, most of Galle seems to gather near the Galle Fort to play impromptu cricket matches, share a romantic stroll or to simply savour the moment just before the day ends.
Fritzjames Stephen is a travel writer, who writes content based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life.Google+