Galle is situated in south Sri Lanka, 146 km away from Colombo. You can use Buses, Taxis, and Trains; the journeys take approximately three hours. Using the Colombo Matara highway can save time and avoid heavy road traffic.  

Galle became famous because of its natural and manufactured beauty. The most famous places that most tourists visit are beautiful Galle Beach, Port, and Dutch Fort. Apart from them, in this UNESCO world heritage site, You can visit Unawatuna Beach, Rumassala Mountain, Talpe Beach, Madol Duwa (Small Island), the Underwater Museum, Japanese Peace Pagoda, etc.

Galle Fort

Galle Fort is situated in the Galle city near the main Bus stand. According to Historical data, This fort was built by the Portugues in 1588 and was renovated and extended by the Dutch in 1670. English is also used after the Dutch this fort till Sri Lanka’s independence day 4, th February 1948. Today, inside the Galle Fort, you can see hotels, different kinds of shops, restaurants, historic buildings, and places of value.

Some places you must visit in Galle Fort

The Galle Lighthouse

The Galle Lighthouse, which stands in one corner of Galle Fort, utilizes automated lights to alert mariners of nearby hazards. It is 100 feet (30.5 meters) from its predecessor, erected by the British in 1848 and damaged by fire in 1934.

The lighthouse, with its basic appearance framed by palm trees and coastal vistas, is a popular tourist destination. Entry is not authorized. However, most people walk along the ramparts to appreciate the views. Many people like to take a tour to make transportation and sightseeing easier.

Old Dutch Hospital

Built by the Dutch in the 17th century, this two-story hospital employed government workers and officers. Today, it has been converted into a restaurant, but you can still see Dutch architecture and beauty. Most people visit this area in the evening for dinner; if the weather is good, they can see the beautiful sunset.

Maritime Museum

This was also situated inside the Dutch fort, and in 1992, it was open to the public. Every visitor needs to take entrance tickets and can see more marine artifacts found underwater near Galle Beach and the sea, such as mugs, guns, smoking pipes, barrels, solder uniforms, some parts of sunk ships, and more.

Dutch Reformed Church

This is one of the older Reformed churches in Sri Lanka. It was built by the Dutch in 1755. Today, you can also participate in Sunday services. Old paintings, an altar, a piano, and books can be seen inside the church. Entry is free, and if you want to learn more details, you can get a guide by paying.

Outside the Gall Fort, There are many places to visit.

Unawatuna Beach

Unawatuna is 30 minutes from Galle City. It is one of the calmest and cleanest beaches in southern Sri Lanka. It is the best place to relax, do boat trips, snorkel, dive, and swim. Around the beach, many restaurants and hotels are lying, and most of the weekend, they have beach parties with DJ music. More locals visit Unawatuna Beach on weekends, and most do boat trips to Unawatuna to Jungle Beach. Jungle Beach is another active beach with a lot of different kinds of trees around it. Seafood Platter is the most popular dish in Unawatuna, including various types of spicy fish.

Japanese Peace Pagoda

This Japanese-type Buddhist temple opened in 2005 as a Buddhist mung Nichidatsu Fujii concept. It is situated 7.6 km away from Galle city, and a Journey can take 30 minutes if you travel via Tuk Tuk.

This temple has a beautiful golden and white stupa. The temple ritual is performed at 5:30 PM; anyone can participate and see. The temple is on top of the mountain, and you can see the area around Unawatuna Beach.

Rumassala Sanctuary

5 km from Galle town, Rumassala Sanctuary is one of the best places for nature lovers. In the Jungle, you can see herons, kingfishers, pelicans, and more birds. Spices and old trees give the area cool and fresh air. Most people pay more attention to the unusual red soil. The best time to visit Rumassala Sentuary is in the morning at 8.00 or 9.00, before the sun is intense, because you need to hike.