Galle

Sri Lanka is a small island surrounded by the ocean and there are many coastal areas around it. But there are these few coasts which are truly breathtaking and beautiful. One of them is Galle.

Galle is known to be one of the coastal cities that has stunning beaches and locations.

The magnificent tropical landscape, crowded, narrow lanes, crumbling colonial remnants, and the constant aroma of exotic spices. There is certainly something alluring and captivating about this place.

The history of Galle

Galle is famous as a port and a coastal city which is located on the southern coast of the island. The history of Galle dates back from the 13th century. But it caught everyone’s attention when it became the main port during the time of Portuguese era.

Galle was first developed as a port city by the traders from Egypt, Arabia, Persia, and China who came to the city for its lovely harbor, according to historical documents. The city also developed into a significant trading hub for cinnamon and other priceless Sri Lankan spices.

Various kingdoms, including the Sinhalese, Portuguese, Dutch, and British, reigned over Galle. Because of its natural harbor, the city was regarded as having a vital strategic location, making it an important commerce and military hub for European countries in the area.

The Dutch then turned it into the capital of the country until it was replaced by Colombo in 1656. But still, Galle remained as a major shipping port that handled some of the shipments. Therefore, the Dutch expanded the fortifications and then built the Galle fort.

During the period of the British, Galle developed into a significant administrative hub, and numerous buildings and infrastructural projects were built.

Galle is currently a well-liked tourist destination renowned for its fascinating history, stunning beaches, and distinctive architecture. The Galle Literary Festival, held annually in the city, draws well-known writers and thinkers from all over the world.

Top attractions in Galle

Galle is famous among locals and tourists as it has these beautiful and unique buildings and beaches. The stunning views will make anyone fall in love with this place.

If visiting Galle is on your to-do list while you visit Sri Lanka, don’t worry about where to go and what to see. Here are some of the best suggestions for you to make your trip more interesting. Make sure you read this and add up something extraordinary to your journey.

Galle Fort

Whenever Galle is on talk, the first place that pops up is the Galle fort. This is also referred to as Dutch fort.

This was initially constructed by the Portuguese and later, it was fortified by the Dutch. It is now named as a UNESCO world heritage site.

Tourists from all over the world are drawn to this fort because it combines archaeology, architecture, and history with a vibrant atmosphere of shops, cafes, and boutiques.

 The Galle lighthouse and Mansion museum is one of the most well-liked attractions in the Galle Fort.

Unawatuna Beach

This is one of the best and most popular beaches to visit in Galle as well as in Sri Lanka. It is popular for the clear water and the golden sands.

The sunset is also another beautiful scene to enjoy at this beach. There are also snorkeling opportunities provided if you love. But this place is not ideal for surfing.

Rumassala

Rumassala is just 5km away from the Galle fort. It is a well-liked landmark and a marvel of nature steeped in legends. Rumassala Hill, designated as a wildlife sanctuary, is the ideal location for birdwatchers as it is a heaven for endemic and migratory species alike.

Dutch Reformed Church

It is one of the oldest churches in Sri Lanka. The church is historically valuable and has a beautiful interior with old tombstones on the floor.

Sea Turtle Hatchery

If you love turtles, this is a place that you should definitely visit. The Hatchery is one of the numerous turtle breeding and conservation facilities set up on the island, run by volunteers as well. 

Travelers may see for themselves what an amazing work these volunteers are doing. Visitors are given a briefing on the center’s system and conservation efforts as soon as they arrive, and staff members will take you around.

During this time, you could approach these kind creatures up close and touch them.

Martin Wickramasinghe Museum

This museum can be found at Koggala, which is close to Galle. The Martin Wickramasinghe Memorial Museum contains artefacts that are relevant to Sri Lankan literature, culture, and history.

Stilt Fishing

Stilt fishing is very well-known in the Koggala region. This amazing fishing technique rose to prominence as a major tourist draw for a while, but only in the southern province.

Fishermen exclusively fish in the morning and evening, and they do so while perched on a short pole without any bait.

They typically need a lot of patience to catch a fish. As a result, it can take a very long time.

The folktale claims that the great fishing technique has a history dating back more than 350 years.

Best Time To Visit

There are two monsoon seasons that take place in Sri Lanka at opposite times of the year. This also happens on opposite sides of the island.

The best time to visit is from December to March which is the lowest rainfall time. April will be the driest here. Avoid visiting from May to September as the southwest monsoon hits and the sea will also be rough.

Keep in mind that the prices of accommodation will be lowest during the southwest monsoon and highest during the seasonal period.

Weather

Galle usually has tropical weather where the temperature and humidity are high. As mentioned above, the city experiences two types of monsoon.

During the monsoon season, the city gets heavy rainfalls as well as strong winds. The wettest months will be May-June.

March-May will be the hottest. The average temperature will range from 28 degrees to 34 degrees.

Local Cuisine 

The local cuisine in Galle is influenced mainly by the sea and the diverse culture. There are some popular local dishes that you must try when you visit here.

Seafood

Since Galle is a coastal city, it is very famous for seafood. This includes prawns, crabs, lobster etc. Most of the local cafes have dishes prepared with these ingredients.

Sri Lankan crab curry

This is a famous seafood dish made with crabs.

It’s made with unique Sri Lankan spices to give its taste a twist. The sauce is known as ‘curry’.

Hoppers

It is a traditional dish mainly used as breakfast or else for an evening tea snack.

It is made out of fermented rice flour and coconut milk. The shape is like a bowl with crispy edges. This is mainly eaten with katta sambol, a mixture of onions, chili and maldive fish.

Kottu Roti

Kottu is a popular food made by most of the food shops as well as street food shops.

It is made with shredded flour roti (flatbread) with stir fried vegetables, eggs, chicken or gravy.

Day trips from Galle

Galle makes an ideal location to explore the southern coastal region. There are some popular places that you can take a day trip from Galle.

Unawatuna

This is a 10 minutes drive from Galle city. Unawatuna is famous for the coral reef, stunning beaches and water based activities.

Mirissa

Mirissa is about 45 minutes away from the city center. This place has a breathtaking view of the beach from the famous coconut tree hill.

Whale watching and surfing are also very famous here.

Sinharaja forest reserve

It is located a few hours away from Galle. It is also named as a UNESCO world heritage.

You can see a wide variety of fauna and flora with some endemic species.

Hikkaduwa

A 30 minute drive from Galle city to another stunning beach side.

It is popular for nightlife, turtle hatchery, snorkeling and the coral reefs.

Transportation in Galle

There are many transportation methods available in Galle and some of the famous ones are mentioned below.

• Tuk tuks

• Taxi cars

• Bus

• Bicycle 

Tuk tuks are the most popular in Galle as they are convenient and widely available around the area.

Shopping in Galle 

If you are interested in doing some shopping around Galle, there are some great places to find local handicrafts, jewelry, clothing and more.

There are small beautiful boutiques around the Galle fort where you can find these easily. The prices range from cheap to expensive.

If you need some names of popular stores: stick no bills, barefoot, laksala are some of the top-notch shops you can look around.

Galle is a charming city in the coastal area of Sri Lanka. It is rich in culture, history and beautiful nature. The main attraction here is the Galle fort.

Overall, Galle is a must-see location in Sri Lanka since it has plenty to offer everyone, regardless of whether they are culture vultures, nature lovers, or foodies.