Galle City and Dutch Fort ,Galle

The Fort, replete with unfolding ramparts and imposing bastions, is today much as it existed in Dutch times. Moreover, the ensuing centuries have barely diminished the picturesque, old-world character of the town within. The sleepy, romantically named streets reveal fine examples of Dutch colonial architecture - mostly gabled buildings typified by wide doorways with deep verandahs supported by round pillars.

Its first fortifications were made by Portuguese in 1588 and taken over by Dutch in 1640 and developed in to a much bigger & strengthen for and it became the administrative centre of Dutch in Ceylon.

In 1796 handed over to English but many significant changes were not done apart fro the Lighthouse & The Anglican Church & the new entrance cut through the ramparts between the Moon & Sun Bastion in 1873.

There stands the tall clock tower, from amid the trees rise the roof and gable of a church, and surrounding all are the walls of the fortress. Behind these walls and green ramparts, hidden beneath those trees, are the houses, churches, shops, hotels and clean quiet streets.

The main entrance to the fort is beneath a stone arch in the wall at the seaside, through which are constantly passing foot passengers and merchandise, carriages, wagons, and queer little bull carts.

The fort's state of preservation makes it one of the best of its kind to be found anywhere in the former Dutch colonies of the East. In 1988 this wonderful legacy was recognized by UNESCO with Galle's inclusion as a living monument in the World Heritage List.