Galle City Information

Galle city in Sri Lanka is the capital of the southern province with a colourful history. Galle is a living example of a fortified city built by Europeans in south and southeast Asia, whihc showcases the combination between European architectural styles and south Asian traditions. The Galle Fort is a world heritage site is the most popular attraction of the town. The forts 300 year old Dutch atmosphere is still very much alive around the fort and amongst its many historical buildings which has not been taken over by the skyscrapers. Galle Sri Lanka has the beautiful beach of Unawatuna is just 6km south east of the city centre which is the most popular among the tourists and comes to life mainly from October through April. The City of Galle remained the European administrative centre over 4 centuries and was the major port and the largest city until the British shifted the port to Colombo.

The city Galle Sri Lanka was devasted during the year 2004 by the massive Boxing Day Tsunami caused by the Indian Ocean. Thousands were killed in the city alone. Other prominent landmarks in Galle include the St. Mary's Cathedral founded by Jesuit priests. Galle is the main town in the most southerly part of the island, well connected by rail to Colombo and Matara. Moreover, the city is home to a cricket ground, the Galle International Stadium, where test matches are played.