1 / 62
620 likes | 709 Views
Founded in the 16th century by the Portuguese, Galle reached the height of its development in the 18th century, before the arrival of the British. It is the best example of a fortified city built by Europeans in South and South-East Asia
E N D
Sri Lanka 2 Galle
Galle is a major city in Sri Lanka, situated on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, 119 km from Colombo. Galle is the administrative capital of Southern Province, Sri Lanka and the district capital of Galle District. Founded in the 16th century by the Portuguese, Galle reached the height of its development in the 18th century, before the arrival of the British. It is the best example of a fortified city built by Europeans in South and South-East Asia, showing the interaction between European architectural styles and South Asian traditions.
The beautiful Galle Fort, designated as a World Heritage Site is one of the town’s most distinctive attractions
Galle Fort, in the Bay of Galle on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, was built first in 1588 by the Portuguese, then extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century from 1649 onwards. It is a historical, archaeological and architectural heritage monument.
Sri Sudarmalaya Buddhist temple which was apparently built on the site of the old Portuguese Roman Catholic church in 1889
Galle Lighthouse is an offshore Lighthouse operated and maintained by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. This is Sri Lanka's oldest light station dating back to 1848, but the original lighthouse was destroyed by fire in 1934. The light station is within the walls of the ancient Galle fort, a UNESCO world heritage site and well known tourist attraction, making this the country's most often visited lighthouse.
The Southern part of Galle Fort is home to a large Muslim community. The Meeran Jumma Masjid - big and white, reminds a bit of a church rather than a mosque. It is situated at the end of Church Street within the old Arab Quarter. The mosque was rebuilt in 1904 where the original stood from 1750s. The mosque is actively in use.
Amangalla is a luxury 5-star franchise hotel belonging to the international group of Aman Resorts, located in Galle, built within the premises of the heritage Galle Fort, the 17th-century Dutch fort, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is just north of the Galle International Stadium and roundabout.
The oldest part of the hotel dates to 1684, and the complex was completed in 1715. It was known as the New Oriental Hotel for 140 years from 1865. It became Amangalla resort complex only in 2005. Aman means "peace" and galla is the Sinhalese name for Galle
On 26 December 2004 the city was devastated by the massive Boxing Day Tsunami caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake that occurred a thousand miles away, off the coast of Indonesia. Thousands were killed in the city alone. A long stretch of Sri Lanka’s coast was devastated by these killer waves, with more than 40,000 dead and staggering 2.5 million people displaced. Although 1,600km from the epicenter, the waves struck with huge force and swept inland as far as 5 kilometers. Waves as high as six meters had crashed into coastal villages, sweeping away people, cars and even a train with 1700 passengers. It was the worst human disaster in Sri Lanka’s history. One of the worst hit areas was Galle, the capital of Southern Srilanka.
