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FORTS AND FORTIFICATIONS

Galle Fort

ගාල්ල කොටුව

SOUTHERN PROVINCE

GALLE DISTRICT

6°1'40.6"N 80°13'5.8"E

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The Portuguese drew the lines in 1588. The Dutch spent sixty years making them serious.

STAND INSIDE IT — 360°

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THE PLACE

Galle Fort (Sinhala: ගාලු කොටුව Galu Kotuwa; Tamil: காலிக் கோட்டை, romanized: Kālik Kōṭṭai), 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, which even after more than 432 years maintains a polished appearance, due to extensive reconstruction work done by Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka. 


The fort has a colourful history, and today has a multi-ethnic and multi-religious population. The Sri Lankan government and many Dutch people who still own some of the properties inside the fort are looking at making this one of the modern wonders of the world. The heritage value of the fort has been recognized by the UNESCO and the site has been inscribed as a cultural heritage UNESCO World Heritage Site under criteria iv, for its unique exposition of "an urban ensemble which illustrates the interaction of European architecture and South Asian traditions from the 16th to the 19th centuries." The Galle Fort, also known as the Dutch Fort or the "Ramparts of Galle", withstood the Boxing Day tsunami which damaged part of coastal area Galle town. It has been since restored.


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PROVINCE

Southern Province

DISTRICT

Galle District

DS DIVISION

Galle Four Gravet Divisional Secretariat

GN DIVISION

Fort

LOCALITY

Fort

FROM COLOMBO

118 km · 3 h 37 min
130 km · 2 h 10 min by expressway

COORDINATES

6°1'40.6"N 80°13'5.8"E

THE PHOTOGRAPHS

THE PHOTOGRAPHER'S NOTES

- Viran de Silva

ONWARD

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Or let the island choose – take me anywhere

UNIQUE SRI LANKA

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SOURCES

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CONTACT

Photographs © Viran de Silva
info@virandesilva.com
uniquesrilanka.com

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