Sunday, February 8, 2015

Have a Tour in Galle


The capital of the Southern province, Galle once had been the European administrative center over four centuries, which is located 116 km away from city of Colombo. South West coast has been becoming home for city of Galle.  Galle is the best example of a fortified city built by the Portuguese in South and Southeast Asia, showing the interaction between Portuguese architectural styles and native traditions. It is at its best during October to April when the monsoon moves northeast and the sea offers a calm and quiet opportunity for the relaxing.


Galle, not only for many attractions such as Dutch Fort, Dutch Reformed Church, Dutch Museum, Koggala & Ahangama or Midigama , But also one of the best place for whales & dolphin watching. In here, you are able to experience wide expansion of the beach with having a fine sea bathing or surfing.


Dutch Fort

In the year 1663, it built by Portuguese & used until Dutch’s capture to shield themselves from inland attacks. Then Dutch improve the defense system of the fort & raised until British raid who did not make any change to the fort because of their movement to the Colombo to make it as their capital. Many Old Dutch buildings are still inside the fort with represent the history of Ceylon. The UNESCO has declared Dutch Fort as a World Heritage site, which is located in Galle








Dutch Reformed Church

One of a creation by Dutch army, in the year 1754 at the site of a previous Portuguese church. The church situated close to the new entrance to the fort. The major highlight of the building is there are no pillars inside the building, and the walls support weight of the roof.





Galle National Museum
In the year 1656, using the oldest Dutch building of the Galle fort this museum established in Galle city to aware on traditional cultural heritage of Southern Sri Lanka by the Department of National Museums.

Galle National Museum displays a wide range of archaeological and anthropological objects inherited in Southern region such as traditional masks used in various rituals, collection of ornamental objects made up of turtle shells, ancient wooden carvings, and a Beeralu collection etc. The influence of Dutch is showed by the equipment used in Dutch ships came to the Galle harbor. Large water vessels, V.O.C. porcelain objects, arms, and weapons used by the Dutch soldiers are some of exhibitions among them


Maritime Museum
In 1671, this museum established to make awareness on marine biological and anthropological aspects of Southern coastal area. It is located in the old Dutch ware house of the fort of Galle. It shows, the types of watercrafts used in passenger transport and maritime trading in Southern Sri Lanka, traditional life style of fishing communities and such fishing techniques, marine eco systems and their flora and fauna. Models of mangroves, seashore plants, turtles, sea birds, and marine mammals displayed with their taxonomic details. Specimens of corals, marine shells and some invertebrates also exhibited.


Ahangama or Midigama
If you do interesting in fishing or surfing tours, Aangama is one of the best place for that. It is a well famous area for its Silt Fishing. For not only Silt Fishing but also it is a well popular place among surfers.


Koggala
If you are a person who interested in folk, art, & culture, it is better to have a walk in there. There was a local writer named Mr. Martin Wickramasinghe who offered so many books to Ceylon’s literature. Koggala was the hometown for this writer.  The museum of Folk, Art & Culture built in his honour at his old home with displaying local folk items including the costumes of folk dancers, sports items, household items, and furniture and vast arena of the folk life of the early 20th century.

Having a boat trip in the lagoon or Koggala Lake to experience of its small island will lead you to a popular destination for bird watching.


Kanneliya Forest Reserve (KDN- Kanneliya,
Other than to Sinharaja Rain Forest, Kanneliya forest reserve is the large remaining rain forest in Ceylon. This is a forest complex, which designated as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in the year 2004. With becoming catchment area to Gin & Nilwala Rivers, this place located 35 km northwest of Galle.


There you‘ll be able to see may endemism. Totally, there are 301 plant types, 133 faunal species with 59 birds, 14 amphibians 32 butterflies, 7 snakes &10 mammals.



Having an early visit to Gall not only leading to experience many of these places, you may get a chance to have a dolphin & whales watching in Mirissa area. There is so many lesser-known attraction in this area other than to above places.

See you soon at a new destination.



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