A visit to the city of Galle will not be complete without a stroll through the historic and romantic walled streets of the Galle Fort. Occupying a total land area of 36 hectares, the Galle Fort has maintained an atmosphere of tranquility and history that pretty much reflects the Dutch period.
Built by the Portuguese in the 16th century as a way to protect the city from invading Tamils, the Galle Fort was taken over by the Dutch in 1640, its defense system further fortified and improved. Many of the buildings one can see in the Galle Fort today are reminiscent of buildings that stood there during the Dutch Era most of which had pillared verandas and a lot of which were old-style mansions that belonged to sea merchants.
Galle International Stadium,
situated 116km south of Colombo, is one of the world’s most beautiful cricketing venues. A 200-year-old UNESCO protected Dutch fort provides a dramatic backdrop for the breathtaking view of the glistening Indian Ocean in the distance. The venue played its first first-class match in 1984 and its inaugural Test match in 1997/98 when Sri Lanka took on New Zealand.
Rumassala
Rumassala Kanda is a large mound-like hill, which forms the eastern protective barrier to the Galle harbour. Local tradition associates this hill with some events of the Ramayana. `
