One of the 8 UNESCO world heritage sites. An amalgamation of historical colonial sites, sandy beaches and rivers along with dense forests teaming with exotic wildlife. Galle makes the southern seascape a must visis travel destination in Sri Lanka. Imposing colonial buildings scatter in the fort of Galle with winding paved roads leading up to quaint little shops of various colorful memorabilia and souvenirs. Stylish Coffee shops and quirky boutiques and pubs line the network of roads surrounded by the granite and coral walls of the seventeenth century Dutch fort overlooking the sea. Many visits here for a picturesque stroll down the pavements and to experience an ancient tale of rich and diverse history frozen in time and to walk the streets of this “living museum”. Yet that is not all Galle can offer. A plethora of diverse distractions include the Sandy picturesque beaches,sight-seeing colonial masterpieces, boat rides along scenic rivers and treks in verdant forests are to name a few.

Starting off with roaming the in the ‘Old Town’ taking in the frozen-in-time colonial architecture you may start your journey with one of the most notable establishments being the Dutch Reformed Church, and then walking down through Church Road to view the magnificent Anglican Church then following up to the yellow ochre colored Dutch warehouses along with the Old Dutch gate with the VOC & British insignia displayed on the either side. The slender white façade of a modest lighthouse comes into view as you ascend the Aurora Bastion which offers a postcard worthy scenic view. The Maritime archeology museum attracts all history buff providing an extensive insight to Sri Lanka’s maritime history which extends as far back as the prehistoric age. If you’re in a mood to tap into Sri Lanka’s culinary scene look no further than the Old Dutch Hospital adjoining Galle Fort which has been renovated and converted into a state of the art shopping and dining precinct. Enjoy a breathtaking view of the golden sunset as you tuck into some of the best seafood Sri Lanka can offer. Art geeks rejoice, creativity in the means of vibrant colors adorn canvases housed in some of the quirkiest galleries situated in the fort. One such gallery being The Exotic Roots art gallery down Lighthouse Street houses paintings pottery and otherexquisitely designed products which can be admired and purchased if desired. 33Km’s off the main bustling city of Galle resides the Kanneliya Forest Reserve which is a designated biosphere reserve by the UNESCO. It is one of the most floristically richest areas in southeast Asia! The forest reserve offers treks in which you encounter splashing waterfalls, colour flora and mysterious fauna and it is a definite change of scenery and climate compared to the more tropical heat of the main city. After a day’s trek simply unwind in one of the many heritage hotel offerings of Galle. Many colonial buildings have been preserved and tastefully converted into boutique hotels where you can relax and feel pampered while you delve into the rich and glorious past of this exotic destination.

Galle offers a divine escape which is unparalleled to any other destination Sri Lanka can offer. It is the ideal destination to relax in style while you capture album worthy memories with a multitude of ways to keep yourself pleasantly occupied all within reach.