Why should you travel to Galle?

Galle is an ancient city with international significance. UNESCO recognised it as a world heritage site after it evolved from a pre-colonial trading port to a colonial military and trading centre to a post-colonial settlement with people speaking a variety of tongues.

Galle's old town and fortifications are the biggest and most impressive European-built fortresses that are still standing in Asia. From the 16th to the 19th centuries, the city of Galle is a wonderful illustration of the relationship of European architecture and the architectural traditions of South Asia.

It was a pleasure to stroll through the old town of Galle and take in the antique architecture, despite the fact that the area is very popular with tourists. Those who want to watch the sun go down to the west should congregate at the summit of the path that leads up to the fort. It is absolutely stunning and the ideal setting for photography.

Galle

Geographically, the city of Galle is situated in the southern region of Sri Lanka, along the coast. Because it is surrounded by water on three sides, the city of Galle features the area's most advantageous naturally occurring seaport. A mile-wide bay provided protection from all types of weather except the south-west monsoon. On the western side of the bay, there is a level, rock-ringed peninsula that provided the roadstead. This peninsula not only provided the roadstead with additional protection from the winds and currents, but it also served as an inner harbour. This inner harbour, in turn, was protected by a slender arm of land that protruded into the water.

Because of this, it was a significant shipping port in the ancient east and west foreign commerce where Chinese and Arab merchants met since in the 4th century AD.

Cosmas Indicopleustes, a Greek merchant and traveller who made several journeys to India and Sri Lanka, made reference to it in his travel journal in the year 545 AD. This is the earliest recorded history of the Galle, despite the fact that its pre-colonial history is less documented and mapped. During that time period, the port of Galle served as the primary and most important natural marine centre on the island of Sri Lanka.

The Portuguese fleet was forced to seek shelter from a storm in 1505 and ended up arriving in Galle by accident. This marked the beginning of the well-documented period of Galle. During that time period, the city of Galle was home to a sizeable population of Muslim merchants. After establishing their first settlement in Galle, the Portuguese made a pact with the king of the Kotte kingdom to defend Galle from Muslim invasions.

Galle Fort's Origins and Growth

Following their conquest of Galle, the Portuguese made the decision to establish a makeshift fortification in that location. They constructed the fort with one wall pointing north and relied on natural barriers for the other sides. They constructed the wall along the neck of the peninsula and fortified it with three bastions that had round tops and flat sides; one stood at each extremity of the peninsula and one was located near the peninsula's centre. The Portuguese utilised both the technology that they carried with them from Portugal as well as the native technology in order to construct the fort and the buildings.

The year 1640 marked the year that the Dutch seized control of Galle. The intense fighting that took place between the Dutch and the Portuguese almost obliterated all of the structures that the Portuguese had constructed. Today in Galle, features of Portuguese architecture can be found only very infrequently.

The Dutch Fort

The Dutch made Galle their administrative capital before capturing Colombo and moving their headquarters there. As a result, the Dutch wanted to have Galle as a safe haven for their people. As a consequence, they reconstructed the city of Galle's fortifications. They constructed the fortifications of Galle on a solid and safe foundation, providing additional defence against land and marine threats simultaneously. The older bastions served as the foundation for the construction of three significantly bigger new works: the Sun Bastion, which is located above the eastern causeway; the Moon Bastion, which is located near the centre; and the Star Bastion, which is located on the western side. These very same fortifications are still standing to this day.

The "Sea Gate," which is the primary entryway to the Galle fort, has been reconstructed so that it now faces the Galle harbour. This sea gate, which features the insignia of the Dutch East India Company (VOC), a rooster crest, and the year 1687, served as the primary entrance at one time. Large stones with intricate cuts are used in the construction of the fort, and a metal arch with a semicircular opening serves as the primary entrance. (stone).

There are two-story warehouses located on either side of the sea gate, each with a staircase leading to the higher floors of the building. The primary function of their storehouse is to serve as a repository for cinnamon. The "Pack huis," a former warehouse, is now serving as the location of the naval museum. These buildings are constructed as narrow, long structures with lines of Doric pillars.

The Protestant church, which was built in 1751 and designed by the Dutch architect Abraham Anthonisz, is yet another exceptional structure that exemplifies Dutch architectural features. The architectural styles of Baroque and Rococo can be seen throughout the construction of this cathedral. One distinctive characteristic of the church is that the hall where services are held does not have any pillars to support the ceiling. The weight of the roof as a whole is supported by the wall plates of the building's four sides. The interior of the church is illuminated by light that enters through arched stained glass windows and projecting illumination openings on the upper section of the building.

There are large underground graves in a corner of the aisle and in the compound of the church. In addition, there is a secret tunnel heading toward the sea, but the entrance to this tunnel has been sealed off with cement at present time. The underground vaults of the church are where the Dutch East India Company (Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie, or VOC) officials and members of their families are buried after having died while serving the company.

There were a number of official residences of the Dutch governors, and other Dutch officials could be seen on the fort's premises. In addition, standard Dutch houses could also be found. These houses were built in accordance with the prevalent architectural style of the 16th and 17th centuries in Dutch villagers known as "Villas." These residences were built because some retired Dutch officials chose to remain in Sri Lanka rather than return to their home country. As a consequence, the Galle fort area grew to encompass approximately 92 acres of land.

Ventilation systems in Dutch homes are comprised of decorative windows These homes have elevated verandas and buttresses to prevent sea breeze damage to walls, etc. The majority of these houses' columns are constructed in the Doric style.

The church, the governor's house, the clock tower, and the lighthouse, as well as the majority of the other landmarks, feature Dutch elements and designs executed with locally obtainable materials.

The occupation by the British

In 1796, British forces overtook Galle and took control of the fort. Galle served as the administrative hub for the southern region of the island when it was under British control. In contrast to the Dutch administrators, the British led all descendants of Europeans who did not speak English out of the fort under guard. Because of this, the Sinhalese, Tamils, and Muslims who were already living in the Galle township outside of the fort were joined by additional descendants of Europeans, which led to an increase in the township's level of cultural diversity.

More on Galle:

Old town of Galle and its fortifications, World heritage site

Tours to explore Galle:

Photography Holidays - Option II - Winter
Colonial Tours - Option IV - Summer

Family Holidays - Option III - Unseen Sri Lanka (Year-round)

Reference:

THE DUTCH FORTS OF SRI LANKA - W A Nelson