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Galle serves as the capital of the southern province. The town is best known for its remarkable 90-acre Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the best-preserved colonial sea fortress in Asia. This historic gem was originally constructed by the Portuguese in 1588 and later extensively fortified by the Dutch in the mid-1600s.
Recognized by UNESCO for its cultural heritage value, the Galle Fort was declared a World Heritage Site in 1988. It stands as a unique showcase of "an urban ensemble which illustrates the interaction of European architecture and South Asian traditions from the 16th to the 19th centuries." As you walk along its narrow streets today, you'll discover well-preserved evidence of Dutch influence, with some notable differences from four centuries ago.
Galle's history traces back to ancient times, with records of it being a bustling port on Ptolemy's world map dating from 125–150 AD. The town was a hub of trade, connecting Sri Lanka with distant lands, including Greece, Arab countries, China, and others. Its significance as a "port of call of the Levant" is noted in the cosmography of "Cosmas Indicopleustes."
Galle's historical narrative also intertwines with notable moments, including the arrival of the Portuguese in 1505, marking a significant change in the island's history. The Portuguese built the first fort here, along with a Franciscan chapel in 1541, although much of the chapel lies in ruins today. The fort later served as a prison camp for Sinhalese natives who opposed Portuguese rule.
In 1640, the Dutch entered the scene, allying with King Rajasinghe II to capture the Galle Fort from the Portuguese. The Dutch influence is vividly seen in the present-day Dutch architectural style of the fort.
The fortifications and structures continued to evolve over the centuries, with public administration buildings, warehouses, residential quarters, and even a Protestant church being added. The fort played a pivotal role in trade and defense, housing workshops for various crafts and an intricate sewer system that took sewage out to sea.
In 1796, the British took control of the fort, one week after capturing Colombo. Sri Lanka remained a British colony until it gained independence in 1948. In 1865, a part of the fort was transformed into the New Oriental Hotel, later becoming the Amangalla in 2005. As Colombo became the capital and primary port in the mid-19th century, the importance of Galle gradually diminished.
Today, Galle Fort stands as a testament to the island's intricate history, architectural marvels, and the interplay of cultures across the centuries. It's a living legacy that beckons travelers to explore its well-preserved streets and immerse themselves in its remarkable heritage
"Dear Cyril, We want to thank you so much for making our trip so unforgetable and delightful. We received your name from our friends lives in Geneva who travelled with you in January 2009 and they gave you such a high recommendation that we decided to conbtact you for our two weeks trip this year. Although we have been to Sri Lanka a few times already. We have never found such an excellent driver and guide. It has been a great pleasure to visit Colombo with you and then to Koggala for two day tr..." Mr.Gabor Kato & Mrs.Ann Kato
"Dear Cyril, Here are some photos for you as we promised, and also little gift to you. Here is some photos of elephant boy which we were took on elephant ride. Please give to them when you go to Habarana again. We are very grateful to you for your services that you have done to make our holiday in this beautiful country. Still we are thinking over our nice trip with you. It was fantastic, really! Here in Holland, life is normal again. Greeting for your wife and daughter too. George and Cala ..." George and Cala
"Hello, We had 2 weeks exploring Sri Lanka and for most of that time Cyril drove for usto various towns, sites of interest. Cyril wsa a very pleasant chauffeur. Always prompt and greeted us with a smile. He was well informed about the sites we visited and pointed out many interesting historical buildings en-route. We had a great 2 weeks in Sri Lanka and Cyril's plesant and helpful nature contributed to this briliant holiday. Thank Cyril Sara and Steve from Birmingham, England" Sara and Steve
"Dear Cyril, Yes that's the one that we were calling all the time. Her name is Celia and by now she has a little sister. My dear Cyril, of course we can't forget your companion and we are always telling about you when we are talking about our trip to Sri Lanka. I wish you good luck with your company and I hope that you will have whatever you want. I want to tell also that I was very happy when I learned that you are a grandfather now. Best regards, Chris Greece 26/07/2011" Cristos Pravitas - Greece
" Dear Cyril We spent a wonderful week with you. We were so pleased to have to visited your beautiful country and we will recommend you for all of our relatives and to friends. It has been a pleasure to spend these days with you, we will never forget nice smile on your face all the time. Thank you and if one day you would like to visit Switzerland we will be raedy take you around snowy mountans! All the best, Franz family" Dr. David franz from Swiss
"Dear Cyril, Sincerest apologies for this delayed email --- reason being that I had been extremely busy with work & travel, since returning from Sri Lanka and just got a breather now, to download our photos and catch up with private matters. Hope this email finds you & family, in the best of health & spirits. Your granddaughter must be keeping you busy and giving you & Mrs. Baddegama immense joy. At this end, we are doing fine. Nikhita is back at school, now in Grade 7 and havi..." Pradeep Kumar Menon - Singapore
"Thank you so much for your great service and making our honeymoon in Sri Lanka, so special and joyful. Best regards from Yuffa and Elad Abbo – Israel- 10 July 2008 " Yuffa and Elad Abbo - Israel
"2nd to 15th November 2016 Dear Cyril, Thank you for arranging our first visit to your beautiful country. We had a very enjoyable, comfortable, safe, interesting and memorable holiday. All the accommodations you provided were very clean and comfortable and we will always remember the welcome, we felt when the smiling staff cheerfully looked after us and our every need. The itinerary you arranged was just right for us and made even better with the care you took whilst driving your very c..." Satwant and Doug from Australia
"Dear Cyril, Thank you very much for wonderful holiday. Your attention to detail and care of your clients is extraordinary. We certainly hope to cross paths again and we will recommonding you to all of our friends and to family too. Many thanks again. Paul nad Machelle Brisbane, Australia. Visited during 10/10/2012 - 26/10/2012" Mr. Paul and Mrs. Machelle from Australia
"We are an older couple celebrating a lot of years of marriage (and hiking) in Sri Lanka in February this year, for two weeks, and three days in the Maldives. Although we love to drive, we chose to go with a driver-guide, after planning the trip completely independently. (It turned out he might help us in the planning and selection of hotels, we own). The main advantage is reaching the sites, some of which are tired, refreshed after someone else used to bad roads, with bad signage - If you are i..." Sam
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