Galle Day Trip From Colombo

Tour Starts at 9.30AM from Colombo and head to Galle via the Southern Express way

Galle Fort - 

Galle Fort in Sri Lanka : A UNESCO World Heritage Site The Galle Fort, or Dutch Fort as it is also known, is a fortification first built by the Portuguese on the Southwestern coast of Sri Lanka. The initial fortifications, which were built in the late 16th century, were quite basic. However the fort underwent extensive modifications in the 17th century by the Dutch, making it one of the most important archeological, architectural and historic monuments to illustrate the European influence in South East Asia between the 16th and 19th centuries. According to a statement by UNESCO the site was recognized as a World Heritage Site for its unique exposition of an urban ensemble which illustrates the interaction of European architecture and South Asian traditions from the 16th to the 19th centuries which is the criterion number four for such recognition. Some important monuments are : 

1. The Dutch Reformed Church (Groote Kerk) which was built in 1640 with its historic belfry built in 1707. The bell rang every hour in its hayday. There are also other antiques to be seen within the church. 

2. The 17th century New Orient Hotel which was once the exclusive use of the Dutch Governor and his staff before it was converted to a hotel in 1865. It is now a modernized franchise of Aman Resorts, and called Amangalla. 

3. The old Dutch Government House. 

4. The Residence of the Commander. 

5. The National Maritime Museum which was once the Great Warehouse built in the 17th century by the Dutch to store spices and ship equipment.

6. The Old Dutch Hospital. 

7. Meera Mosque built in 1904.

8. The Buddhist temple which was once the site of the Portuguese Roman Catholic church. 

9. The All Saints Anglican church built in 1871. 

10. The Clock Tower built in 1882 and the Galle Lighthouse mentioned above. 

11. Some of the streets still retain the original Colonial Era names such as the Moorish Pedlar Street or ‘Moorse Kramerstraat’, Lighthouse Street or ‘Zeeburgstraat’or ‘Middelpuntstraat’ named after the lighthouse destroyed in 1936, Hospital Street, where the Dutch Hospital, the House of the Surgeon and the Medical Gardens are, Leyn Baan Street or ‘Leyenbahnstraat’, Old Rope-Walk Street where coir rope was created, Parawa Street, Chando Street and Church street.

Enjoy visiting a Sea Turtle Hatchery where you can size various sizes and weights of Turtles,

You can also release some turtles at the Beach if you wish too

This one-hour tour takes you on a boat safari through the primitive depths of the mangrove marshes in Madu River. Traverse the dark and dangerous caverns formed by the thick mangrove forests; interspersed with bright open stretches of water. Learn more about mangroves and their positive effect on ecology. Get a chance to see crocodiles, water snakes, tree snakes and wild boars in their natural habitat. Watch the cormorants; storks and many other avianlife hunt for their prey in swift flow of Madu River. View the pots for catching prawn and shrimp left in some of the shallower areas of the river. Visit the old Buddhist temple on one of the islands that dot the river liberally. Stop by another of the islands; which are the source of the cinnamon industry of Sri Lanka. Purchase some fresh, high quality cinnamon to take home as a souvenir. Make sure to visit the outdoor fish massage parlor, where you can dangle your feet into a fenced part of the river to get treated by the massage fish.

Highlights

Exciting boat safari route.

Knowledgeable tour guide.

Chance to see many marshland wildlife.

Visit to old Buddhist Temple.

Chance to purchase fresh top-quality cinnamon.

Visit the outdoor fish massage parlor.

After enjoying your day at Galle, Head to Colombo with lots of memories to cherish and end your Tour returning for your Hotel