It was originally a Dutch mansion and warehouse. Nearby, the Galle Fort Hotel is more affordable than the Amangalla but has just as much character. If money isn't a concern, the grandest and most luxurious one is Aman Resort's Amangalla, in what was the headquarters of Dutch commanders built in 1684. There's a string of them along Church Street. Many heritage buildings in Galle Fort have been transformed into chic boutique hotels where you can immerse yourself in the district's new, hip energy and glorious past. Here are the top things to there and if you have time, visit the lively beach party town of Unawatuna as well. Galle is surprisingly unlike anywhere else in Sri Lanka. Trendy boutiques, restaurants, and hotels now occupy the old colonial buildings that line its cobblestone streets. In recent years, the city has undergone a resurgence. Galle flourished as a trading port until the British took over in the late 18th century and made Colombo their capital. They attacked the fort, drove the Portuguese out, claimed it for themselves, and vastly expanded the city. It wasn't long before the Dutch arrived though, in the early 17th century. Its original structure was made by the Portuguese in the late 16th century, after they landed in Sri Lanka by accident when their ship got blown off-course during a storm. This atmospheric small city is one of the country's eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, notable for being the best example of a fortified city built by Europeans in South Asia (the Indian Subcontinent) and Southeast Asia. Galle, on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, is where heritage has become hip.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorAndrew ArchivesCategories |