The iconic coastal city of Galle, located at the south-west of Sri Lanka contains tremendous beauty as much as historical heritage. The remarkable port has been in operation ever since the days of Ptolemy and some would even say that the biblical King Solomon himself traded goods with the ancient inhabitants of Galle. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the Galle Lighthouse has been deemed an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Modern day Galle is just as bustling as it would have been during the ancient times, with plenty of international visitors patronising the various hotels and villas in Galle such as the likes of Era Beach by Jetwing.
The lighthouse in particular receives plenty of attention since there are only a total of fourteen lighthouses in existence in Sri Lanka; this is a small number given that Sri Lanka is an island with a notable maritime history.
Before the lighthouse was constructed, the Galle fort was initially built by the Portuguese sometime in the 1500s. Following the invasion of the British, the lighthouse was then built at the fort in 1848. It stood around eighty-feet high and remained for almost a century before being destroyed in 1934 due to a mysterious fire that consumed it.
The lighthouse was rebuilt in 1939, and the new one stands stand seven feet higher than the earlier one. As much as the lighthouse’s duty was to guide approaching ships to the harbour, it was also very strategically placed so any approaching ship can be examined from within the lighthouse.
If you ever find yourself in Galle, be sure to visit this historic monument.
Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+
