I left the beach of Unawatuna for a bit today & paid a visit 6 kilometres up the coast to the historic port town of Galle, the earliest European administrative centre in Sri Lanka, the 4th largest town in the country & the capital of the southern province. The town’s main attraction is its UNESCO-listed 36-hectare fort, first built in 1588 by the Portuguese & extensively fortified by the Dutch from 1649 onwards.
![On the streets of Galle, southern Sri Lanka. September 2nd 2012.](http://travel.davidmbyrne.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/On-the-streets-of-Galle-Sri-Lanka..jpg)
On the streets in Galle Fort. After the fort’s construction, Galle was the main port for Sri Lanka (it ceased to be so when the British shifted the port to Colombo) & the main stop for marine travel on the Europe-Asia route. Today Galle Fort, while still a working community, commercial & administrative centre, is a warren of atmospheric streets & lanes lined with centuries-old buildings offering up one of the best-preserved examples of colonial life in Asia. Galle (), southwestern Sri Lanka. September 2, 2012.
Walking along the top of the fort walls offers dramatic views of Galle town & the ocean. It was from the walls that I took the following picture of a game of cricket, the most popular sport in Sri Lanka, in progress just outside the fort walls.
![An impromptu game of cricket as seen from the walls of Galle Fort, Galle, southern Sri Lanka. September 2nd 2012.](http://travel.davidmbyrne.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Cricket-in-Galle-Sri-Lanka..jpg)
An impromptu game of cricket as seen from the walls of Galle Fort in Galle, southwestern Sri Lanka. September 2, 2012.
![A snake charmer in the grounds of Galle Fort, Galle, southern Sri Lanka. September 2nd 2012.](http://travel.davidmbyrne.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Snake-Charmer-Galle-southern-Sri-Lanka..jpg)
A snake charmer in the grounds of Galle Fort, Galle, southwestern Sri Lanka. September 2, 2012.
![Laundry hanging outside a building in a lane of Galle’s Fort, Galle, southern Sri Lanka. September 2nd 2012.](http://travel.davidmbyrne.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Laundry.-Galle-southern-Sri-Lanka..jpg)
Laundry hanging outside a building in a lane of Galle’s Fort, Galle, southwestern Sri Lanka. September 2, 2012.
![Tuk tuks in the grounds of Galle Fort, Galle, southern Sri Lanka. September 2nd 2012.](http://travel.davidmbyrne.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Tuk-tuks-in-Galle-Sri-Lanka..jpg)
Tuk-tuks in the grounds of Galle Fort, Galle, southwestern Sri Lanka. September 2, 2012.