Galle Fort
A walled old town on a headland in the Bay of Galle, first built by the Portuguese in 1588 and heavily fortified by the Dutch from 1649. Inside its ramparts are streets of colonial houses, churches and a lighthouse, and the walls make a fine walk at sunset.
- Where
- Galle, Southern Province, Sri Lanka
- Grade
- UNESCO heritage
- Worth
- 10 points collected on site, plus 8 for its grade
- Coordinates
- 6.0275, 80.2171
Get the Galle Fort stamp
Open LOQAH when you are at Galle Fort. It checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp is yours: confirmed on site in gold and struck with the date. It goes into your Southern Province volume with your photos and a note.
Near Galle Fort
Unawatuna 3.8 km
A beach town about five kilometres south east of Galle, set around a sheltered curve of sand. It is known for its calm water and coral, which makes it one of the island's most popular places to swim and snorkel.
Koggala Lagoon 13 km
A coastal lagoon behind the south coast at Koggala, about 110 km south of Colombo. Eight small islands dot its waters, rich in birds and mangroves, and boats take visitors across to them.
Hikkaduwa National Park 19 km
One of Sri Lanka's three marine national parks, a coral reef lying just off Hikkaduwa beach. Protected as a sanctuary since 1979 and a national park since 2002, its shallow water is a place to snorkel among reef fish and sea turtles.
Sinharaja Forest Reserve 25 km
The last stretch of virgin rainforest left in Sri Lanka, protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Under its canopy live many rare plants and animals found nowhere else in the world.
Mirissa 28 km
A small fishing town on the south coast, about 150 km from Colombo, with a curving beach and a lively night scene. Its harbour is one of the island's main bases for whale and dolphin watching trips.
Madu Ganga 34 km
A small river that widens into a lake at Balapitiya before running 4.4 km to the Indian Ocean. A Ramsar wetland, it is lined with mangroves and scattered with islands, and boat trips wind through its channels.
Star Fort, Matara 38 km
A small star shaped fort built by the Dutch in 1765 on the east bank of the Nilwala River, about 350 metres from the gate of Matara's main fort. It was first called Redoute Van Eck, and its six pointed walls and moat are still intact.
Tenavaram Temple 43 km
A historic Buddhist and Hindu shrine at Devinuwara on the south coast, dedicated to Upulvan, guardian god of the island, known to Hindus as Tenavarai Nayanar. Kings endowed it from the 7th to the 16th century, when it was among the most celebrated temples in Sri Lanka.
More UNESCO World Heritage sites in Southern Province
Questions
Where is Galle Fort?
Galle Fort is in Galle, Southern Province, Sri Lanka. The nearest other LOQAH stamps are Unawatuna (3.8 km), Koggala Lagoon (13 km), Hikkaduwa National Park (19 km).
How do I get the Galle Fort stamp?
Open LOQAH when you are at Galle Fort and get its stamp. The app checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp goes into your Southern Province volume, confirmed on site, with the date.
I have been to Galle Fort before. Can I still have the stamp?
Yes. Add it from Earlier trips in your Southern Province volume, with the date if you know it, or import your Google Timeline and LOQAH matches the places you were.
Collect your first stamp.
LOQAH is free on iPhone and Android, in India and 20 more countries, with more countries on the way. Stand at a place, collect its stamp, and keep every trip in a passport that grows.