Galle Fort

Fort of Galle is situated on South-West coast of Sri Lanka. It was built in 1588 by Portuguese colonists and reinforced by Dutch during XVII century. This Fort is a historical, architectural and archaeological monument retaining its original appearance after 423 years of existence. Fort of Galle was recognized by UNESCO as an object of world and cultural heritage. It illustrates the interaction of European architecture and South Asian traditions from the 16th to the 19th centuries.
The British took the fort under their control in 1796, a week after Colombo was being captured. In 1865, part of the fort was converted to the New Oriental Hotel.
Fort indeed resembles a small town with a grid of streets full of low buildings with pediments and verandas performed in Dutch colonial style. In the fort area there are also many historical churches, mosques and government buildings.
One of the main attractions of the fort are: the Dutch chapel, the old Dutch government residence, the residence of the commander, the large warehouse near the Old Gates for the safety of spices and equipment of ships (in which the National Maritime Museum is now located), the old Dutch hospital, the Meera mosque, the Buddhist temple built on the territory of the Portuguese Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Church, the Clock Tower erected in 1882, and the Galle Lighthouse