Travelling down south by train is always a great experience especially with the rail tracks being adjacent to the southern coastline with a view of the great blue ocean and enjoying the salty breeze. And it is even more exciting when the destination is the infamous Galle Fort.

Getting onboard the train around 6 a.m. from the Colombo Fort railway station, visitors can reach the Galle train station by around 9 a.m. with plenty of time to stroll around the great fort and explore its entire splendour. But it must be said that a bus ride to Galle is quite faster even with the traffic and having to deal with the narrowing Galle Road, since the train has many stops and stays halted for quite a long time at Kalutara and Aluthgama, waiting for the tracks to change.

The most convenient part about the train ride is that the Galle Fort is just few meters away from the Galle railway station. Once inside the Fort, the atmosphere changes drastically from the hustle and bustle of the busy Galle town to a laid back vibe of a quiet suburban ambiance whilst being partly surrounded by the Indian Ocean and on one side of the Fort you can enjoy a picturesque view of Rummassala. But what impresses anyone the most about this historical Fort is its well preserved colonial Dutch architecture.

The old and new structures inside the Fort have the similar architectural feel which complements the colonial surroundings; this is because of the strict regulations imposed by the Municipality according to the Antiquities Ordinance No. 9 of 2004, which was introduced for the better preservation of the antiquities and also the sites and buildings of historical or archaeological importance to Sri Lanka.

Because of such strict governance, the buildings that seem to come up or are already there are of similar design, and especially since the Galle Fort is a UNESCO heritage site, no harm is to be caused to the fort by any means.

Visitors to the Fort have the option of getting lost in those narrow lanes inside the Fort; explore the fort structure and the historical buildings such as the court complex, the museums, the lighthouse and of course the beautifully maintained New Orient Hotel and also peek into the abundant shops that have come up, in particular the antique shops where you can discover interesting pieces of colonial influence.

It is no surprise that Galle Fort is a favourite amongst those who live in and visit Sri Lanka and it is a place that anyone would visit time and time again. If you have never visited the Galle Fort, it is certainly a place to visit and regardless of the amount of times you visit you never get enough of it.

Text and pictures by Radhi De Silva