- For the French artist, see Émile Gallé.
Galle (pronounced as one syllable, rhyming with "Gaul") is a town situated on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, 116km from Colombo. Galle was known as Gimhathiththa before the arrival of the Portuguese in the 16th century, when it was the main port on the island. Galle reached the height of its development in the 18th century, before the arrival of the British, who developed the harbor at Colombo.
On December 26, 2004 the city was devastated by a massive tsunami caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake that occured a thousand miles away, off the coast of Indonesia. Thousands were killed in the city alone.
Galle is the best example of a fortified city built by Europeans in south and southeast Asia, showing the interaction between European architectural styles and south Asian traditions. The Galle Fort is a world heritage site and the largest remaining fortress in Asia built by European invaders. Other prominent landmarks in Galle include the St. Aloysius Cathedral and College founded by Jesuit priests.
Galle is the main town in the most southerly part of the island and is connected by rail to Colombo and Matara. It is home to a cricket ground, the Galle International Stadium, where test matches are played.
Rumassala Kenda is a large mound-like hill near Galle. In legend, this hill is associated with some events of the Ramayana.
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