A TOWN OF GREAT BEAUTY
How Galle got its name is a story in itself. In 1505, a Portuguese fleet on its way to the Maldives was blown off course by heavy winds. When all hopes of surviving were lost, one sailor heard a crowing of a cock ( galo in Portuguese) in the darkness. He raised his hand towards the sound and cried “Galo… Galo”. Thus they reached and gave the place its name Galle.
The first thing that comes to my mind when I think about my hometown is the Galle Fort. Now a World Heritage site, it was built by the Dutch in the 17th century with a touch of old European style mixed with Sri Lankan traditions. There is an International Cricket Ground in the middle of the town with two sides covered by the fort, while the other two sides are surrounded by the sea and Galle city.
I remember sitting on the top of the fort and watching cricket matches. They are the best seats. I can imagine how much the players would love to play in this ground with the Galle Fort as the backdrop while the breeze from the sea eases the sunny weather. Foreigners have
much interest in buying properties inside the Galle Fort because of its colonial history. Hence, the prices of the properties have increased rapidly.
Few kilometres down south, you reach Unawatuna Beach which is famous all around the world. Tourists who love to feel the sunshine burning on their faces, swim in the clear blue waters and sit by the lovely beaches come to Unawatuna in numbers. The restaurants and hotels along the beach serve mouth-watering seafood second to none. Fish occupies a principal place in our daily meals and is prepared in many ways. Malu ambul thiyal is a typical dish in our region, prepared using goraka and pepper. Food is spicy, and being a tropical country with many coconut trees, we add a lot of coconut milk to our food.
Wella Maha Dewalaya in Unawatuna, a temple of significant importance to Buddhists, has a major religious festival in July every year that attracts thousands
Sitting atop the Galle Fort and watching a cricket match are the best seats in the house
of locals. The temple is built in the name of the god Sri Dewol and is situated on a cliff facing the ocean. I grew up visiting the temple every year. Walking amidst the mass of crowd along the beach is a feeling that has been imprinted in my memories like a sweet dream. As a kid, I used to buy toys from the stalls that are set up temporarily for the season. One year I bought a pair of binoculars and I still remember the excitement I felt by seeing distant objects so close through it. The religious festival ends after a week with a procession and a morning of almsgiving.
The Old Town of Galle is a historic one and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Historic monuments have not been reserved just for the scenery. Instead new buildings and lifestyles have blended in with the historic face of the city. Hence, Galle town attracts a great number of tourists. It has been even more convenient to reach there with the new Southern Highway, reducing three and half hours’ of journey from Colombo to one and a half hours.
People in my town are very hospitable. If you are a tourist, you will be greeted with a “hello” and “good morning” by kids and adults alike all the time. We smile with you and show great care. We find it a great pleasure to help you in whichever way possible. We love the traditions and culture of the country and would not easily be affected by the trends. If you are in Galle town, don’t forget to taste a cup of Ceylon tea offered at any house as part of our hospitality. AGP