Galle City
Galle, a charming coastal city in Sri Lanka, boasts a rich history and vibrant culture. Its iconic Dutch Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stands as a testament to colonial influence. Explore pristine beaches, immerse in cultural festivals, and savor local cuisine amidst the old-world charm of Galle.
Kataluva Purvarama Maha Viharaya
Etwa 5 km hinter Koggala liegt einer der faszinierendsten Tempel des Südens, der Kataluwa Purvarama Mahavihara. Der Tempel wurde ursprünglich im 13. Jahrhundert erbaut und im späten 19. Jahrhundert erweitert. Dieser Tempel ist für seine bemerkenswerten Gemälde im Kandyan-Stil im Hauptschrein bekannt, die aus dem späten 19. Jahrhundert stammen und ein interessantes Stück Sozialgeschichte veranschaulichen. Einige der hier gemalten Szenen aus Jatake-Geschichten (Episoden aus Buddhas Serie von 550 früheren Leben) sollen 200 Jahre alt sein. Es sind auch Gemälde im Cameo-Stil von Königin Victoria und der Königinmutter zu sehen, als Dank für die Rolle Königin Victorias bei der Sicherstellung der freien Ausübung des Buddhismus während der britischen Besetzung der Insel.
About Galle District
Galle is a city situated on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, 119 km from Colombo.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 occupiers.
Galle is a sizeable town, by Sri Lankan standards, and has a population of 91,000, the majority of whom are of Sinhalese ethnicity. There is also a large Sri Lankan Moor minority, particularly in the fort area, which descend from Arab merchants that settled in the ancient port of Galle.
About Southern Province
The Southern Province of Sri Lanka is a small geographic area consisting of the districts of Galle, Matara and Hambantota. Subsistence farming and fishing is the main source of income for the vast majority of the people of this region.
Important landmarks of the Southern Province include the wildlife sanctuaries of the Yala and Udawalawe National Parks, the holy city of Kataragama, and the ancient cities of Tissamaharama, Kirinda and Galle. (Although Galle is an ancient city, almost nothing survives from before the Portuguese invasion.) During the Portuguese period there were two famous Sinhalese poets called Andare who was from Dickwella and Gajaman Nona who was from Denipitiya in Matara District, composing poems on common man.