Anyone who's spent time in Galle will tell you there’s one landmark you absolutely must see. Standing guard over the city, Galle Lighthouse enjoys a prime location on the seafront ramparts of the UNESCO World Heritage fort.
Framed by swaying palm trees, the dazzling white structure offers uninterrupted views of the bay and is a popular place to watch the sunset. If you’re looking for somewhere to take some envy-inducing holiday snaps, this is the place to go.
The lighthouse has some interesting history too. Built by the British in 1848, it’s the oldest lighthouse in Sri Lanka and was once used to guide European ships safely into the harbour. Having said that, the lighthouse you see today isn’t actually the original - it was rebuilt in 1939 after the first structure was destroyed. While it may have lost some of its historical value, it’s still a well-preserved colonial monument and an important part of the historical Galle Fort complex which the city is famous for.