Galle, 116km (74 miles) south of Colombo, on the southwest corner of the island, is the largest town in the region. Until the British conquest it was the most important port on the island of Sri Lanka, thought by some to be the Biblical city of Tarshish, splendidly illustrates the solidity of the Dutch presence in Sri Lanka. The 36-hectare (89 acre) Dutch Fort, built in 1663, has withstood the ravages of time. Its massive ramparts surround the promontory that forms the older part of Galle, and shelters within its walls sturdy Dutch houses, museums and churches. This area has a quiet, relaxed atmosphere that seems almost detached from the flow of history. The New Oriental Hotel, built for Dutch governors in 1684, is a colonial gem with a wonderfully atmospheric bar. Nearby is a tiny sliver of a beach suitable for a dip, though most travellers prefer to head along the coast to the fine beaches at Unuwatuna, Weligama and Tangalla.

One of the best preserved colonial-era cities in Southeast Asia, Galle has been declared a World Heritage City and the Sri Lankan government's department of archaeology has taken on the Herculean task of restoring as much as possible of the old part of the city to pristine condition.

Standing on a peninsula with a naturally sheltered anchorage on its east side, Galle has both a fine harbour and excellent natural defences. Inside its ring of ramparts are numerous buildings dating from the Dutch era, including the Old Dutch Government House (now the offices of a shipping company), the Governor's House (now a hotel), the Groote Kerk (Great Church), still in use by worshippers, the Dutch Fort and the Dutch Museum.