Galle 426566 224833007 2008-07-10T16:52:23Z XLinkBot 6163802 BOT--Reverting edits by [[:en:Special:Contributions/202.69.200.130|202.69.200.130]] to revision 224718827 (\bflickr\.com\/photos\b) {{For|the [[astronomer]]|Johann Gottfried Galle}} {{For|the [[List of French artists|French artist]]|Émile Gallé}} {{Infobox Settlement | name = Galle | Other names = | nickname = | settlement_type = | motto = | image_skyline = galle-main-roundabout.jpg | imagesize = | image_caption = View of the city from the sea side | image_flag = | flag_size = | image_seal = | seal_size = | image_shield = | shield_size = | city_logo = | citylogo_size = | image_map = | mapsize = | map_caption = | image_map1 = | mapsize1 = | map_caption1 = | image_dot_map = | dot_mapsize = | dot_map_caption = | dot_x = | dot_y = | pushpin_map = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_caption = | pushpin_mapsize = | subdivision_type = [[List of countries|Country]] | subdivision_name = [[Sri Lanka]] | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = [[Southern Province, Sri Lanka|Southern Province]] | government_foonotes = | government_type = | leader_title = [[Mayor]] | leader_name = | leader_title1 = | leader_title2 = | leader_name2 = | established_title = | established_date = | established_title2 = | established_date2 = | established_title3 = | established_date3 = | area_magnitude = | unit_pref = [[Metric system|Metric]] | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 1652 | area_land_km2 = 1617 | area_water_km2 = 35 | area_total_sq_mi = | area_land_sq_mi = | area_water_sq_mi = | area_water_percent = | area_urban_km2 = | area_urban_sq_mi = | area_metro_km2 = | area_metro_sq_mi = | area_blank1_title = | area_blank1_km2 = | area_blank1_sq_mi = | population_as_of = 2001 | population_footnotes = | population_note = | population_total = 990,500 | population_density_km2 = 613 | population_density_sq_mi = | population_metro = | population_density_metro_km2 = | population_density_metro_sq_mi = | population_urban = | population_density_urban_km2 = | population_density_urban_sq_mi = | population_blank1_title = [[Demonym]] | population_blank1 = | population_density_blank1_km2 = | population_density_blank1_sq_mi = | utc_offset = -5 | timezone = [[Time zone#UTC .2B 6.2C F|Sri Lanka Standard Time Zone]] | utc_offset = +5:30 | timezone_DST = | utc_offset_DST = | latd=6 | latm=3 | lats=0 | latNS=N | longd=80 | longm=13 | longs=0 | longEW=E | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | elevation_ft = | postal_code_type = | postal_code = | area_code = | blank_name = | blank_info = | blank1_name = | blank1_info = | website = [http://www.gallesrilanka.com/ Galle city website] | footnotes = }} '''Galle''' (ගාල්ල in [[Sinhala language|Sinhala]]; காலி in [[Tamil language|Tamil]]) (pronounced as one syllable in English, {{IPAEng|gɔːl}}, the same as "Gaul", and in [[Sinhalese language|Sinhalese]], {{IPA2|gaːlːə}}) is a town situated on the southwestern tip of [[Sri Lanka]], 119 km from [[Colombo]]. Galle was known as ''Gimhathiththa'' (although [[Ibn Batuta]] in the 14th century refers to it as ''Qali'') before the arrival of the [[Portugal|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 [[United Kingdom|British]], who developed the harbor at Colombo. Galle lies in [[Galle District]]. On [[26 December]], [[2004]] the city was devastated by the massive [[Boxing Day Tsunami]] caused by the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake]] that occurred 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 [[Europe]]ans in south and southeast [[Asia]], showing the interaction between European [[architectural]] styles and south Asian traditions. [[Galle fort]] is a world heritage site and the largest remaining [[fortress]] in Asia built by European occupiers. Other prominent [[landmark]]s in Galle include [[St. Mary's Cathedral, Galle|St. Mary's Cathedral]] founded by [[Jesuit]] [[priest]]s, one of the main [[Shiva]] temples on the island, and The [[Amangalla]], a historic luxury hotel. Galle is the main town in the most southerly part of the island, with a population of around 100,000, and is connected by rail to Colombo and [[Matara, Sri Lanka|Matara]]. It is home to a [[cricket]] ground, the [[Galle International Stadium]], rebuilt after the 2004 tsunami. Test matches resumed there on December 18, 2007. [[Rumassala Kanda]] is a large mound-like hill, which forms the eastern protective barrier to the Galle harbour. Local tradition associates this hill with some events of the [[Ramayana]]. {{Infobox World Heritage Site |Name = Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications |Image = [[Image:srilanka galle fort.jpg|300px|The Fort: View of the lighthouse]] |State Party = {{SRI}} |Type = Cultural |Criteria = iv |ID = 451 |Region = [[List of World Heritage Sites in Asia and Australasia|Asia-Pacific]] |Year = 1988 |Session = 10th |Link = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/451 }} == History == [[Image:Ceylan-map.png|thumb|left|Sri Lanka with Galle]] [[Image:Mosquegalle0775.JPG|thumb|right|[[Mosque]]]] [[Image:Wackwella, Galle.JPG|thumb|The beauty of Galle countryside, Wakwella with [[Sri Lanka]]'s longest bridge on the river Gin]] According to [[James Emerson Tennent]], Galle was the ancient seaport of [[Tarshish]], from which [[King Solomon]] drew [[ivory]], [[peacocks]] and other valuables. Certainly, [[cinnamon]] was exported from Sri Lanka as early as 1400 BC and the root of the word itself is [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], so Galle may have been the main [[entrepot]] for the spice. Galle had been a prominent seaport long before western rule in the country. [[Persians]], [[Arabs]], [[Greeks]], [[Ancient Rome|Romans]], [[Malays (ethnic group)|Malays]] and [[India]]ns were doing business through Galle port. The "modern" history of Galle starts in 1505, when the first [[Portugal|Portuguese]] ship, under [[Lourenço de Almeida]] was driven there by a storm. However, the people of the city refused to let the Portuguese enter it, so the Portuguese took it by force. In 1640, the Portuguese had to surrender to the [[Dutch East India Company]]. The Dutch built the present [[Fort]] in the year 1663. They built a fortified wall, using solid granite, and built three bastions, known as "sun", "moon" and "star". After the [[British Empire|British]] took over the country from the Dutch in the year 1796, they preserved the Fort unchanged, and used it as the administrative centre of Galle. ==Demographics== Galle is sizeable town, by Sri Lankan standards, and has a population of 90,934, the majority of whom are of [[Sinhalese people|Sinhalese]] ethnicity; there is a large [[Sri Lankan Moor]] minority who are the descendants of the [[Arab]] traders that established the ancient port of Galle. {| class="wikitable" |+ |- !Ethnicity!!Population!!% Of Total |- |- |[[Sinhalese people|Sinhalese]]||66,114||72.71 |- |[[Sri Lankan Tamils]]||989||1.09 |- |[[Indian Tamils]]||255||0.28 |- |[[Sri Lankan Moors]]||23,234||25.56 |- |Other (including [[Burgher people|Burgher]], [[Malays (ethnic group)|Malay]])||342||0.38 |- |Total|| 90,934||100 |- |} Source: [http://www.statistics.gov.lk/PopHouSat/PDF/Population/p9p8%20Ethnicity.pdf 2001 Census] == Universities == [[Image:Engfac Galle1.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Faculty of engineering, Galle]] Two main faculties of [[University of Ruhuna]] are located in Galle. [[Faculty Of Engineering Ruhuna|Faculty of Engineering]] is located at Hapugala about 5 km from the city center. The faculty of Medicine is located at Karapitiya near the [[Karapitiya Hospital]]. * Faculty Of Engineering [http://www.eng.ruh.ac.lk visit] * Faculty of Medicine [http://www.ruh.ac.lk/Uni/medicine/Medicine.html visit] {{clr}} == Schools == *[[Richmond College]] (established in 1876)[http://www.richmondcollege.lk Richmond College Website] *[[Mahinda College]] (established in 1892)[http://www.mahindacollege.lk Mahinda College Website] *[[St.Aloysius College]] (established in 1895) *Southlands College (established in 1885) *Sangamitta Girls'College *Sacred Heart Convent *Vidayaloka College *Rippon Girls' College *All Saints College (established in 1867) *Christ Church Boys College *Christ Church Girls College(established in 1888) *[[Siri Dhamma College]] (established in 1995) *Nagoda Jathika Pasala. *Olcot Mix College *G/Battemulla Maha Vidyalaya,Imaduwa *Malharus Sulhiya National School *Muslim Ladies College *Kathaluwa Central College *Sariputhra Maha Vidyalaya, Ahangama ==Twin cities== [[Image:Galle Dutch Fort cricket ground.jpg|thumb|Galle Cricket Ground]] The City of Galle is twinned with: {| | valign="top" | * {{flagicon|Netherlands}} - [[Velsen]], [[The Netherlands]] |} Although not an official twin city, {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Melbourne]], [[Australia]] 'adopted' Galle after the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake|2004 tsunami disaster]], funding the reconstruction of its cricket ground and providing financial and other support, including a mobile library. ==Maps== *[http://www.liccavi-earth.com/Liccavi/Search.aspx?lat=6.03419&lon=80.21674&zoom=10 Detailed map of Galle and Sri Lanka] == See also == * [[Tsunami]] * [[Place names in Sri Lanka]] == External links == *[http://discover.lankanest.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=100&Itemid=71.html/ Discover Sri Lanka - More information & images on Galle and Galle Fort] *[http://discover.lankanest.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=71.html/ Discover Sri Lanka - More information & images on Physical and historical Position of Galle] {{commons|Category:Galle|Galle}} * [http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/451 Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications, UNESCO World Heritage ] * [http://www.srilankatourism.org/ Official website of the Sri Lanka Tourism Board] * [http://cf.hum.uva.nl/galle/ Maritime Archaeology & History of Sri Lanka] * [http://www.ulivewhere.com/low/downloads/download-galle.html Audio interview with Galle resident about life in Galle] {{en icon}} * [http://www.tourslanka.com/Galle.htm The Walled City - Galle] * [http://www.cpamedia.com/articles/20020507_01/ CPAmedia Historic Galle] * [http://www.lankalibrary.com/heritage/gall.html A Historic tour through the city of Galle] * [http://www.lankalibrary.com/heritage/galle.html The old world's romantic city: Galle!] * [http://www.lankalibrary.com/geo/galle1.html Galle - A Port City in History] <br/>{{Sri Lankan cities}} {{Provincial capitals of Sri Lanka}} {{World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka}} {{coor title dm|6|03|N|80|13|E|region:LK_type:city}} <!--Categories--> [[Category:Galle| ]] <!--Other languages--> [[cs:Galle]] [[de:Galle (Stadt)]] [[es:Galle]] [[fr:Galle (Sri Lanka)]] [[it:Galle]] [[he:גאלה]] [[nl:Galle (stad)]] [[ja:ゴール (スリランカ)]] [[no:Galle (by)]] [[pl:Galle]] [[pt:Galle]] [[ru:Галле (Шри-Ланка)]] [[si:ගාල්ල]] [[fi:Galle]] [[sv:Galle]] [[ta:காலி]]