Galle Lighthouse

The Galle Lighthouse (also known as Pointe de Galle Light) is an onshore Lighthouse in Galle, Sri Lanka and is operated and maintained by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. This is Sri Lanka's oldest light station.

History

Philippus Baldaeus, a Dutch minister who served in the area in the late 1650s, detailed his observations of Galle Harbour, in his work, Description of the East India, Malabar and Coromandel Coasts, stating that there was an iron cannon placed on the ramparts and a lantern to guide the sailors on top of the 28 feet above sea level rock which jutted out into the sea.

The first lighthouse at Galle was built by the British in 1848. It was a 24.4-metre-high (80 ft) iron lighthouse, constructed from cast-iron plates, imported from England, designed by British architect Alexander Gordon and erected by Messrs. Robinson, Engineers of Pimlico. The lighthouse, painted white, was located on the southwest bastion, Utrtecht Bastion, of Galle fort on the western side of Galle Harbor. It had a fixed point light with prolate reflectors, which was visible for 19 kilometres (12 mi). In July 1936 it was destroyed by fire.

The current 26.5-metre-high (87 ft) concrete lighthouse was erected about 100 metres (330 ft) from the original site in 1939. The original light was furnished with a glass prism lens floating in a bath of mercury (to reduce friction) and was powered by a weight driven machine.[]

The light station is within the walls of the ancient Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and well known tourist attraction. The lighthouse is strategically located at the southern end of the promontory, built approximately 6 metres (20 ft) above the road level on the ramparts, at what is known as the Point Utrecht Bastion, giving it full view of any ships entering Galle Harbour.

See also

  • List of lighthouses in Sri Lanka

External links

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Dave Mc
29 December 2018
The lighthouse is a good place to see the ocean wall of the fort and check out the areas the cannon were once pointed out to sea.
Miyuru Weerarathna
12 July 2016
Come here at sun rise and sun set. Experience the beauty of Galle fort. Love the place here. A photographers paradise.
Simple Discoveries
6 September 2016
Beautiful especially at dusk. Best views are on the rampart side as you don't see the rather plain attached blockhouse. Steps away from the rampart with an amazing sunset view!
Malith Parakrama
19 April 2016
Best place to see the sunset...
Paula Freire
17 January 2017
O mais legal de vir ver o Farol de perto é observar as pessoas na praia ao lado. Se dá pra subir no farol, não tem identificação sobre isso fora dele.
Yuliya Kotik
7 March 2018
Не очень впечатлил город, хотя его историю послушать интересно
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Map
Point Utrecht Bastion, Hospital St, Galle 80000, Sri Lanka Get directions
Tue-Wed 10:00 AM–7:00 PM
Thu 10:00 AM–8:00 PM
Fri 11:00 AM–7:00 PM
Sat 11:00 AM–8:00 PM
Sun 10:00 AM–8:00 PM

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