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This historic colonial-era lighthouse in Galle is a popular couple experience inside the fort and a place for magical photos. Sri Lanka’s oldest lighthouse is also called Pointe de Gallem Light. Situated inside the rampart walls on the edge of the fort walls atop a high point referred to as Point Utrecht Bastion, the original lighthouse was built by the British in 1848.
Inside the UNESCO World Heritage site, the Galle Lighthouse is one of the most popular sites to explore. A favourite site for Instagram photos, its pristine white guiding light tower set against the lawns of the Fort, coral mixed dark rampart walls, blue skies and azure ocean waters is a stunning sight to behold.
While the original Galle Lighthouse was the oldest in the country, built by the British in 1848, it was destroyed by a devastating fire in 1934. In 1939 the lighthouse location was moved to about 100 metres away from the original site and rebuilt to stand around 2 metres taller than the original at 26.5 metres.
Rebuilt on Point Utrecht Bastion, the original lighthouse contained a glass prism that was placed inside a mercury-filled container, that kept the lamp level and allowed free rotation. The Lighthouse keepers had constant cleaning to do of the accumulating dirt from the container as well as the mercury, to keep it functioning optimally, which exposed them to high levels of the toxic metal.
The lighthouse today is fully automated and does not require the constant care or attention of the past. On most days tours are available to climb to the summit of the lighthouse (with prior permission) to take in the beautiful beach views.
The guiding light to around 40-50 ships passing the Galle lighthouse, it is a historic beacon of the Fort.
Galle Fort Lighthouse
Rampart Street (Point Utrecht Bastion)
Galle Fort
Opening Hours: Daily
Tickets: LKR 200 (Prices current as of June 2024)
