Year first constructed 1848 (first) Automated yes Address Galle 80000, Sri Lanka Opened 1939 | Year first lit 1939 (current) Construction cast iron tower Height 26 m Phone +94 75 230 0479 | |
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Location Galle Fort
Galle
Southern Province
Sri Lanka Tower shape cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern Hours Open today ยท Open 24 hoursFridayOpen 24 hoursSaturdayOpen 24 hoursSundayOpen 24 hoursMondayOpen 24 hoursTuesdayOpen 24 hoursWednesdayOpen 24 hoursThursdayOpen 24 hours Similar Galle Fort, Galle Dutch Fort, National Maritime Museum, Lighthouse Hotel, National Museum of Galle | ||
Galle lighthouse the dutch fort
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.
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History
This is Sri Lanka's oldest light station dating back to 1848, but the original 24.5-metre-high (80 ft) lighthouse built by the British was located about 100 metres (330 ft) from the current site; however, it was destroyed by fire in 1934. The existing 26.5-metre-high (87 ft) lighthouse was erected here 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.