Forts and Lighthouses Tour in Sri Lanka
Forts and Lighthouse tours can be organized in combination with a round-trip.
FORTS: First the ancient kings fortified the cities of the Northern plains to defend against invasions from South India and then with the onset of the marauding hordes of the western empires erected many forts and bastions along the coastal belt in Sri Lanka, garrisoned to defend against the Royal Sri Lankan forces in the hills and as a defense against the other empire building nations on the prowl in the Indian Ocean. Of the ancient fort only two remain in Sigiriya (UNESCO World Heritage) & Mapagala located south of Sigiriya.
Of the western bastions most were destroyed either in battle with Sri Lankan forces or each other and one account says the fort of Trinco known as fort Fredrick changed hands from the Sinhala to Hollanders to English then the French Admiral De Saffron defeated the English in an epic battle in Trinco, only to hand the fort back to The British after the Paris treaty was signed in Europe after the Napoleonic wars in Europe.
Today only a handful of the 36 Original forts remains and most are in ruins with the exception of Galle (UNESCO World Heritage), Matara star fort, Tangalle, Martello tower, Baitticaloa, Fort Fredrick Trinco, and Poonaryn Fort Jaffna remains in more or less good conditions but will fall to ruin if restoration is not carried out.
LIGHTHOUSES: A tower or building designed to warn or guide ship using light in the recent times and oil fires in the ancient, was used by mariners as well as explorers alike as guides. Generally they were utilized to mark hazardous coastlines, coral reefs which posed grave dangers to wooden hulled ships of the ancient times, till the advent of the modern steel hulled ships.
The Colonial era saw the building of 25 lighthouses being built in aid of navigation under the British with the oldest being the now defunct Clock tower (1829) which stand designated as a monument in the heart of Colombo. The tallest being “Dondra head” in Devundara south of the island and standing 50m tall and magnificent, the loneliest lighthouses of Sri Lanka are the Great Basses some 15 km off the shores of Yala and another 14 more functioning lighthouses and their “Vickie’s” are the keepers are affectionately known, solemn and proud as the towers they serve, are very much places to enjoy glorious sunsets and panoramic views from dizzying heights.
FORT MAPAGALA
In the 1920’s, then commissioner of archaeology Hocart took note of the cyclopean styled stone walls and the square stones of this ancient citadel located South of Sigiriya. The ability to chisel such massive block of granite to such precision suggests that Iron smelting and tools were available to the stonemason.
FORT BATTICALOA
Built by the Portuguese in 1628 when a Dutch fleet landed to meet up with the then King of Kandy which infuriated them as they controlled the coastal belt, it was captured by the Dutch in 1638, and finally changing hands to the British. Square shaped with four prominent bastions
FORT FREDRICK
Port of Trincomalee was referred “Gokanna” during ancient times and has attracted ancient sea farers like Marco Polo, Ptolemy. Fort Fredrick was built Portuguese in 1624 and according to notes they built it with the debris of an ancient Hindu temple destroyed by them.
FORT CALPENTEYN
Dutch fort in Kalpitiya is 50km away from Puttalam. It's a small fort that seems to be in good condition. It was built in 1667, on the spot where the Portuguese had a stockade and a Jesuit chapel.
FORT JAFFNA
The fort built by the Portuguese in 1619 then rebuilt by the Dutch in the second half of the 18th Century is the second largest fort that remains intact in the Island. Fort resembles a regular pentagon with bastions on each point beyond this is a star shaped moat fed by the lagoon.
FORT STAR
Built in 1763, located in Matara (160km from Colombo) is the star fort built by Van Eck after the revolt, the immensely thick walls and well within this tiny stronghold was done due to the indefensible nature of existing Matara fort as noted by the Dutch Governor Rump in 1717.
FORT MARTELLO TOWER
located in Hambantota, are small defensive forts that were built across the British empire during its heyday from the time of the Napoleonic wars, standing 40 feet or so and being able to garrison 15 – 25 men with one officer.
LIGHTHOUSE DONDRA HEAD
Built during the colonial era, designed by Sir James Douglas in an Octagon shape, and was managed by the Imperial lighthouse service. Dondra head has the distinction of being the tallest lighthouse in Asia at 50 meters, second being in Shimane prefecture-Japan.
LIGHTHOUSE BATTICALOA
The lighthouse was built in 1913 by the British and is 28 meters in height. Though narrower than most in the island once on top you are treated to one of the most magnificent panoramas of the endless Sea and the central mountain with Thoppigala being the highlight.
LIGHTHOUSE GREAT BASSES & LITTLE BASSES REEF
If Dondra head is the tallest in Asia, these two located on desolates rocks 12 – 15km off shore have the distinction of being the loneliest in Asia. The reefs can be reached from Kirinda through an arranged boat ride. The boat ride will take approximately 1-1.5 hours to Great Basses Reef and 2-3 hours to Little Basses Reef.
We have much kind of Readymade Light house and Fort tours and we understand the different demands of clients and tailor-make arrangements to suit exact needs and budgets which will turn your tour into something totally unique.
We aim to get to know our clients and their desires and offer them a high quality product and an efficient and very personal service. It’s your tour, you say exactly what you want, we know how to make it happen, and at a price to suit your pocket.
The prices are available upon Request.
This itinerary can be tailored to your specific requirements, budget and tastes.
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