Old town of Galle,Sri Lanka

Photo taken on Nov 18, 2013 shows a view of the old town of Galle, Sri Lanka.[Photo/Xinhua]

Located in the northern Indian Ocean,Sri Lanka is an island country that boasts its picturesque natural scenery and of course the widely known Ceylon tea.

Apart from the natural wonders,Sri Lanka is also a country that has a history of over 3,000 years,places of historical interest scatter all over the country, the old town of Galle is one of them. Founded in the 16th century by the Portuguese, Galle reached the height of its development in the 18th century, before the arrival of the British. It is the best example of a fortified city built by Europeans in South and South-East Asia, showing the interaction between European architectural styles and South Asian traditions. Old town of Galle and its fortifications was listed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1988.