Galle Fort, is situated in the the Bay of Galle on the south coast of Sri Lanka. It was built first in 1588 by the Portuguese, and then extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century from 1649 onwards. The Galle Fort has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site under criteria IV, for its unique exposition of an urban ensemble which illustrates the interaction of European architecture and South Asian traditions from the 16th to the 19th centuries.