Galle Fort

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At a Glance

Housed in a historic colonial building (formerly the New Oriental Hotel) inside the Galle Fort, Amangalla is the most luxurious hotel option on this part of the southern coast.

Indagare Loves

• The on-site Ayuervedic doctor who offer an in-depth analysis for clients
• The fantastic library, stocked with books about Sri Lanka and memorabilia from the hotel’s olden days
• Lunch on the charming, shady verandah and drinks at the atmospheric bar
• The private, excellent bath areas in the spa, complete with Jacuzzi, pools and steam room, that can be reserved

Review

Amangalla’s 28 rooms, including seven suites, are spread across two interconnected buildings that give this property a real sense of spaciousness. Interiors feature a heavy dose of colonial-era elegance, with polished teak and jack-wood floors, four-poster beds, planters chairs and an exquisitely tiled floor on the verandah out front. Doors of the so-called Great Hall are flung wide open, so the hotel feels like it is part of the Galle Fort scene.

And indeed, the two buildings that make up today’s hotel have a long history here. Part of the structures was built in 1684 by the Dutch (which explain the high-ceiling Great Hall, or Zaal, as it would have been called during those days) and turned into a hotel by the British in 1863. Aman took over in 2004, opening just before the tsunami hit Sri Lanka, devastating the surrounding coastline and a country already burdened by a lengthy civil war. Amazingly, Galle Fort was completely protected from the waves, and the wood floors of the Amangalla didn’t see a drop of water.

Today, the hotel reigns supreme in the luxury market with its spacious accommodations and such amenities as a sizeable pool (welcome in the soaring heat that this part of Sri Lanka can experience), a lovely tranquil spa, complete with a roster of Auyrvedic treatments, beautiful gardens and a buzzing bar famous for its locally inspired cocktails (try the arrack sour).

Rooms are spread across three floors, and all are very comfortably outfitted with large bathrooms. (Indagare Tip: If you don’t want to walk up and down stairs, ask for one on the ground floor, as there is no elevator here.) Some come with private patios or balconies, while others open directly into lovely gardens. Due to the layout of the historic buildings, none of the floor plans are the same and views vary (a glimpse of the sea can be spotted from some of the top-floor rooms).

Don’t miss morning yoga at the tranquil platform tucked into the gardens. Guests interested in Ayurvedic medicine should book a consultation with the on-site specialist.

Who Should Stay

High-end travelers wishing to be placed inside Galle Fort for a day or two of exploration. The Amangalla is one of the country’s top addresses and has done an excellent job at restoring and preserving the property’s impressive history.

Ideal Length of Stay

One night (Galle Fort is small and can easily be explored in a single day).

Getting There

From Colombo central, Galle is a two-hour drive; from the airport, it takes closer to three.

Author

• Simone Girner