Completed in 2005, a year after the tsunami and four years before the end of Sri Lanka’s civil war, the Amanwella occupies a perfectly tranquil cove in sleepy Tangalle (which was made slightly less sleepy with the arrival of the Anantara and Ani Villas nearby).
Indagare Loves
The resident Aman tuktuk, done in sleek beige and white leather
Sundowners in the atmospheric beachside coconut grove
The super-sized, 800-meter pool, great for morning laps
Having an early-morning coffee with incredible sea views
Review
Built from the ground up as a seaside sister retreat to the Galle Fort’s Amangalla, the Amanwella overlooks a tranquil cove on the southern coast, near the town of Tangalle. Surrounded by coconut groves and built into a hillside, the setting is truly serene and very photogenic.
However, the remote location has had some drawbacks, namely that during the country’s civil war, which ended in 2009, the resort was quite cut off and updates were slow or impossible to accomplish. It’s showing its age a bit and renovations and additions, like a gym, are in the works. That said, for couples looking to relax and lounge by a beautiful pool for a couple of days, the Amanwella is in a good location en route from the Hill Country and Yala National Park to Galle.
The design is intentionally minimalist and contemporary and showcases lots of organic materials, including wood, stone and clay. The way the beiges and browns of the uncluttered, soaring spaces blend into the landscapes here is inspired by local architect legend Geoffrey Bawa who is famous for his naturalist-inspired designs. The most attractive spaces are the large restaurant and bar area, which overlook a large, 155-foot pool and the coconut-fringed cove below.
The 27 guest villas are located a five-minute stroll across a walkway and up a steep hill (the resort also offers tuktuk transfers), which makes getting between the rooms, pool and restaurant slightly inconvenient. The villas, each designed in signature Aman style with open floorplans, lots of lounging areas and spacious terraces, all look to the sea; the only difference between them is location. Behind the villas, another steep path snakes down to the Aman’s beach area, a protected patch of sand lined with cushy loungers and a beachside restaurant, which serves lunch and dinner.
Who Should Stay
Travelers looking for a place that inspires truly doing nothing and staying put, in other words couples in need of a night or two of rest to break up an activities heavy itinerary. Children will be hopelessly bored here and the layout—with villas removed from the restaurants—also doesn’t make sense for families.
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