Book the Amangalla with VIP Benefits

Amangalla is a top-class hotel within the confines of the ancient fort of the historic town of Galle on the scenic island of Sri Lanka. The hotel is a sensitively renovated 300-year-old colonial building from the Dutch and British eras with luxury guest rooms and suites.

Location

Amangalla is part of the Aman ('Peace' in Sanskrit) group of luxury properties. It's also a sister hotel to Amanwella on the island's southwestern side. Amangalla is in the old port town of Galle. This town has a long and fascinating history and many historical sites to explore.

Moreover, Sri Lanka's 17th-century Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was initially constructed in Dutch Colonial days and later transferred to British control. The hotel formally opened in 1865 as the New Oriental hotel and passed to the Aman group in 2005. Furthermore, the town of Galle is about a 2-hour drive from the capital Colombo and guests can arrange hotel pick-up.

Sightseeing

Most sights are walkable from the hotel. Additionally, many organized tours are available in the town and beyond to the famous emerald-green tea plantations. Other tours weave between ancient, peaceful temples. Plus, guests can delight in whale-spotting opportunities in the winter months.

Outside the calm of the fort, this busy commercial port bustles with fish, fruit, and vegetable markets. You may also find textiles and exotic spices. Moreover, you can view the town from the ramparts of the fort. It is next door to the gable-roofed Dutch Reformed Church.

Furthermore, a regular passeggiata (afternoon walk) occurs here as the sun sets in the late afternoon. The Anglican Church of All Saints and the Dickensian Library are close, as is the Galle Cricket Ground.

Style and Hospitality

Amangalla, Sri Lanka, is a beautiful luxury hotel. It preserves all the character and features of a former age combined with modern comfort. Moreover, old-style service and courtesy mirror the grande dame style of this former Colonial property with personal butler service in some accommodations.

Preserved original features include polished floors, tiled verandah, and antique furniture. There are also vast gilded mirrors and huge Dutch chests in the Great Hall (Zaal). Aesthetically impressive are the arched windows and covered verandah. Besides, there is a secluded palm and flower-fringed courtyard with the gentle splashing of a romantic pool.

These features blend comfortably with seriously stylish newer furnishings. They are adorned everywhere by oversized floral arrangements.

Features

The hotel has delightful grounds ranging from almost 9000 square meters. There is also a small library area and an Ayurvedic spa with hydrotherapy treatments. You'll also find pools, a barbershop, a yoga shala, and free Wi-Fi.

Other features include a 21-meter swimming pool and an elegant classic restaurant and bar in the historic Zaal. Too, expect live music on occasion and hotel parking. Cooking lessons in traditional dishes are also available to guests.

Rooms and Suites

There are four grades of rooms at the hotel. These range between the Middle Street and Church Street wings and are divided by a 2-story garden house. Each has individual characteristics and advantages. Plus, they feature colonial-style furnishings, rich dark woods, shutters, 4-poster beds, crisp white linens, and period furniture.

Standard rooms are the smallest. However, they still have adequate space, while the upper floors boast huge rooms with light-filled living spaces. The garden chambers are quietly located near the pool. They have balconies and terraces.

There are eight suites, 6 in the Church Street wing and 2 in the Middle Street building. The two corner suites have double aspects from arched windows. Here, you'll get views of the fort ramparts, Dutch Reformed Church, ancient Para Mara trees, and the sea. Moreover, all rooms have mini-bars, soft drinks, juices, and iPod docks. Rooms also have Wi-Fi, sun lotion, and insect repellent.

Additionally, bathrooms are very generous in space, with doors separating them from the bedrooms. They have double sinks and free-standing soaking tubs. There are also walk-in showers with subway tiling and separate rooms for the toilets. Furthermore, courtesy bath products, towels, robes, and slippers are standard in all accommodations.

Dining

The resort's centerpiece is the Great Hall – the Zaal in Dutch. It has stunning architecture and a colonial feel to the dining area. Enjoy cocktails, jazz, and light meals in the entry area or on the verandah. Moreover, high ceilings, chandeliers, pristine white table linens, and antique silverware make for an elegant and formal adjacent dining room.

Additionally, menus are upscale Sri Lankan curries. Plus, you can order traditional local dishes and international classics, including Australian beef steaks. The choices vary daily according to the chef's selection of the best ingredients available from local sources.

Breakfasts are also served here from a full menu. The dining room serves meals up to 10 p.m; with the Zaal bar remaining open for drinks until midnight. In-room dining is also available.

Traditional Roti Meal

This extra is something to consider for a special evening or to round off the stay at Amangalla. Guests enjoy this tradition in the garden pavilion lit by myriad candles and flaming torches. In this brilliance, they are treated to a roti dinner. This dinner features a fantastic selection of Sri Lankan street food dishes.

Spa

Guests can reach this lovely relaxing spa through a cloistered corridor. It offers a range of deluxe treatments or individually-designed Ayurvedic therapies. The Baths are also part of the treatment range here. It includes a hydrotherapy and water massage pool, sauna, steam room, and a cold plunge pool. The yoga pavilion is also here.

Courtyard Pool

There is a beautiful and peaceful pool within a secluded area surrounded by palms and flower-draped walls. The extended, covered area is chosen with daybeds and cooling ceiling fans. It is also great for sun loungers outside along the pool.

Children

Children are welcome at the resort, with extra beds free for under 12s. In addition, baby cots, bath items, toys, and babysitting services are available.

Takeaway

Amangalla is a serene place to stay in a fascinating historic area. The fort itself has a lot of history. Plus, the old town's narrow streets offer many places of interest from colonial times to the modern-day.