Amangalla
Galle

Amangalla is one of Ampersand's Top 10 Boutique Hotels, Top 10 Aman Resorts in Asia and Top 10 Hotel Spas.

Without a doubt the Grand Dame of Galle Fort, Amangalla radiates the period charm of a bygone era. Taking its name from the Sanskrit word for ‘peace’ and the Sinhalese name for Galle, this refined retreat sits within the UNESCO-protected fort walls at the junction of Church and Middle Streets, offering commanding views over the harbour and ancient ramparts.

The hotel is an elegant blend of buildings that date back over 400 years. Step inside and you’re transported to another age; the Great Hall, with its glittering chandeliers and soaring fin de siècle ceilings, echoes the grandeur of a colonial golden era. Originally built in 1684 as the headquarters of the Dutch commandeur, later serving as a billet for British officers, the property became the Oriental Hotel in 1863, then the legendary New Oriental Hotel, trading for over 140 years until Aman acquired it in 2002.

The accommodation is gloriously spoiling. Guests can choose from 26 bedrooms, chambers and suites, the lavish two-bedroom Amangalla Suite, or the secluded Garden House tucked away beside the serene, palm-fringed swimming pool. While layouts differ slightly, every room features spacious en-suite bathrooms and four-poster king-size beds. Period details abound with 300-year-old teak floors, latticed shutters, antique furnishings and arched windows that flood the spaces with light.

The Great Hall also houses the formal dining room, where an elegant menu offers both Sri Lankan delicacies and Western classics, or dine alfresco on the veranda beneath gently turning ceiling fans, or enjoy breakfasts and lazy lunches in the shaded gardens, now over two centuries old. In the evening, take a seat in the charming bar with a cocktail and the sound of a grand piano, or head upstairs to the Sunset Balcony for a G&T with views stretching across Galle’s terracotta rooftops.

Beyond the gardens lies the hotel’s 21-metre green-tiled swimming pool, utterly tranquil, surrounded by palms and old stone, and at the far end, Amangalla’s acclaimed Baths, a spa sanctuary featuring hydrotherapy pools and deeply restorative Ayurvedic treatments.

With its air of timeless sophistication, impeccable service and deep connection to the history of Galle, Amangalla is more than just a hotel, it’s an immersion into a more gracious world. The perfect base for exploring Galle Fort, and the kind of place that lingers long after you leave.

I can't think of anything that excites a greater sense of childlike wonder than to be in a country where you are ignorant of almost everything.
Bill Bryson