Amangalla, Galle

Amangalla provides a tranquil and period styled base from which to explore the fascinating culture and tumultuous history of Galle Fort and Galle, the capital of the Southern Province. Galle is acclaimed for its Dutch Fort, intricate Galle lace, ebony, woodcarvings and polished gems. Persians, Arabs, Chinese, Malays, South Indians, Portuguese, Dutch and English appear to have stamped their mark on Galle, deeming this historical and multi-cultured melting pot one of the world’s remaining historical treasures.

Dining
The Zaal – the Great Hall – as it was known in Dutch times, is the entry point to the resort and has a wonderful colonial feel with high ceilings, overhead fans and chandeliers. There is relaxed seating within as well as on the veranda facing the tree-lined street. The menu provides light meals and snacks in the morning and afternoon tea is served daily. The veranda is the ideal place to escape the heat of the day, enjoy a tall drink and watch the world pass by. Adjacent is The Dining Room that provides an intimate setting for dining with a colonial accent. The Dining Room is furnished with period chairs and tables, crisp white linen and antique silverware, with many of the original pieces being returned to their rightful place in the room. The Dining Room serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and provides a choice of traditional Sri Lankan curry and home-cooked dishes.

Spa
The Baths recapture memories of a bygone era of 'taking the waters', restoring the body and soothing the mind. The five softly lit treatment chambers lead off a descending arched hallway. Gentlemen's and Ladies' dressing rooms lead to a hall containing a sauna, steam room and hydrotherapy pools whose specifically placed jet massage and stimulate the entire body. With candlelit recesses, tall ceilings and traditional archways, the hydrotherapy area is an experience in ancient indulgences. The traditions of the past continue in the Barber Shop and Salon providing gentlemen's shaving, and manicures and pedicures sedately done from original planter's chairs overlooking two hundred year old gardens. These also become a source for quiet contemplation and peace for those who wish to join daily yoga and meditation sessions in the Garden Pavilion. A stylish old-fashioned elegance complements a simple yet thoughtful healing approach focussing on individualised treatments that are effectively relaxing, distinctively powerful and specifically designed. From the Massage to the Foot & Facial (a classic facial and pedicure combined) to the Ayurvedic Massage using herbs from the Ceylon cornucopia, chanting and sound, each treatment bestows the honest gifts of caring therapists, whose unique nurturing and instinctive passion is at the heart of The Baths.

Hotel Features
Amangalla is an integral part of the 400 year old Galle Fort. Here the narrow streets are lined with old houses, displaying their Dutch heritage with their pillared verandas. The Government offices from the Dutch and English period remain in use, in varied states of repair. The community within the Fort is a bustle with daily life. Along with the bullock carts and bicycles, the three-wheelers and food carts, people socialise and shop, collect their children from school and stop to eat. Laughter, chatter, gossip and smiles abound within the rampart walls.

Library
Located beyond the reception hall is the Library with an extensive range of reference books on the history, arts, culture and communities of Sri Lanka as well as a selection of novels, magazines, newspapers, audio CDs and board games. There is also an eclectic collection of memorabilia drawn from the archives of the New Oriental Hotel, which provides an interesting perspective into the history of the buildings, the Fort and the town of Galle. A desktop computer is available for Internet access.

Suites
The suites are decorated in tasteful colonial style with glorious antiques, from Para Mara four-poster beds to pettagama chests, and high quality reproductions on polished Burma teak floorboards that shine on after 300 years. The bedrooms, chambers and suites offer a variety of views from Galle Fort itself to the hotel’s mature gardens. The bathrooms, in hardwood and white, are genteel and comfortable, with an ample armoire, twin vanities beneath large wooden mirrors, free-standing bathtubs and shower rooms. The two-storey Garden House, situated within the lush frangipani scented gardens, is filtered with natural sunlight and features a collection of the original antiques.

Location
Overflowing with colonial landmarks, in the heart of a 17th century Dutch fort, rests a peaceful, and immaculately restored historic hotel, Amangalla. Galle Fort, recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, houses the most charming and characteristic buildings in the ancient trading port of Galle. In the 19th century horse drawn carriages delivered parasol-bearing gentry to the famous doors of the, then New Oriental Hotel. Today, the hotel portrays the complex patina of its past in an exemplary setting, surrounded by the rich colonial tapestry of Sri Lanka’s exceptional Dutch fortress.

Contacts
10 Church Street - Fort Galle - Sri Lanka

Tel: (+94) 91 223 3388
Fax: (+94) 91 223 3355