| Amangalla | |
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| Amangalla Hotel | |
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| Location | 10 Church Street, Galle, Sri Lanka |
| Coordinates | |
| Opening date | 1865 2005 |
| Owner | Aman Resorts |
| Website | Amangalla |
Amangalla is a luxury 5-star franchise hotel belonging to the international group of Aman Resorts, located in Galle, Sri Lanka built within the premises of the heritage Galle Fort, the 17th-century Dutch fort, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is just north of the Galle International Stadium and roundabout. The oldest part of the hotel dates to 1684, and the complex was completed in 1715. It was known as the New Oriental Hotel for 140 years from 1865.[1][2] It became Amangalla resort complex only in 2005.[3][4][5]Aman means "peace" and galla is the Sinhalese name for Galle.[2]
Lonely Planet terms Amangalla located near the Dutch Reformed Church in the Galle Fort as an "ultra posh hotel" catering to the first class airline passengers. It was originally built in 1684 to house the Dutch Governor and his staff which was later converted into a hotel, which was named the Oriental Hotel. It catered to the European passengers traveling between Europe and Galle port in the 19th century.[6]
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The hotel is in Galle, the capital of the Southern Province of Sri Lanka and is set amidst the historic Galle Fort, a hexagonal stone fort built over an area of 36 ha. The fort, fully inhabited, has many period buildings of the colonial era within a network of narrow roads.[7]Access to the resort at Galle fort is by road and air links with Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka.
The Aman Resort hotel within the Galle Fort has a rich trading history linked to the Persians, the Arabs, the Chinese, the Malays, the Indians, the Javanese and Sumatrans, Marco Polo in 1299 and then the Portuguese in the 16th century followed by the Dutch in 1643 and the English in the 18th century, all in that sequence. A leisurely walk from the resort is an experince through the historical architectural richness of heritage buildings which have been built over the centuries, including the Amangalla hotel complex, one of the heritage hotels.[4][7]
The oldest building of the hotel was built by the Dutch in 1684, and the complex was completed in 1715.[8][2] The fort was converted into the New Oriental Hotel only in 1865. Initially, the complex of buildings formed the headquarters of the Dutch commanders and their staff. During the British rule, the complex was used as the quarters for their soldiers. It became a heritage hotel under the Aman Resorts group of international hotels in 2005 and is named Amangalla.[9]
Some of the walls are said to be made of sandstone and 1 metre thick and the ceiling to many of the rooms are about 6 m in height.[10]there are 33 rooms and suites in total as of 2009.[10]The entry to the resort is through the Great Hall, called "Zaal" by the Dutch, which is a Dutch colonial legacy. The hall has a high ceiling which is fronted by a cool verandah that faces a street with an avenue of trees. The dining hall, furnished tastefully with period furniture, provides all meals including a rich cuisine of Sri Lankan dishes, all served in traditional antique silverware.[11] The architectural splendour of the hotel is seen in its "antiques, old prints, polished aged-floors, crisp white linen, pristine walls, rich mahogany, wood and rattan planters."[7]
It is a luxury hotel built by Aman Resorts Group with large investments made to modernize the 19th-century vintage New Oriental Hotel. It has the reputation as one of Asia's most luxurious hotels. It has 27 large suites, some of which have been designed by combining several old rooms. The traditional decor has been retained with modern period fittings. New additions made are the spa and the large swimming pool.[12]
Living accommodation in the resort is provided under four classes, at separate locations within the complex in scenic ambiance of greenery and or ancient monuments with all five star facilities. The ten rooms which provide views of the garden or the Great Church with bedrooms of 36 to 39 sqm area with identical furniture consisting of four post king size beds, petogonia chest of drawers, a writing desk. The wooden floorings in all rooms is made of jackwood. Seven bedrooms are located on the ground level of the Middle Street wing and six rooms are located in the Church Street wing which have views of the ramparts of the fort.[2] Four rooms are in the two-storey Garden Wing over looking trees of the garden, which are spacious with size of bedrooms varying from 55 sqm to 67 sqm; three of these rooms have balconies and one room has a porch. There are ten suites which are set in the midst of para trees with views of the fort’s ramparts, harbour or the tropical garden. Rooms in these suites have polished teak wood flooring.[2] All suites in the complex have luxury, modern bathroom facilities.[4]
Spa, called The Baths, consist of five treatment rooms located in an arched hallway which provides stimulating hydrotherapy in the sauna, steam room and hydrotherapy pools. The Garden Pavilion is where daily yoga and meditation sessions are held.[11]The hotel runs a regular four-night 'Baths Experience' package which includes daily yoga, meditation and treatments.[13]
The resort has swimming pool which measure 21 x 10.5 m set amidst a garden environment, has pool side service and also five covered resting pavilions known locally as ambalamas. There are also many sun loungers adjacent to the pool in the backdrop of palm trees.[11]
The resort provides for a rich experience of the ancient Ayurveda system of medical health care and curatives, developed in Sri Lanka since the third century AD, through its ayurvedic vegetarian diets, yoga, herbal baths, hydrotherapy, a personalized treatment plan for various types of ailments and a detox plan spread over three days, seven days or 14 days programme.[9]
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