Amangalla occupies the former New Oriental Hotel inside the ramparts of Galle Fort, the 17th-century fortified town on Sri Lanka's south-west coast that is now UNESCO-listed. The building has welcomed guests for more than 150 years, and Aman and the architect Kerry Hill restored it without losing its colonial bones. Original wooden floors, high sash windows and four-poster beds set the tone in the rooms, chambers and suites, which look either over the fort and harbour or over the hotel's gardens and pool. A two-storey Garden House sits in its own grounds for families or longer stays. Daily breakfast, afternoon tea, morning yoga and butler service are part of every stay. The Dining Room, with white linen and chandeliers, opens onto a veranda for tea overlooking Church Street, and the Aman Spa adds hydrotherapy suites and a three-night Ayurveda programme. The fort's lanes of old houses, churches and small shops start at the front door. Aman suggests pairing a stay here with Amanwella, its beach resort a two-hour drive east.
- Nearest airport
- Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), 82 Miles / 131 Kilometres
- Rooms
- 30 rooms, chambers and suites
Insider tip Take a drink to the small alcove on the second floor at sunset, when the light falls across the fort's colonial rooftops.
Why I choose it We choose Amangalla because it puts clients inside Galle Fort rather than outside it, in a historic house with gentle Aman service and an easy pairing with the beach at Amanwella.