About this hotel
General information
Amangalla occupies a historic residence inside the ramparts of Galle Fort, a UNESCO-listed 17th-century fort town on Sri Lanka’s south coast. Whitewashed façades, arched and shuttered windows, terracotta roofs and long verandas set the tone outside; inside are lofty ceilings with overhead fans, jackwood floors, four-poster beds and traditional pettagama chests. Because the building is a heritage home, no two rooms are quite alike.
One side looks over the fort and the harbour, the other over gardens with a pond, a boardwalk and a pool shaded by trees. A personal butler looks after each stay, and breakfast, daily afternoon tea, morning yoga and up to 30 minutes a day in the spa’s hydrotherapy suites are included. From the veranda it is a short walk into the fort’s lanes of old houses, boutiques and restaurants.
Location
The hotel sits at the heart of Galle Fort on the island’s south-west coast. Colombo’s international airport is about two hours away by road; a daily seaplane flies from Colombo to Koggala, 25 minutes’ drive from the hotel, and a helicopter flight takes around an hour, landing at a helipad roughly 10 minutes away. The concierge arranges transfers and airport assistance.
Spa
Aman Spa is set beneath high ceilings, archways and candlelit recesses. It has two hydrotherapy suites, each with a warm massage pool, sauna, steam room and cold plunge, along with five treatment rooms, a yoga pavilion, a traditional men’s barbershop and a nail salon. Massages, oil anointments, reflexology and scrubs are tailored in the Ayurvedic tradition. For a longer immersion there is the three-night Ayurveda Experience, with a personal treatment plan, daily yoga and a daily Ayurvedic treatment, and the half-day Sattva Vihāra ritual on a private island among rice paddies, with a sound bath, a massage for two and breakfast.
Sports & leisure
A group yoga class is held each morning in the garden pavilion, private yoga or training can be booked on the ramparts at sunrise, and guided meditation takes place in the gardens. The gym is open daily from 5am to 10pm, and guests have free use of mountain bikes for exploring the fort and its surroundings, as well as one of Galle’s tennis courts.
- a guided walk through Galle Fort, ending at the lighthouse on the ramparts where kites are flown at sunset;
- a trip to the Yatagala rock temple in tropical jungle – 120 steps up to a 1,200-year-old shrine and a meditation cave;
- a game drive in Udawalawe National Park to see wild elephants, and a visit to a tea plantation;
- help with arranging blue whale watching;
- the Fort & Beach combination, splitting a stay between Amangalla and the beach resort Amanwella in Tangalle.
For children
Younger guests have a daily rotation of activities, including mocktail-mixing sessions, kite flying, treasure hunts and junior yoga.
Restaurants & bars
The restaurants are open to residents and non-residents alike, and afternoon tea – Ceylon tea with scones and savouries – can be taken in the Library, the Great Hall, on the Veranda, by the pool or in the room.
- Dining Room – breakfast and all-day dining: simple brasserie dishes from local produce, Sri Lankan and international cooking, and a nightly changing rice-and-curry menu;
- Veranda – running the length of the house above the fort’s tree-lined streets: hopper breakfasts, light lunches and candlelit dinners;
- Great Hall (Zaal) – lounge, living room and bar in one, for breakfast, fresh juices, cocktails, cream tea and live music most evenings;
- Garden Terrace and Pool Courtyard – breakfasts, light lunches and Ayurvedic tea by the pool under flowering trees, with private candlelit dinners by arrangement;
- Sunset Balcony – gin and tonics, cocktails and wine on the top floor, looking west over the fort’s rooftops to the sea;
- Chef’s Table at the Library – a single table for a bespoke multi-course menu with wine pairings.
Private options include a roti dinner cooked by a personal chef on an island among rice paddies, lit by candles and torches, with a performance by local dancers at sunset.
Swimming
A 21-metre pool lies in the gardens beside the Pool Courtyard, and the spa’s hydrotherapy suites have their own warm and cold plunge pools. The hotel has no beach of its own, sitting within the walled fort town.
Rooms
Seven categories, from the Bedrooms to the two-storey Garden House, are spread across the Church Street Wing, Middle Street Wing and Garden Wing and the gardens; as befits a heritage building, no two rooms are identical.
Wi-Fi, a safe, in-room soft drinks, butler service, daily pressing of three items, a writing desk, a pettagama chest and a bathroom with a free-standing bathtub.
Garden House
A two-storey house in the gardens with a wrap-around balcony and upper and lower lounges with a chaise longue and dining table. A separate bedroom has a king-size four-poster, and the bathroom has a free-standing tub, twin vanities and a separate wet room.
Amangalla Suite
A suite in the Church Street Wing looking over the ramparts, the harbour and the treetops, with a king-size four-poster bedroom and a living room with writing desk and dining table. Open-plan bathroom with a free-standing tub, and arched, shuttered windows.
Suite
A suite in the Church Street or Middle Street Wing with garden or rampart and harbour views, and a separate bedroom and living area. Most have a king-size four-poster, one has twin beds; it can connect to a Bedroom for up to four guests.
Veranda Chamber
A spacious room in the Garden Wing with a king-size four-poster, a living area and an outdoor sitting area facing the manicured gardens, and a balcony or twin Juliet balconies. Closed bathroom with a free-standing tub and separate shower.
Chamber
An upper-floor room with fort and treetop views through arched, shuttered windows, a king-size four-poster and a living area with writing desk and dining table. Open-plan bathroom with a free-standing tub.
Garden Bedroom
A room opening onto the gardens, with a small covered porch at the entrance, a king-size four-poster, a writing desk and a dining table. Bathroom with a free-standing tub and separate shower.
Bedroom
A room with jackwood floors and views over the garden or an 18th-century church. Most have a king-size four-poster, one has twin beds; it can connect to a Suite for up to four guests.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.