Amangalla
Encyclopedia
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. It became Amangalla resort complex only in 2005.Aman means "peace" and galla is the Sinhalese name for Galle.
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.
, 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.Access to the resort at Galle fort is by road and air links with Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka.
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.
The oldest building of the hotel was built by the Dutch in 1684, and the complex was completed in 1715. 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.
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. 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."
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.
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. 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. All suites in the complex have luxury, modern bathroom facilities.
Spa
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.The hotel runs a regular four-night 'Baths Experience' package which includes daily yoga, meditation and treatments.
Swimming pool
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.
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.
Galle
Galle is a city situated on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, 119 km from Colombo. Galle is the capital city of Southern Province of Sri Lanka and it lies in Galle District....
, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
built within the premises of the heritage Galle Fort
Galle Fort
Galle Fort, in the Bay of Galle on the south east coast of Sri Lanka, was built first in 1588 by the Portuguese, then extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century from 1649 onwards...
, the 17th-century Dutch fort, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is just north of the Galle International Stadium
Galle International Stadium
Galle International Stadium is a cricket stadium in Galle, Sri Lanka, situated near the Galle fort and fringed on two sides by the Indian Ocean. It is considered to be one of the most picturesque cricket grounds in the world...
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. It became Amangalla resort complex only in 2005.Aman means "peace" and galla is the Sinhalese name for Galle.
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.
Geography
The hotel is in GalleGalle
Galle is a city situated on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, 119 km from Colombo. Galle is the capital city of Southern Province of Sri Lanka and it lies in Galle District....
, 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.Access to the resort at Galle fort is by road and air links with Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka.
History
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 PoloMarco Polo
Marco Polo was a Venetian merchant traveler from the Venetian Republic whose travels are recorded in Il Milione, a book which did much to introduce Europeans to Central Asia and China. He learned about trading whilst his father and uncle, Niccolò and Maffeo, travelled through Asia and apparently...
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.
The oldest building of the hotel was built by the Dutch in 1684, and the complex was completed in 1715. 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.
Architecture and facilities
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.there are 33 rooms and suites in total as of 2009.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 verandahVerandah
A veranda or verandah is a roofed opened gallery or porch. It is also described as an open pillared gallery, generally roofed, built around a central structure...
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. 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."
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.
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. 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. All suites in the complex have luxury, modern bathroom facilities.
Spa
Spa
Spa
The term spa is associated with water treatment which is also known as balneotherapy. Spa towns or spa resorts typically offer various health treatments. The belief in the curative powers of mineral waters goes back to prehistoric times. Such practices have been popular worldwide, but are...
, 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.The hotel runs a regular four-night 'Baths Experience' package which includes daily yoga, meditation and treatments.
Swimming pool
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.
Ayurvedic treatment
The resort provides for a rich experience of the ancient AyurvedaAyurveda
Ayurveda or ayurvedic medicine is a system of traditional medicine native to India and a form of alternative medicine. In Sanskrit, words , meaning "longevity", and , meaning "knowledge" or "science". The earliest literature on Indian medical practice appeared during the Vedic period in India,...
system of medical health care and curatives, developed in Sri Lanka since the third century AD, through its ayurvedic
Ayurveda
Ayurveda or ayurvedic medicine is a system of traditional medicine native to India and a form of alternative medicine. In Sanskrit, words , meaning "longevity", and , meaning "knowledge" or "science". The earliest literature on Indian medical practice appeared during the Vedic period in India,...
vegetarian diets, yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
, herbal baths, hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy, formerly called hydropathy, involves the use of water for pain-relief and treating illness. The term hydrotherapy itself is synonymous with the term water cure as it was originally marketed by practitioners and promoters in the 19th century...
, a personalized treatment plan for various types of ailments and a detox
Detox
Detoxification is the physiological or medicinal removal of toxic substances from a living organism, including, but not limited to, the human body and additionally can refer to the period of withdrawal during which an organism returns to homeostasis after long-term use of an addictive substance...
plan spread over three days, seven days or 14 days programme.