Famous Galle Road in Sri Lanka stretches 110 kms all the way down the South Coast from Colombo finally concluding at Galle Fort ramparts. Narrow streets in Galle Fort are lined with Dutch merchant villas real estate now worth millions converted to boutique hotels with pillared verandas, carved doors wooden windows. British and Dutch period offices are still in use. Galle is a vibrant, living world heritage city with residents walking the 300 year old ramparts at sunset.  Strolling along the high rampart walls you view Old Dutch and English churches, the Governor's house, the massive VOC warehouses, the Square of Law Courts, the elegant pillared facade of the old Dutch hospital, the Portuguese Black Fort, the lighthouse, Clock Tower, Amangalla and more.

 

Near Galle Fort are 4 lap of luxury hotels. Lighthouse Hotel with beach front designed by the internationally renowned Sri Lankan architect; Geoffrey Bawa is 4 kms from Galle fort, Less well known but supremely luxurious is Tamarind Hill , the restored home of a former Admiral. The lavishly furnished Admiral’s Suite is nearly opposite the Lighthouse Hotel, but on the land side. 30 kms down the South coast is The Fortress Hotel with beach front. Further down at Tangalle is Amanwella with at US$ 1500 per night the most expensive, luxurious sea view villas with private pools in Sri Lanka. Galle Hotels are expensive. For rates complete Enquiry Form

 

Within the ramparts of Galle Fort itself are merchant villas converted to boutique hotels and AMANGALLA, Aman Resorts multi million dollar restoration of the historic New Orient Hotel. Amangalla is certainly not cheap, with most hotel room only rates well over US$500 per night. Other smaller luxurious boutique hotels are also within the Fort area.  Those who enjoy antiques will adore the rare Dutch colonial period antiques including the petagamas and the planter chairs which abound in Galle and Galle hotels.

 

Visitors to Sri Lanka who love swimming on tropical beaches should note that hotels within Galle Fort itself do not have a beach frontage. The nearest luxury hotels with beach front are The Lighthouse on the Colombo side of Galle Road and the Fortress and Amanwella further down the South Coast. For those who love culture, Galle is the venue of numerous literary and cultural festivals which attract renowned poets and writers from all over the world. Galle is also the home of the cricket stadium which can be seen from the bastions and walls of the fort and where renowned Sri Lanka cricket team usually inflicts defeats on other nations.

 

At the historic Galle Fort you join a long list of travellers as long as the Galle Road itself including cricketers who have been coming to historic Galle in Sri Lanka. In 1406 Admiral Cheng Ho arrived to bring presents to the Buddha. Marco Polo followed. Latecomers in this lengthy list of visitors over the centuries are ourselves. For a decade Sri Lanka has been a second home to our British directors, who escape the dark British winter for 4 months of the year to this paradise sun drenched tropical island. The last historic event in Galle was the Tsunami of 26 December 2004 when many perished but the massive stalwart ramparts once again protected those inside the fort walls.

 

We can thus offer Galle based on personal recommendation. As part of our “Inspect before recommending” policy, only destinations and hotels where the Directors of our London office have stayed at, are featured on this website. Nearly all the images, except aerial images, used on the site have been taken during these travels and are as another tourist would have taken them.

 

With a ground handling office in Sri Lanka offering intimate knowledge of the destinations in Sri Lanka as well as a UK Head Office, we invite you to share the Galle Dutch Fort and our Sri Lanka with us in a way few other travel companies can.

 

This definitive Sri Lanka travel site on Galle offers the GALLE EXPERIENCE; history and culture in the lap of luxury hotels. CALL US ON 020 7193 1432 for more information or complete the GALLE ENQUIRY form.