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ri Lanka’s iconic landmark, the Galle
Face Hotel, is situated in the heart of
Colombo, along the seafront and
facing the famous Galle Face Green.
One of the oldest hotels east of the Suez, the
Galle Face Hotel embraces its rich history and
legendary traditions, utilizing them to create
engaging, immersive experiences that
resonate with old and new generations of
travellers alike.
No visit to Sri Lanka is complete without
staying at thismajestic hotel, built in 1864 and
recently restored back to its former glory.
Timeless Grandeur
Galle Face Hotel, Colombo
A
n idyllic inland location near Galle’s
sultry coastline allows Why House to
offer its guests the best of both
worlds; a tranquil setting amidst rural rice
fields and easy access to picture-postcard
beaches, a mere five-minutes’ drive away.
Why House has a total of nine well-
equipped rooms. The seven spacious and
luxurious suites are spread across two
separate buildings whilst two cottagey
cabanas overlook the paddy fields. Set in
lush gardens, facilities include an open-
sided dining pavilion, an elegant lounge
and a jade-green swimming pool.
Family Treats
Why House, Unawatuna
(Near Galle)
S
tanding on the unrivalled golden
sand beach at Devenigoda, it’s easy
to imagine the name means ‘Divine
Place of the Gods’.
Sun worshippers will understand why. This
small, boutique-style hotel is in the perfect
situation for swimming in warm waters,
stretching out for complete relaxation
beneath the Sri Lankan sun, and enjoying the
seclusion of a setting that is far from the
playground of Hikkaduwa and the noisy
bustle of Galle. Other facilities include a
swimming pool and a spa that offers a range
of treatments including Ayurveda.
Heaven on Earth
Aditya, Devenigoda
(Near Galle)
Boutique Sri Lanka
Reflecting the growing popularity
of this magical destination
T
his beautiful tropical island has something for everyone -
palm-fringed golden beaches, cool hill stations, tea
plantations, lush rainforest, wildlife, ancient cities, Buddhist
temples and colourful festivals. The cooking is good and spicy, the
cost of living is relatively low, and the Sri Lankan people are friendly
and generous. Due to Its compact size it is possible to tour the country
in amatter of just a couple of weeks mixing culture with bothwildlife and
relaxing beach time, and even though the country is now becoming ever more popular it is
still remarkably unspoilt.
Certainly, recent years have seen something of a controlled and sympathetic development
of its tourism best characterised by the emergence of a fascinating collection of boutique
hotels, many owner-run by impassioned Sri Lankans as well as inspired ex-pats, who came,
who saw and just fell in love with a beautiful and stress-busting environment. People like
George Cooper of Kahanda Kanda, who was so smitten by the romance of his property that
he has progressively developed his holiday hideaway into a sophisticated hillside retreat
ideal for adults. In contrast, his great friend, Henrietta Cottam, holds court (as manageress)
together with her dachshund Nigella (‘Jelly’) and a dedicated team at the endearingly family
friendly 8-bedroom Why House. Each is ideally located for exploring nearby Galle and the
region’s sandy beaches, but they are a good reflection of how boutique Sri Lankan hotels
and villas are catering for the wide demands of a discerning but varied clientele.
©Martin Sasse/laif.
Colombo
Kandy
Galle
Yala NP
Trincomalee