Galle is a must. Though it is located on the seaside, it is not a beach. It is a Unesco-heritage site town that also has all the gem stone stores you ever need to see. 

Forget about the factory-direct or other heaviy-advertised sources in Mirissa, or the pop-ups along the beaches. If you are looking for gems you want to be in Galle. And if you are a serious buyer, you will go to the main drag called Church Street, not the touristy waterfront Hospital Street where shops charge multiples of Church Street.

In this Unesco-heritage site town, we stayed at a Unesco-award of Distinction for Heritage Conservation-winning property, the Galle Forte Hotel https://www.galleforthotel.com.

Several years before we had stayed at a gorgeously renovated boutique hotel in Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia, and read about its sister property in Sri Lanka that was restored by the same former-banker-turned-architect. Ever since then Sri Lanka was on our list, and before we decided on any other part of the itinerary we had anchored down a reservation at the Galle Fort Hotel. 

I could go forever on about the beauty of the property, the friendly staff, the gorgeous bar area as well as the sublime front porch open to bustling Church Street to sip your cocktails. 

Amangalla is also right down the street, and great to visit for a glass of wine on the veranda towards the end of the day. But stay the Galle Fort Hotel - a 5-star experience at a fraction of the price of the neighbouring Aman property.

ADDRESS

No 28, Church Street, Galle Fort,

Galle, Sri Lanka

CONTACT

https://www.galleforthotel.com

reservations@galleforthotel.com

ph: +94 76 665 8080

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Galle Fort Hotel / Facebook