Amanwella

Tangalle, Sri Lanka

Ravaged for almost 27 years by an ethnic conflict between the Sinhalese majority and the Tamil minorities, Sri Lanka is now able to offer tourists the possibility of visiting its numerous and varied landscapes. Rice paddies, tea plantations, fine sand beaches and large tropical forests abound in this insular nation southeast of India. Dileep Mudadeniya, Sri Lanka’s director of tourism notes that “taking advantage of Sri Lanka’s charms means visiting a destination which is still not overly developed tourist wise. The interior of the country as well as the north and the east coast with their superb beaches are still somewhat unexplored but have a bright touristic future in front of them.” Tangalle, on the south coast of the island, an important fishing port in the region, offers the ideal refuge for visitors seeking peace and quiet at the foot of Mulkirigala Temple.

An intimate retreat facing the Indian Ocean

A dirt path followed by a gravelly road, and suddenly we discover in the heart of a thick coconut grove, a discreet structure with pure lines, a haven of peace overlooking the Indian Ocean’s turquoise waters. Amanwella, which means “peaceful beach” in Sanskrit, is the perfect name for this elegant and minimalist resort in the heart of wild, preserved nature. The complex, opened in 2005, is the latest intimate retreat imagined by Adrian Zecha, president of the Amanresort group, and seconded for this new creation by the Australian architect, Kerry Hill. Resolutely contemporary, the building design pays tribute to the work of Sri Lankan architect, Geoffrey Bawa, inventor of the durable architecture concept. Using sober materials and vertical lines, Hill broke the frontiers between interior décor and the exterior environment. Work on volume and perspective gives the building the feeling of bonding with the nature around it.

The thirty suites built on three levels offer guests a totally multi-purpose space, thanks to the use of sliding walls. True to the philosophy of the Aman group, the interiors represent luxurious simplicity, making for a warm and discreet atmosphere. The hotel has a number of different beach and ocean views. The restaurant, perched eight meters above sea level, enables guests to watch the sunset over the splendid coconut grove while enjoying local dishes.

“A warm and friendly personnel is on hand to answer your every wish, be it a wet towel to refresh yourself or serving you sherbet on the beach. I particularly enjoyed the 47-meter long infinity swimming pool overlooking the sea. The place could not be more idyllic. It breathes serenity.” - Daily Telegraph, January 2008.