Heritance Ahungalla, Ahungalla, Sri Lanka

Heritance Ahungalla is a five-star luxury beach hotel set within the fishing village of Ahungalla, close to Galle on Sri Lanka's southwestern coast. The property was designed by Geoffrey Bawa, widely regarded as the master architect of Sri Lanka, and his signature touch is felt from the moment of arrival — an open-plan lobby reveals a sweeping view of the infinity pool stretching all the way to the sea.

The hotel is conceived to draw the maximum benefit from the natural light of the sunny beach setting. Airy, spacious interiors flow outward into expansive wooded gardens that offer generous shade from the tropical sun, creating a seamless relationship between architecture and landscape. The property sits 76 km south of Colombo along a stretch of southwestern coastline replete with fine beaches.

Accommodation

Heritance Ahungalla features 155 rooms designed in a contemporary style, each equipped with the full amenities expected of a luxury property. The interior décor is stylish with a thoughtful touch of Sri Lanka's cultural traditions, and the furniture throughout is carefully chosen. Rooms are offered across three categories:

• Deluxe Room — air conditioning with individual temperature control, satellite television, sofa, mini bar, hair dryer, balcony or terrace, tea and coffee making facility, direct dial telephones, voicemail, in-room private safe, bathrobe and slippers, modern writing desk and writing lamp, and piped music.
• Suite — all Deluxe Room amenities alongside a panoramic view of the Indian Ocean, a separate living area, pillow menu, fragrance spray menu, soap menu, personalised stationery, ivory candles, and luxury bathroom furnishings.
• Luxury Suite — all Suite amenities plus a candle menu, a dedicated guest toilet, and a home theatre with DVD library.

Dining and Bars

Three restaurants at Heritance Ahungalla can seat a combined total of 285 guests, with additional outdoor dining available on request. The hotel takes considerable pride in its reputation as a trendsetter in cuisine, balancing the finest international influences with millennia of traditional Sri Lankan cooking culture. Dishes range from caviars and goose pâtés to nourishing rice and curry preparations rooted in local tradition, all prepared to international standards of food safety and hygiene.

The Jute main restaurant serves Eastern, Western and international cuisine across breakfast, lunch and dinner sittings. The Mustard coffee shop operates around the clock with an à la carte menu, while The Upper Room offers fine dining in the evening hours. For lighter refreshment, the pool bar, Bacchus bar and Apollo bar are each open through to midnight, and the Orpheus night club welcomes guests into the early hours.