Having a history marked by four centuries of colonial rule, we still manage to safe guard remnants from the past in their original grandeur. Some of the more renowned edifices are the Galle Fort built originally by the Portuguese and Colombo Harbour.
As enthusiasts with a pulse on the hospitality industry, our focus is on a number of hotels which were built by the British. The origin of these present day hotels were mansions or public buildings built in order to accommodate the governors and other high ranking officials. Furthermore the plantation bungalows which were built in the tea estates have now been converted in to stylish boutique hotels.
Mt. Lavinia Hotel
Twelve kilometers from Colombo, on the road to Galle, is the beach resort of Mt. Lavinia. With its white sand and calm waves, Mt. Lavinia is a popular bathing spot for the locals. Lined up with popular sea food restaurants selling delicious jumbo prawns & massive lobsters it is also an area where number of hotels are situated. The Governors House built in 1805 by Sir Thomas Maitland has now been converted into the famous Mount Lavinia Hotel. The Hotel recently celebrated its Bicentennial.
Grand Oriental Hotel
Popularly known as the GOH the building was originally built to accommodate the British Soldiers in 1837 & later in 1875 it was utilized as a hotel.
Hill Club
The Hill Club hotel is one of the very few Colonial hotels which try to preserve its colonial grandeur by maintaining a dress code and diners have to be attired in full evening wear. The hotel was built in 1876 by a British coffee planter who wanted to build a “home” away from home.
Galle Face Hotel
Situated facing the most picturesque sea front landscape that the whole of South Asia is envious of, the Galle Face has got its name from the famous Galle Face Green. The hotel enjoys the prestige of being the only Heritage city hotel over looking the Indian Ocean. With its Victorian architecture the hotel’s Colonial past runs back to 1864, when it was built by 4 British Entrepreneurs who were hoping to start a business in the capital of Colombo.
As enthusiasts with a pulse on the hospitality industry, our focus is on a number of hotels which were built by the British. The origin of these present day hotels were mansions or public buildings built in order to accommodate the governors and other high ranking officials. Furthermore the plantation bungalows which were built in the tea estates have now been converted in to stylish boutique hotels.
Mt. Lavinia Hotel
Twelve kilometers from Colombo, on the road to Galle, is the beach resort of Mt. Lavinia. With its white sand and calm waves, Mt. Lavinia is a popular bathing spot for the locals. Lined up with popular sea food restaurants selling delicious jumbo prawns & massive lobsters it is also an area where number of hotels are situated. The Governors House built in 1805 by Sir Thomas Maitland has now been converted into the famous Mount Lavinia Hotel. The Hotel recently celebrated its Bicentennial.
Grand Oriental Hotel
Popularly known as the GOH the building was originally built to accommodate the British Soldiers in 1837 & later in 1875 it was utilized as a hotel.
Hill Club
The Hill Club hotel is one of the very few Colonial hotels which try to preserve its colonial grandeur by maintaining a dress code and diners have to be attired in full evening wear. The hotel was built in 1876 by a British coffee planter who wanted to build a “home” away from home.
Galle Face Hotel
Situated facing the most picturesque sea front landscape that the whole of South Asia is envious of, the Galle Face has got its name from the famous Galle Face Green. The hotel enjoys the prestige of being the only Heritage city hotel over looking the Indian Ocean. With its Victorian architecture the hotel’s Colonial past runs back to 1864, when it was built by 4 British Entrepreneurs who were hoping to start a business in the capital of Colombo.
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