The grand hotel of South Asia, Galle Face Hotel, stands as a testament to both Sri Lanka’s colonial past and its independent present. Over the years, many stories have accumulated about the hotel and its famous guests.

The hotel began as a Dutch villa called Galle Face House, which was a meeting place for gentlemen of the colonial era. This continued until four British entrepreneurs decided to use it to start a business, unaware that by the end of the 19th century it would be known as one of the finest hotels east of Suez.

The hotel was originally opened in 1864, borrowing its name from the charming stretch of land known as Galle Face Green, which extends for a kilometer alongside the hotel, along the coast, where in Victorian times it was a popular spot for seaside walks or carriage rides.

The renowned architect of the time, Edward Skinner, oversaw the reconstruction of the hotel into a two-story luxury establishment; the project was completed in 1894. Between 1903 and 1909, the Galle Face Hotel Company continued acquiring land that allowed the hotel to expand to its current size.

Some key milestones in GFH’s history include the celebration of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in 1887, attended by over 20,000 people at the height of the British Empire’s power. Throughout its famous 150-year history, Galle Face Hotel has hosted members of royal families and statesmen from around the world, including Empress Eugénie of France, Princess Alexandra of Denmark, the Duke of Hamilton, Indira Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Richard Nixon. All were unanimous in their appreciation of the hotel’s unique architecture, hospitality, and picturesque location. The Duke of Edinburgh, Admiral Louis Mountbatten, Emperor Hirohito of Japan, and several other heads of state stayed at GFH, as evidenced by the beautiful marble and wooden memorial plaques throughout the hotel.

Prince Philip of Greece, who at the time was a 19-year-old midshipman serving in Ceylon, first took notice of a 1935 Standard Nine automobile during his visit to Ceylon. It is said to have cost 12 pounds sterling, but after lengthy negotiations, he bought it for 450 rupees, which was equivalent to his seven-week naval salary in 1940. The prince’s first car now holds a place of honor on a special porch of the "Regency" wing. Other similar artifacts make up the Galle Face Hotel museum, which is part of Sri Lanka’s colonial history.

Kings and queens of the celluloid era and those who put thoughts into words also called GFH their second home while working on their masterpieces. Alec Guinness, Ursula Andress, Laurence Olivier, and George Bernard Shaw all became part of GFH’s story. More recently, Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, better known as Sting, and BAFTA-winning Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson found refuge and tranquility at the Galle Face Hotel.

Many world-renowned authors have considered and continue to consider Galle Face Hotel an inspiring and peaceful retreat from which they can express their thoughts. Authors such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Mark Twain, Anton Chekhov, and Arthur C. Clarke spent long hours enjoying the magnificent sunset over the Indian Ocean while sipping tea on the hotel’s terraces. Numerous famous people have stayed at the hotel, including the first cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin.

Today, Galle Face Hotel is recognized as one of the best historic hotels in Sri Lanka, and in 2012 it became the first hotel in the country to be featured on a postage stamp. The old-world charm of the hotel dates back to the times when aristocrats and celebrities spent their days in pampered luxury, sipping tea and enjoying the magnificent sunset over the Indian Ocean.

Sources:

https://www.gallefacehotel.com/history/

https://bizenglish.adaderana.lk/history-was-made-at-the-galle-face-hotel/