Galle is a major city enriched with history and a magnificent Dutch Fort. It is one of the much desired tourist destinations in Sri Lanka. One of the finest hotels in this region is the Jetwing Lighthouse hotel, designed by architect Geoffrey Bawa.
The massive hotel borders a serene beachfront where waves unleash their natural rhythm. This property is bestowed with 85 rooms - 80 luxury rooms, three theme suites and two superior suites. As you walk towards the main staircase leading to the lobby, there is an amazing sequence from our island’s history laid out in the form of real life size figures carved in bronze. The amazing display shows the Portuguese invasion of Ceylon and the resistance put up by our ancient kings. These figures border the entire two flights of stairs.
On level one the lobby extends to provide a stunning view of the ocean on one side. The right hand side of the hotel has two swimming pools. The spacious gardens show the discernment of architect Bawa who maintained the natural layout and built around the boulders and large trees. The rooms redefine levels of comfort with the two theme suites adding their own alluring charm. Jetwing Lighthouse is blessed with Executive Chef Nihal Senanayake, whose passion for culinary excellence is seen in all the dining outlets. Chef Nihal has been with the hotel since its inception in 1997. He said, “Our main restaurant is the Cardamom Café.
The Cinnamon Room is our fine dining venue where we serve all kinds of fusion cuisine. Guests can dine under the moonlight on the extended Cinnamon terrace from where the Dutch Fort is visible. In addition we have a restaurant named after me ‘Nihals’, where we serve seafood and Sicilian cuisine, and also a seven course menu paired with wines. The Anchor bar and grill offers guests an assortment of snacks and succulent pizza.” Wednesday night is famous for Sri Lankan buffet augmented by a stellar cultural show. BBQ buffet on Saturday night is another looked forward to affair by foodies.
The hotel also offers resident guests a gym, tennis court and ayurveda spa. The hotel’s General Manager Priyanthika Wijenayake added, “This is a unique hotel, located within a short distance of the Dutch Fort, a world heritage site. Our hotel focuses on sustainability. We process and bottle our own drinking water. Every Friday our staff engages in a beach cleanup, maintaining the environment. We also have an organic vegetable garden a short distance away. Jetwing Lighthouse hotel has a resident naturalist who takes guests on a river excursion along the Mahamodara River, explaining the eco systems”. The hotel has a thoughtfully designed environment education center complete with the replica of a baby blue whale. Guests can venture out to explore the cinnamon peeling centres around Galle and witness the production process of this top export. One can visit the Dutch Fort nearby, the largest Fort still maintained and inhabited. The hotel, in keeping with the JYDP concept (Jetwing Youth Development Program) has trained and employed local youth from Galle and surrounding areas. This is a common element in all Jetwing hotels across the island. With the iconic sunsets, the Jetwing Lighthouse hotel will leave you with blissful travel memories.
– Dishan Joseph