Jul 11 2014.
views 923History was made at the Galle Face Hotel
Founded in 1864, the Galle Face Hotel is a proud part of a country with its own illustrious history. Built during colonial rule when Sri Lanka was known as Ceylon, the hotel has been part and parcel of the nation’s story and is today a landmark of a bygone era. Many tales have been told of the hotel and its famous guests over the years.
Some of the key milestones in the history of GFH include the celebration of the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887 with the presence of over 20,000 people at the height of Britain’s imperial supremacy. Along it’s illustrious 150 year history, royals and statesmen from across the world have graced the Galle Face Hotel, including the Empress of France Princess Eugenie, Princess Alexandra of Denmark, the Duke of Hamilton, Indira Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Richard Nixon. They have all been unanimous in their appreciation of the unique architecture, the warm hospitality and the picturesque location of the hotel. The Duke of Edinburgh, Admiral Louis Mountbatten, Emperor Hirohito of Japan and several other heads of state have also stayed at the GFH, all of which is recorded on beautiful marble and wooden plaques around the hotel.
Prince Philip of Greece who was a 19-year-old midshipman serving in Ceylon at the time first set his eyes on the 1935 model Standard Nine car while on a visit to Ceylon. It is said that it cost 12 Sterling Pounds but after much bargaining he bought it at Rs.450 which was equal to his seven weeks' Navy pay in 1940. The Prince’s first car now enjoys pride of place on a special porch of the 'Regency' wing. Other such artifacts make up the museum of the Galle Face Hotel which is a testimony to the colonial history of Sri Lanka.
Kings and Queens of the celluloid era and those who put thoughts to words have also called the GFH a home away from home, while they worked on their masterpiece. Alec Guinness, Ursula Andress, Laurence Olivier and George Bernard Shaw have all added their star power to the GFH storyline. More recently Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner better known as Sting and BAFTA award winning Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson have found solace away from their demanding lifestyles within the tranquility that is commonplace at Galle Face Hotel.
Many world renowned authors have found the Galle Face Hotel to be an inspiring and tranquil sanctuary from where to pen their thoughts. Authors such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Mark Twain, Anton Chekhov and Arthur C. Clarke have spent long hours enjoying the glorious sunset over the Indian Ocean, while sipping a cup of tea on the terraces of the Galle Face Hotel. The hotel has also attracted more than its share of famous people including the likes of world renowned sportsmen like Sir Donald Bradman and the first man in space Yuri Gagarin.
Today, the legendary Galle Face Hotel provides a stunning venue for social and business occasions with its elegant ballroom and extensive banquet options. Through a perfect blend of the past and present, the legacy of the historic Galle Face Hotel continues, providing guests with a distinctive experience at a truly iconic Sri Lankan hotel.
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Lak Putha says:
Jul 12, 2014 at 12:00 amAs a patriotic Sri Lankan, I must confess that the hotel building is an eye-sore in an otherwise scenic locality. It it so ugly that it neutralizes the elegance of all other buildings in the vicinity. I must also admit with equal breath that the Makan Marker building across the road too should be removed from its location as it's another concrete monstrosity.It's time the managements of these buildings did SL proud by erecting new buildings in the current locations. Thank you DM for not carrying