Famed Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa is renowned for his mastery of space and form, particularly when creating imposing residential and public buildings. Lesser known are the many hotels he had a hand in shaping, including Ahungalla’s luxury Heritance Ahungalla (formerly Hotel Triton), which was built between 1979 to 1981. It serves the many high-end foreign and domestic tourists who flock to the palm-fringed sandy beach of this small and intimate coastal town 76.6k (47.6mi) south of Colombo. Although devastated by the 2004 tsunami caused by a massive earthquake in the Indian Ocean, Ahungalla is once again a favourite destination for visitors to Sri Lanka.
Ahungalla, located in Galle District, Southern Province, Sri Lanka, governed by an Urban Council. It is approximately 76.6 kilometres (47.6 mi) south of Colombo and is situated at an elevation of 12 metres (39 ft) above the sea level. Ahungalla is known primarily for its sandy beach, accompanied by a wide palm belt, considered to be one of the best on the island.
The village is located about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) south of Bentota, 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of the provincial capital Galle at Cape Point Ahungalla. The neighboring villages are Kosgoda to the north and Balapitiya in the south. Southeast of the town is the mangrove area of Madu Ganga. The largest and most well-known building in the town is the luxury hotel, Heritance Ahungalla (formerly Hotel Triton), designed by notable Sri Lankan architect, Geoffrey Bawa, and constructed from 1979 to 1981. As with the entire region, Ahungalla was devastated by the tsunami caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. Ahungalla is located on the Coastal or Southern Rail Line (connecting Colombo through to Matara), and the A2 highway, connecting Colombo to Wellawaya.
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The Sri Lankan Architect Geoffrey Bawa is hailed as one of the most important Asian architects...