Charming Old Courtyard House

A lovely original colonial period house in Galle in Sri Lanka with a stunning swimming pool set in a tropical garden. Close to Galle Fort and fantastic beaches.

This rare original colonial period house set around a central courtyard has been restored to its original glory with added comfort. It is set around a central courtyard featuring a pond with fish, turtles and a scented frangipani tree. It has been tastefully restored by the Hempel Family who have been living there for the last ten years. Hempel House is just 10 mins from Galle Fort and fifteen minutes from great beaches. The house is surrounded by a lush tropical garden fruit trees, and is a bird watchers paradise. Monkeys, mongoose, monitor lizards and chip-monks are part of the natural wildlife. Whether having a lazy breakfast of delicious tropical fruits, or a long lunch of Sri Lankan curry (all from local produce or catch of the day) this is a place to relax and unwind. The open dinning room faces onto the jungle, where women collect firewood and buffalo stroll past. The house with its internal courtyard and pond is designed along the lines of a Buddhist mandala.

Guests can swim in our 50 ft swimming pool or at Thalpe beach just fifteen minutes away. If you are feeling more active the shops, restaurants and hotels of UNESCO world heritage protected Galle Fort are just ten minutes away while the surf beaches are within 20 to 30 minutes.

At sunset, stroll through village streets, past corner shop vendors and paddy fields. Light an oil lamp at the local Buddhist temple, view a private show of Kandyian dances performing the devil dance under the stars, or just listen to the night sounds of the crickets, watching the fireflies with a glass of chilled wine in hand.

We additionally have a lovely two-bedroom art gallery/apartment in central Colombo if you wish to spend some time in Colombo for some shopping/night life, etc.