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Nooit Gedacht Heritage Hotel
Nooit Gedacht Heritage Hotel
General information
Location	182 Matara Road, Unawatuna, Sri Lanka
Opening	1981
Owner	Parakrama Jayasundara
Technical details
Floor count	2
Design and construction
Architect(s)	Mangalanatha Architects
Other information
Number of rooms	38
Number of restaurants	1
Website
	nooitgedachtheritage.com

6°00′50″N 80°14′54″E / 6.01385°N 80.24844°E / 6.01385; 80.24844

Nooit Gedacht Heritage Hotel is a three-star heritage hotel in Unawatuna, Sri Lanka, at the base of Rumassala Kanda.

History

Nooit Gedacht, which means "never thought of", was built in 1735 as a country house for the Dutch Commandeur of Point de Galle, Casparus de Jong (Lord of Spanbroek).^[1]^[2] When he retired from his official position de Jong became a merchant, supplying spices to the Dutch East India Company but following the arrival of the British in 1796 the residence was purchased by Mudaliar Amerasinghe of Amerasinghe Walauwa from Unawatuna, who had served as an Interpreter Mudaliyar for the Dutch.^[3]

The house is on the site of the military camp established by the Dutch in March 1640, which was used as a base from which they laid siege to the Portuguese fort of Galle. The camp was selected due to its proximity to the initial landing site, a freshwater spring and for the protection offered by the overlooking mountain, Rumassala.^[3] The canal here was built by the Dutch, and it was used to transport spices and other items to warehouses in Galle Fort. Two watchtowers, similar to those found at the Galle Fort, were located on the boundary of the hotel's land, but they have since collapsed as a result of the blasting at the nearby stone quarry.^[3]

In 1942, during World War II, it was commandeered by the British Army and used as a logistics centre for the nearby Koggala Air Base. It was reclaimed by the original proprietors in 1948 and in 1981 it was converted into a private hotel.

Architecture

The building has a Dutch-style facade with a long verandah flanked by a two storied Victorian-style edifice from British period. Inside the Dutch portion of the house has terracotta floors. In 2011 a modern two-storey extension to the hotel, with an additional swimming pool and bar was added for a cost of RS. 42 million, designed by Mangalanatha Architects.^[4]

References

^ Ellis, Royston (2002). Sri Lanka. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 246. ISBN 9781841620213.
^ Lewis, John Penry (1913). List of inscriptions on tombstones and monuments in Ceylon, of historical or local interest, with an obituary of persons uncommemorated. Dalcassian Publishing Company. p. 155.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Nooit Gedacht". Maritime Lanka: Maritime Archaeology & History of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
^ "Nooit Gedacht Hotel at Unawattuna". Mangalanatha Architects. 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2020.