Otherland Hotels Bets on South Asia with 66-key oceanfront hotel in Sri Lanka in June 2026
Bengaluru-born lifestyle hospitality brand expands internationally with its first oceanfront property, aiming to redefine the category through culture-led experiences and regional identity.
By SOH Edit Team
Otherland Hotels is set to open Otherland Galle in June 2026, marking its first international and oceanfront property as the brand steps into the global hospitality arena with a distinctly South Asian lens. Located near the historic Galle Fort on Sri Lanka’s southern coast, the 66-key hotel is positioned at the convergence of the town’s surf culture, evolving tourism economy, and emerging creative communities.
Situated close to Galle Fort on Sri Lanka's southern coast, the 66-key property positions itself at the intersection of the town's surf culture, evolving tourism landscape, and emerging creative subcultures, a truly dedicated lifestyle address unlike anything the region has seen before.
Founded in 2023 in Bengaluru by entrepreneurs Rishi Sreedharan and Samarth Gowda, Otherland Hotels builds on the duo’s earlier success in India’s co-living sector. The brand was conceived as a response to what its founders view as a homogenised global lifestyle hotel category. With the Asia-Pacific lifestyle hotel segment having expanded rapidly over the past decade, Otherland is placing its bet on South Asia as the next frontier.
Rishi Sreedharan, Founder & CEO, Otherland Hotels.
Leadership Perspective
“South Asia is vibrant, expressive, and culturally rich, and it deserves a hospitality brand that reflects that authentically,” said Rishi Sreedharan, Founder & CEO. “Otherland is our attempt to build something that feels rooted yet contemporary—crafted for modern travellers seeking more than just accommodation.”
The Galle property is designed around four core brand pillars: fluid experiences, rooms as a “basecamp,” human-centric hospitality, and distinctive food and beverage offerings. It also marks the first collaboration with Sri Lankan hospitality entrepreneur Emanuel Sidhartha, who joins the venture as Co-Founder.
According to Samarth Gowda, Co-Founder & COO, the choice of Galle reflects the brand’s broader philosophy. “For us, international expansion isn’t about scale for its own sake. It’s about identifying places within our region that have untapped cultural depth and building something that belongs there. Independent hotels should amplify the identity of a destination, not dilute it.”
Samarth Gowda, Co-Founder & COO, Otherland Hotels.
Building a South Asia–First Collective
Otherland Galle is the first in a planned pipeline of experience-led hotels, restaurants, and beach clubs across South Asia. With additional properties in development, the company aims to establish itself as a defining lifestyle hospitality collective from within the region, rather than replicating global templates.
As the brand enters a competitive but fast-evolving segment, its success will hinge on whether its localized, culture-first approach can resonate with a new generation of travellers seeking authenticity over standardisation.
Key Amenities:
- 66-keys
- Fluid experiences
- Rooms as basecamp
- Differentiated F&B
