Sri Lanka Tourism Blog

We all love to take a break off our busy, demanding schedules by immersing ourselves in breathtaking locales like chilly hillsides or the incredible beaches. A gorgeous location situated in the Kalutara district has all the ingredients to add more plus points to your holiday pleasure.

It’s amazing what Colonial House in Thebuwana can provide for those who are on the look out for a wonderful outing.

When you travel past Kalutara from Colombo, come to the Katukurunda junction and take the Matugama route. You will come across this beautiful place called Thebuwana where the climatic condition is just amazing. With rubber estates on one side, tea estates on the other and a ring hilly rocks adding splendour, one cannot miss the place called Colonial House.

Colonial House lies on a 50-acre rubber estate. The two-acre garden with blossoming flowers adds glamour to the vicinity, apart from other attractive factors that make Colonial House so special. A large variety of local and foreign flora and fruits are among the well grown plants that adorn the vast Colonial House compound.

Those visiting the Colonial House cannot miss the swimming pool and the beautiful Kalu Ganga that flows below.

Colonial House is a holiday bungalow that provides eastern and western dishes to suit varied needs of guests. The resort’s owner and his family are residing in England and the whole task of maintaining and looking after it falls on the shoulders of Samantha. His ready support is always available for all those who want to take a break off their busy, demanding schedules.

Colonial House comprises well-maintained huge bed rooms that add to the surrounding serene environment. In addition there are changing rooms and bathrooms. Each room has its own verandah facing the gorgeous outdoor locales. Every room is airconditioned, with television and DVD facilities.

Colonial House has various packages to suit the purses and requirements of its guests. It is an ideal holiday location for those looking for a mountainous, cool climate in a place like Kalutara.

More details could be obtained by corresponding via email-info@thecolonialhouse.co.uk or writing to The Colonial House, PutuPawula Estate, Thebuwana, Kalutara.

web: http://www.thecolonialhouse.co.uk

Nature, Culture, Luxury… a Lifestyle!

The newest and most ambitious project of Jetwing Hotels, located within 5km of the ‘8th Wonder of the World’-Sigiriya- is the creation of a truly ‘Lifestyle Hotel’. Sigiriya, located within the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka is famous for its rich history and Sri Lankan heritage. Vil Uyana situated within view of Sigiriya rock, on the flatlands that stretch to the west, integrates into an ancient plan - a plan to irrigate, in the tradition of the Sinhala kings.

The introduction of a wetland on reclaimed agricultural lands within the Dry Zone, provides the unique backdrop for this exciting new property. Inspired from local and rural traditions.

A private nature reserve provides a haven for wildlife and a setting of peace and tranquility. The hotel is possibly the first in the world to construct a wetland system with lakes and reed beds to form a private nature reserve.

This has allowed for the first time in Sri Lanka for rooms to be built over water. Centered around water bodies are parklands and woodlands, designed for leisure; an extension of the ancient practice of planning gardens for pleasure.

A challenge has been overcome, for the conversion of Dry Zone chena lands formed by slash & burn agriculture, to a seasonal wetland (land that is inundated by water for part of the year). The colonization of the new habitats by local fauna and flora has been accelerated by the planting of reed beds and groves of trees.

5 acres of land was used to re-grow paddy using traditional methods of farming and harvesting, providing a new and exciting feature. Rooms have been placed within the paddy fields, thereby giving the guest a unique opportunity of participating in both the farming and harvesting if they wished; yet another first in Sri Lanka! The regeneration of the forested groves create a feeling of ultimate privacy and seclusion in the Forest Lodges, the largest of the Chalets.

The tastefully designed rooms boast space as its hallmark of luxury. Dine in the privacy of your room or ‘under the stars’ or simply relax and pamper yourself at the Island Spa with a range of treatments to choose from.

The many components of the ecosystem will be subject to continuous monitoring. The hotel is unique in building a research facility from inception. Comfortable accommodation will be provided to researchers locally and internationally, overcoming one of the key logistics hurdles to field work. The research center also has a library, a room for laboratory based work and a computer room. The guest will be a participant in the metamorphosis of tourism as a champion of conservation. The environmental awareness will be an important aspect of a new ethos.

As part of Jetwing’s responsibility towards local communities an English teaching program is being held in two Buddhist temples located near Vil Uyana. Namely, Rotawewa and Kimbissa. Unemployed youth now attend these classes where they are trained to read, write and speak English. Halfway through their 6 months training they will receive hotel craft training in a field selected from Hotel Housekeeping, Reception, Restaurant & Bar and Cookery. The objective of the initiative is to make them gainfully employable. Some of them will have the opportunity to join Jetwing while others can look for employment in other companies in Sri Lanka or even overseas.

Whether it is the nature lover in you or the task of ‘finding yourself again’ treat yourself to an experience…come be part of the lifestyle!

This prestigious property is scheduled to be opened in Autumn 2006.

25 Tastefully appointed Chalets set in 3 distinct ‘habitats’:

7 Water Pavilions 1030 Sq. Ft (Dining Deck 200 Sq. Ft)

6 Paddy Field Villas 1030 Sq. Ft (Dining Deck 200 Sq. Ft and Plunge Pool 200 Sq.Ft)

2 Marsh Villas 1030 Sq. Ft (Dining Deck 200 Sq. Ft and Plunge Pool 200 Sq. Ft)

10 Forest Lodges 2100 Sq. Ft (Private Pool)

Spread Over 24 Acres of Land

Location:

169 km from Colombo (About a 4 ½ hr drive)

153 km from the International Airport (About a 4 hour drive)

By Rosanne Kolemeyer Anderson, Photo Credit: Jen Maree
Reminiscent of love and romance, a river cruise to that perfect hideout is a fun-filled exploration of nature’s splendour: the marvellous mangrove, nestling on the Bentota river in close proximity to one of the best beaches in Sri Lanka, the Bentota beach where the sea meets the river is one attraction not to be missed. But going there when there is bright sun is best as the romantic hideout is quite dark and capturing the beauty of it on camera may be unfavorable.

Entering the small cave like entrance of lush green vegetation: this mangrove has been in existence for the past three decades or so, Supun the guide narrated as he barely managed to steer the boat through leisurely: the mangrove thriving in the sheltered bay is being trimmed and kept accessible by the boat houses in Bentota .

An ecosystem with diverse attraction of fascinating flora and fauna embedded in the nutrient rich sediment deposits which continues to withstand severe environmental exposure and the alternating mix of fresh and salty water; the mangrove on the Bentota river is yet another of lassana Sri Lanka’s attractions drawing almost every visitor to the area to make a trip down stream.

The valuable wood produced by the mangrove Supun explained is durable and water resistant while its properties, the bark, the leaves and the flowers are wide and varied.

The mangrove simply looks a beautiful work of art depicting its intricacies in size, length, breadth and colour in the form of twisted bark and bushy clusters spread over a vast area of its terrain; some touching the water, so well grown almost totally hiding the sunlight even at noon blending with the equally spread out exquisite long drooping branches of different length and shades of earthy colour making it a perfect merge of nature’s grandeur and gift to the Pearl of the Indian Ocean: a tourist attraction and indeed a land like no other.