Glimpse of Nish's world

In an encouraging sign to Sri Lanka's tourism industry, The Sunday Times of UK has named Sri Lanka's first theme hotel, The Tea Factory among the "World's Best 100 Places to Stay" in its September Travel issue.

The UK's largest-selling Sunday newspaper commenting on The Tea Factory said: "Sitting on a grassy terrace at 2000m in the lush tea-planted hills of Sri Lanka, is the Tea Factory. For years that's exactly what it was, but now it's an arresting 57-room boutique hotel.

Outside it preserves its corrugated iron construction; within are still some of the old Professor Potts-style innards-machines for moving, sorting and drying tea" that whish and shirr into life each evening."

Situated 6,800 feet above the sea level, the magnificent Tea Factory is part of the Aitken Spence chain of resorts.

The Tea Factory lies, alone and unique, on the slopes of the tea plantations at Kandapola, high above the Nuwara Eliya town. Surrounded by the picturesque Hethersett Estate, the original tea factory was built in the 1930s by British planters.

There is a no more luxurious way to explore Sri Lanka's history of tea making. Managing Director of Aitken Spence Hotels and the Immediate Past President of the Sri Lanka Hoteliers Association Malin Hapugoda commenting on the achievement said: "We are really excited that one of Sri Lanka's iconic hotel properties has been featured in the list of the World's Best Places to Stay by UK's leading Sunday newspaper. The Tea Factory is truly unique to the world as it is the only tea factory which has been converted to a top-class boutique hotel."

The Tea Factory showcases some of Sri Lanka's best attractions as one irresistible package, from lush tea gardens, culture, exquisite cuisine to exceptional service.

The Tea Factory conducts exciting excursions to Horton Plains, Hakgala Gardens, Kurundu Oya Waterfalls and visits to ancient Hindu religious sites, a miniature tea factory, a wildlife sanctuary and the spectacular Randenigala Dam.

The Tea Factory holds the distinction of being awarded the South Asian Architecture Award in 1995.

The hotel also received outstanding recognition and fame when it was conferred with the RICS award by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, London in October 2000 for successfully restoring an abandoned building whilst maintaining its original facade.

The Tea Factory is also the recipient of the UNESCO Asia" Pacific Heritage Merit Award" 2001 for the impressive conversion of a dilapidated tea factory into a luxury hotel complex.

Labels: Nuwara Eliya, Nuwara Eliya Hotels, Sri Lanka Hotels, Sri Lanka Tourism

The manager of a top Sri Lankan hotel has defended the decision to charge $14,500 (£10,269) for what it calls the world's most expensive dessert.

Axel Jarosh, general manager of The Fortress hotel in the southern town of Galle, said that the chocolate pudding was not obscene in a poor country.

He said that the desert contains a gemstone and was "especially designed for the hotel's exclusive clientele".

Aid workers say the idea is offensive when there is so much suffering.

"For many people in Sri Lanka it is a struggle of life or death, mostly because of the war but also because of the aftermath of the tsunami of 2004," one Colombo-based development worker said.

"In these circumstances such a publicity stunt is in extremely bad taste."

But Mr Jarosh insisted there was nothing excessive about his pricey puddings.

"We have had a positive reaction both locally and internationally to the dessert which we don't think is out of place, even in a country where there is considerable poverty," he told the BBC News website.

"This is not an idea imported by foreigners and imposed on Sri Lankans, nor is it a marketing gimmick.

"The idea was created by a local design team as suitable for guests staying in one of the country's most up-market hotels."

Mr Jarosh said that the dessert consists of a pedestal upon which is placed a model of a fisherman clinging to a stilt - an image for which Sri Lanka is famous. Ingredients include chocolate, champagne and caramelised sugar.

He said the reason why the pudding is so expensive is because it contains an 80 carat aquamarine stone about the same diameter as the head of a soup spoon.

"We felt that there has been so much negative news emerging from Sri Lanka in recent months in relation to the war," said Mr Jarosh, "and wanted to come up with something that was upbeat and fun."

Mr Jarosh said that one serving of the dessert had already been made.

The general manager said that while the conflict had hit tourism in the country, most European countries are no longer warning their citizens against travelling to Sri Lanka.

"We are optimistic that when the high tourism season starts in December, bookings from abroad will be significantly up."

The Fortress is one of the most expensive hotels in Sri Lanka, charging up to $1,700 per night.

Galle, some 100km (70 miles) south of the capital, Colombo, is a popular destination for tourists. It also suffered badly during the Asian tsunami.

Labels: Galle, Sri Lanka Hotels, Sri Lanka Tourism

BUILT on the bunds of the 12th century Giritale Tank with a magnificent view of the tranquil blue water dotted with green islands as a backdrop Giritale Hotel has what it takes to be a tourist paradise.

Built in 1974 and managed by Carsons Management Services (Pvt) Ltd., a senior company in Sri Lanka’s hospitality industry, the hotel exudes a rustic charm with the panoramic view of the Giritale Tank and the surrounding forest as an enticing backdrop.

The hotel has 42 rooms of which eight are deluxe rooms, offering star class facilities including TV, IDD telephone facilities, piped music and 24-hour room service. Resident Manager, Giritale hotel, versatile hotelier, T. Ganeshan and his ever-smiling staff treat all guests as VIPs.

This has resulted in Giritale Hotel being popular among ‘repeater’ guests, both foreign and local. The restaurant at Giritale under the guidance of Bar and Restaurant Manager Malika Edirisinghe offers the very best in Western, Eastern, Chinese and spicy Sri Lankan cuisine, prepared by a team of expert chefs. Giritale hotel is popular for family outings, conferences, workshops and for honeymooners due to its romantic setting.

The hotel is offering special discounted packages to Sri Lankans and expatriates. “This is a golden opportunity for Sri Lankan families to spend a memorable holiday in the rustic charm of the Giritale Hotel” RM, Ganeshan said.

The hotel offers Jeep Safaris to Kawdulla, Minneriya and Wasgamuwa National Parks, excursions to Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Dambulla, Kandy and Anuradhapura. Elephant rides, Nature walks, Jungle Tracking, Bird watching, Village Tours and Indoors Games, Cricket, Badminton and Volleyball.

Labels: Anuradhapura, Anuradhapura Hotels, Dambulla, Dambulla Hotels, Giritale, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka Eco Tourism, Sri Lanka Holiday, Sri Lanka Hotels

Rocking the culinary scene with its innovative style

Located on the southern golden coast of Sri Lanka, this 49 roomed luxury resort has carved itself on the world map by creating the most expensive dessert in the world.

Priced at USD 14,500, ‘The Fortress Stilt Fisherman Indulgence’ is a combined effort by the resort’s culinary team to create a one of a kind dessert that is intrinsically linked with the destination, offering both long lasting memories and a keepsake of the experience. Available now on special request, the dessert’s inspiration comes from the resort’s logo of the ‘stilt fisherman’, a centuries old fishing practice that continues to this day and can still be seen along this spectacular coastline.

A combination of a gold leaf Italian kasata flavored with Baileys and served with a mango and pomegranate compote and a champagne sabayon enlighten, forms the mouthwatering base of this delicious desert, however, the finishing touch is the 80 carat aquamarine stone nestled on the handmade chocolate stilt fisherman. This one of a kind culinary delight has definitely got people around the world buzzing with awe.

Legend has it that an aquamarine has the power to calm, sooth and heal. Its blue colour is often reflective of the ocean and the life giving properties of water and has been used over the years by sailors and fishermen for protection and luck. It also has a soothing effect on relationships and is said to endow the owner with foresight, courage and happiness, the recipe for a long and happy marriage and the perfect gift for those looking to surprise their loved one.

This dessert is served at Wine³, The Fortress’ sensational glass wine cave which houses over 2,000 of the world’s finest vintages and is accompanied by handmade studio flared glass cutlery – the first glass cutlery of its kind in the world which has been exclusively designed for The Fortress by Glass Studio.
Website: http://www.thefortress.lk/home.html

source:http://www.dailymirror.lk

Labels: Galle, Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Holiday, Sri Lanka Hotels, Sri Lanka Tourism

UNAWATUNA beach, in the Galle district, is classified as one of the most beautiful and fascinating beaches in the world. Unawatuna is a paradise for beach lovers, both foreign and Sri Lankan.

The beach is surrounded by a number of star class hotels, and cabanas and is one of Sri Lanka’s most popular tourist destinations. Most of the hotels which were damaged by the tsunami, have now been completely refurbished, and Unawatuna has regained its glamor and splendor.

True to its name, Hotel Flower Garden, at Unawatuna, has been built on a marvellously landscaped one-acre garden which resembles a min-flower garden. It is located within walking distance to the world famous Unawatuna beach, in Galle district.

The hotel which began with nine cabanas in 2003, now offers 25 luxury cabanas with all modern facilities to the discerning traveller.

All cabanas are equipped with A/C, hot/cold water, mini-bar and room service. Hotel Flower Garden has a beautiful and large swimming pool and a well stocked bar.

The restaurant offers the very best in Western, Eastern and Sri Lankan cuisine, together with an ‘A-la-carte’ menu.

The restaurant specialises in French, Italian and German cuisine, the preparation of which is personally supervised by the young owner of the hotel, K. Sassi, who holds a Degree in Food and Beverage, having successfully completed a course in Hotel at Ricken, St. Gallen, Switzerland, for five years as its Food and Beverage Adviser from 1992 to 1996. The hotel offers tours to Koggala Lake, Turtle Farm, fishing in Weligama Bay Beach.

A visit to the ‘jungle beach’ is a unique feature offered by the hotel to tourists.

Labels: Galle, Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Holiday, Sri Lanka Hotels, Sri Lanka Places of Interest, Sri Lanka Tourism, Turtle Farm, Unawatuna, Weligama Bay Beach

A few decades ago, Kandy was not a busy tourist destination like nowadays and there were few hotels to accomodate them. Apart from traditional names, Hotel Thilanka was one of the oldest hotels to join the new Kandyan era of the post tourism boom in the seventies.

It started as a guest house in the mid eighties, which turned out to be one of the most sought after destinations in Kandy. Even after the Esala Perehera, the hotel is fully patronised by many Sri Lankan and overseas tourists. Nestled in the foothills of popular Udawatta Kele, just on a higher elevation to the Dalada Maligawa, Hotel Thilanka reflects the typical Kandyan traditions.

Over looking the city of Kandy and the Lake, Thilanka has well appointed 87 standard and deluxe rooms. This four star hotel has gone through a massive refurbishing programme during the past few months, which gives the complete face lift to the hotel. According to Thanuj Gunawardena, the Managing Director of the hotel, Rupees 30 to 35 million was spent on up grading 30 rooms.

‘The old wing is totally refurbished and we are currently completing the rest including ten balance rooms, coffee shop and the public area' he said. 'We simply do not close the entire hotel for this project. We have maintained our occupancy rate at very healthy level during the past months and we do not want to stop this success. It was a packed month for us during the Perehera season. So we go on step by step refurbishing programme and it will be ready for the coming winter season' he explained.

Bathiya Gunasekera, the General Manager of the hotel said most of the top travel agents are working with them and they stick to them for various reasons. They always come back to us because we have some extra points such as close proximity to Maligawa, City, Udawatta Kele and of course the service' he said.

It began life as a private house, built by a wealthy Kandyan towards the end of the colonial era. It has now been enhanced by a six-storey new wing, the minimalist décor of the rooms including elegant wooden furniture, television, telephone and mini-bar with all other facilities.

Hotel's main restaurant serves menus from around the world. Traditional Kandyan dishes are favourites among Sri Lankan clientele. Continental, Chinese, Indian and Japanese food are popular with Sri Lankan and foreign travellers. Lobby Bar and Woodpecker Bar are two top attractions. Thilanka overlooking the picturesque view of the Kandy Lake, the giant Bahirawakande seated Buddha statue, is the ideal base for excursions and relaxation.

'We arrange tours to various places of tourist attraction such as Dambulla Cave Temple, Sigiriya, Aluvihare, Lankatillake and Embekke Temples of Cultural and artistic value' GM Gunasekera said. The banquet hall is one of the biggest revenue earners of the hotel, which can accommodate 400 persons. The Board Room is air conditioned with seating capacity for 50 persons, for all conventions and banqueting . The major attraction of the hotel is its Ayurvedic Spa.

The ancient healing arts of the Himalayan Rishis are there to savour at our 'Ayurvedic Spa. Like the Nawaratna - the nine precious stones that make up one ring for protection, power and lasting health, our Spa offers the herbal secrets to fitness, wellbeing and regeneration' GM Gunasekera said. Massages, sauna and herbal baths, facial treatment, yoga sessions, medicinal oils, the wonder of floral ingredients, the help of facial packs, toning, and cleansing are some of the treatments available at the Hotel.‘We have Ayurveda treatment too’ he added.

Labels: Kandy Hotels, Sri Lanka Holiday, Sri Lanka Hotels, Sri Lanka Tourism

By Sanath Weerasuriya

Clunes is a popular name from Scotland. After Scottish planters, Sri Lanka inherited many Scottish names in the plantation sector. Like in Victoria, Australia after the European settlers in the nineteenth Centaury, Clunes came to stay in Sri Lanka not as a township but as a estate name in low country.

But our story about Clunes is a Sri Lankan holiday destination situated just one hour and fifteen minutes drive from Colombo.‘Clunes Villa’ is a Colonial estate bungalow turned to a modern holiday home specially catering for nature lovers. Situated in the middle of rich rubber plantation in Errachi Division in Talduwa Estate, Dehiowita, the Villa is nearly 87 years old.

‘It is just six kms away from Avissawella town on the main highway to Hatton and you can arrive at the Villa within two hours from the Bandaranaiake International Air Port’ said Thushara Sanjay Gunaratne, the Manager of the Villa.

Clunes Villa was originally built in 1920 for the exclusive use of the Scottish Planter John Dunlop. The bungalow maintains its past glory to fit with modern times although extensive repairs were carried out by Clunes Villa's present owner Gajaba Pitigala, the former Sri Lankan cricketer.

This colonial bungalow is exquisitely built in the centre of five acre tropical jungle with spacious halls, three large bed rooms and two roomed suite with all modern amenities.

‘After I took over this place in 2005, I have spent nearly 15 million on refurbishment to bring it to the present look’ said Gajaba Pitigala, the proprietor of this beautiful bungalow. The biggest change will be the newly constructed swimming pool. 'It will be ready for the use of holiday makers within a couple of months' Pitigala said.

All the rooms are fully air-conditioned, a private balcony with a spectacular view of the forest or lake, hot/cold water, laundry services, tarnish baths and on call doctor service, Neutral tones of brown beige and yellow comprise the brightly lit interior which is traditional yet modern which create the slick but simple picture.

The culinary experience at the Villa is one of the highlights of the holiday at Clunes. Clunes Villa allows dining in air conditioned comfort or in the more informal settings of the landscaped garden. It also has an adjacent bar and large area which is strictly for members and visitors of the villa for pre or post dinner drinks, cocktails and coffee.

‘Dining at the Villa is the most important thing. From simple village meal to five star dining experiences is on the menu at Clunes. Our experienced cook is capable of handling any kind of dish’ said Gajaba.

H. G. Karunaratne, popularly known as Karu, the main cook at the Clunes Villa has more than 40 years of culinary experience behind him.He was the chief cook at the Flight Kitchen of the former Grosvenor Caterers, the caterers for the former Air Ceylon and for all outbound flights from Katunayake.

‘At Clunes we treat all guests as Colonial Masters. From English Breakfast to Sri Lankan lunch and High Tea to candle lit dinner is possible at the Villa’ said Karu.

‘If you are a lover of Western, Eastern or Chinese food our kitchen caters for all your needs. Special BBQ nights can be arranged on request to make you feel comfortable and at home’ said Manager Thushara. Clune is also apopular place for foreign weddings.

‘We have already done about 15 weddings of European couples’ said Pitigala. The Villa is centrally located in close proximity to most of Sri Lanka's natural beauty and its world-renowned heritage. The Villa is an ideal base for excursions to Sinharaja Forest, Udawalawe Wildlife Sanctuary, Botanical Gardens, Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, Horton Plains, Nuwara Eliya, Adam's Peak, Saman Devalaya, Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy, Beli Lena and many more places of interest.

The Villa is surrounded by rubber and tea estates and is in close proximity to popular waterfalls.‘Clunes Villa is a place for adventure lovers. You can experience white water rafting at Kithulgala just 30 minutes away from Clunes Villa. Experience a day out with your family at Water World in Hanwella, which is just 20km from the Villa' Mr Pitigala said.

The ruins of Seethawaka Kingdom, Burundi Kovil, Dahanwela Seethawaka Oya are some of the attractions at the close range just fifteen minutes away from the Bungalow. 'The Villa is just 60km north of the world famous Sinharaja Forest and tours can be arranged for all guests on requests to visit the forest which takes just under 2 hours journey' Gajaba explained about the arrangement on excursions.

Like wise Udawalawa Wild Life Sanctuary is just under 21/2 hours journey and Udawalawe, which lies within the Ratnapura and Moneragala Districts, acts as the catchments to the Udawalawe Reservoir and is located in the Dry Zone. This Park comprises grasslands and thorn scrubs and many valuable species of trees are found within it. Large herds of Elephants and Deer species such as Spotted Deer, Sambhur, Barking Deer and Langur, Wild Boar, Water Buffalo, Jackal are some of the prominent wild animals found in this Park.

Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya and Haggala too are just under two and half hours drive from Clunes. Nuwara Eliya, Horton Plains, Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage , Tea Garden and Water falls are around two to three hours drive from the Villa. Official web site of Clunes Villa : www.clunesvilla.com.

Labels: Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Holiday, Sri Lanka Hotels, Sri Lanka Tourism

Simon Hoggart embarks on a holiday in Sri Lanka with the kids — but this time they are the ones in charge

• Simon Hoggart
• Guardian Unlimited
• Tuesday September 11 2007

Where to go ... daughter Amy's advice includes a visit to the celebrated Dambulla cave temples. Photograph: Maurizio Gambarini/dpa/Corbis

When your kids are small, you inform them where the family holiday is going to be. If they don't like it, they know what they can do — which is, come along and enjoy themselves. Or else. But when they're older — ours are 21 and 18 — and you want them to choose your trip in preference to them spending a riotous week in Spain with their friends, you have to ask them politely where they would like to go. And it's you who must like it or lump it.

Which is why we went to Sri Lanka this year. Our daughter Amy, the 21-year-old, had spent part of her gap year working in an orphanage there, up country, near Kandy. She and the other volunteers had been adventurous, using every weekend to visit historic sites, temples, national parks, the tea-growing area and, of course, the beaches. They met some delightful people, ate terrific food, and had a thoroughly exciting time. It was these places that she wanted us to enjoy. Meanwhile, she planned to spend a few days back at the orphanage, getting to know the nuns again, caring for the children.

We could not have chosen a better time. The fear of terrorism (irrelevant to tourists, so far as we could see) has kept visitor numbers down. Many of the best hotels — and Sri Lanka has some superlative ones — are desperate to fill their rooms and will offer eye-watering bargains. ("Rack rates" of hundreds of dollars a night listed on websites, and can be confidently ignored.)

What most people do is to tailor their holiday to their requirements. We went through Jetwing Travels, which also operates many of the best hotels. We told them our daughter's recommendations, and a few days later they sent back an itinerary.

The package included an air-conditioned van with driver. Don't think of driving yourself; Sri Lanka is not great on English signage, and the roads are less highways than social gathering places. Pedestrians flap a casual arm just before they cross the road in front of you, bikes and tuk-tuks (three-wheeled taxis) spring out of nowhere. It's like trying to drive between the stalls in a crowded market. You'll also want to stop and look at the roadside attractions: we saw kingfishers, peacocks, water buffalo, mongoose and hundreds of fruit bats hanging asleep from a tree, all on our first day. And the fruit stalls are more enticing than any supermarket: paw-paws, melon, pineapples and mangos, alongside the more exotic — rambutans, sour sop and the dreaded durian, famous for combining a stinking exterior with perfumed flesh.

Our driver, Mohd, was affable, spoke decent English, and knew plenty about the places we visited. So after two days recovering from jet lag at a fine beach hotel near Negombo The Beach, just north of Colombo airport, we headed up to the orphanage, pausing for lunch at the elephant orphanage (elephant numbers are down to around 2,000 in the whole country, thanks to deforestation) where we watched a herd bathing and splashing happily in the river.

There was a touching moment when we arrived at the orphanage, and the children who remembered our daughter were thrilled to see her: "Amy, auntie!" they shouted. The nuns were gentle and kind, and the children clearly well-fed, healthy and lively, though it is deeply sad to meet a three year old whose highest ambition is to be picked up and hugged.

So the rest of the family set off on the travels Amy had recommended. We started high in the hills above Kandy, at the Hunas Falls Hotel, which has stunning views down the valley and the most vertiginous golf course I have ever seen. I am no golfer, but even I know that a 40ft vertical drop is unusual at any hole. (They also have the one where you have to get the ball up 40ft.)

After exploring Kandy, with its temples and astounding trees, we headed toSigiriya, the greatest site in the country, a 660-ft high slab of rock topped with a combined fortress and pleasure palace, built 1,530 years ago by a king so evil he seized power by walling up his own father. The climb is steep but easy; you'll be passed by hundreds of schoolchildren, and teenage monks in red, orange, saffron and brown robes. Our hotel there was the remarkable new Vil Uyana, built on water gardens, every room a small house, reached by a bridge.

On Amy's advice we took in Polonnaruwa, one of the two finest archaeological sites, and the celebrated Dambulla cave temples. We picked her up at the orphanage, then set off for Nuwara Eliya and the tea country – you sip tea at the plantations, looking out on the deep, pleated, 40-shades-of-green valleys. We took a train to Ella, a journey along rickety tracks barely clinging to the mountainside, like flying at 10mph.

Our last stop was the Lighthouse Hotel near the old Dutch fort of Galle on the south coast. Here we spent a week doing little more than lazing and swimming, reading, eating and drinking. Sri Lanka offers a variety of food, but much the best is their own cuisine: fresh, zingy curries utterly different from the industrial sludge served in some UK Indian restaurants. Or you can eat in guest houses, negotiating the menu in advance with the owner, and a feast there will cost you little more than £2 a head.

Now is certainly the time to go to Sri Lanka, and it's easily arranged by letting the organiser know where you want to go, and how much you want to spend. We were very grateful to Amy for her guidance. She will make a great parent: "I tell you we're going to Sri Lanka, and you'll like it!"

Labels: Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Holiday, Sri Lanka Hotels, Sri Lanka Places of Interest

Sri Lanka’s KumbukRiver has been nominated for the Leading Eco-Lodge in the World at the World Travel Awards, the Oscars of the travel and tourism world. This is first time Sri Lanka figures among the ‘world’s leading’ classifications at the showpiece annual event which also includes awards by continent as well, the promoters of the eco-lodge said in a statement.

KumbukRiver has been voted among the world’s eight leading eco-lodges and will vie for the top slot when professionals from over 160,000 travel agents in over 200 countries vote for the first-ever Green Awards category at the 14 year-old event hailed as the most coveted awards scheme of the travel and tourism industry.

“KumbukRiver’s dramatic entry receives further significance as the other resorts nominated are all large-scale and well-established enterprises and only seven countries from the world are on the honours list.

The nomination by the WTA puts the eco-lodge from far-flung Buttala on the world tourism map, not for the first time, with KumbukRiver securing two other international accolades. KumbukRiver has currently been shortlisted for an award at the Virgin-Responsible Tourism Awards while Times-Online voted it among the world’s 50 best green places to stay, last year, making KumbukRiver the hottest Sri Lankan destination in the world of tourism,” the statement added.

Two other Sri Lankan entities are recognized this year by the WTA – Jetwing’s Ayurveda Pavilion has received two nominations, one under ‘Asia’s leading Resorts’ and the other in the category of ‘Asia’s leading Spa Resorts’ while Sri Lankan Airlines is named amongst Asia’s best airlines, completing an unexpectedly good year for Sri Lanka.

The promoters say KumbukRiver leads Sri Lanka’s resurgence on the world tourism market. The entire concept for the unique eco-lodge was a wild idea mooted by The 7th Frontier, an ad agency whose executives have had no exposure to the tourism industry previously.

Labels: Kumbukriver, Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Eco Tourism, Sri Lanka Holiday, Sri Lanka Hotels, Sri Lanka Tourism