Heritance Hotel - Ahungalla, Galle.

 

One of the earliest creations of veteran Architect late Geoffrey Bawa was Triton in Ahungalla. Water is a main feature of his signature designs.

Triton was his first experiment with water, which was the solid base for his star class creations in later days.
Inter connected stretch of water lead the guests into the hotel and guide their eyes to across the ocean to the horizon. The infinity pool makes feel as if you are in the ocean itself when you get in and your eye level is just above the water.
Triton has transformed in to a five star luxury hotel under the re-branding process few years ago with 154 rooms, Bawa’s theme was not changed.

All 128 Deluxe rooms, 15 luxury rooms, five suites and four luxury suites at Heritance Ahungalla face the sea with private balconies. Luxury Rooms have corner locations, so they have much larger balconies and seating areas. The bathroom contains a bathtub with overhead rain shower and weighing scales.

Spacious Luxury Suites have separate living rooms with DVD player and home theatre system – perfect for a family night in or entertaining friends.

Polished wood is a big feature, along with stone floors in the bathrooms and locally woven throws and cushions or handmade batik hangings. Sophisticated monochrome colour schemes highlight the clean, elegant feel – this is stylish seaside living at its finest.Each bathroom is tastefully supplied with custom-made Ahungalla toiletries.

The rooms are fully equipped with energy-efficient air conditioning, TVs with satellite and local channels, a comprehensive minibar and a digital safe. ‘With all these facilities and luxury, our main attraction is the personalized service. That counts a lot with our type of clientele’ Refhan Razeen, the General Manager of the Hotel said very correctly. The cuisine experience too at Heritance Ahungalle is a philosophy based on a threefold foundation of taste, presentation and health.

The hotel has three restaurants that can seat a total of 285 people, as well as several outdoor venues, where food is served on special occasions. Jute Restaurant will give the opportunity to try a wide range of Sri Lankan food, as well as the best of international cuisine, with dozens of choices and regular theme nights. For fine dining in a sophisticated ambience, the hotel offers a global la carte dinner menu in the Upper Room.

The culinary brigade at Heritance Ahungalla is one of the best in Sri Lanka, having won numerous awards over the years. Most recently, in August 2011, they won awards for the Best Hotel Team and Best Culinary Team at the Culinary Arts Competition organised by the Chefs Guild of Sri Lanka.

The cuisine at Ahungalla is supervised by the world class Chef Dimuthu Kumarasinghe who has won nine gold medals at the Culinary Olympics and the Culinary World Cup.

A river safari on the Madu Ganga, a visit to Kosgoda Turtle hatchery, Singharaja Forest tour, Galle Heritage tour, Fresh water fishing, visit to local Cinnamon and Coir industry, Koth Duwa Temple are some of the popular excursions for visitors from the hotel. The hotel also offers an excellent conference location with state-of-the-art facilities.

Heritance Ahungalla is just 76km or less than one hours drive from Colombo via E01 Highway

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Unawatuna Beach - Unawatuna, Galle.

Unawatuna beach,  a crescent shaped shallow beach situated further south to the famous town of galle and its famous harbour and towering roomassala mountain. It is protected by a natural reef from the open sea and due to the semicircle shape of it forms a perfect natural swimming pool with aquamarine colour gentle waves crashing on the golden sandy beach.

With almost every kind and type of hotel, motel and guest houses to cater to the gourmet food a sea bather crave for, it is the perfect holiday spot for all your sea bathing and water based activities such as surfing in search of miriads of coral fish,angel fish & puffer fish diving for beautiful and out of this world coral reefs, scuba diving and underwater photography, sailing, yatching and the latest attraction of setting out in search of the blue whales which linger very close to the unawatuna beach a  few kilometers to south of this bay.

The uniqueness of this beautiful beach cove is that given any time of the day one can get in to the shallow waters without fear of opening out to the open sea and also the level of water which keeps a natural gradient forming a shallow and a deep end on this natural swimming pool. The coconut palms fringing the beach brings out the shade one require after a few hours under the bright and shinning sun which gives you the perfect sun tan that you craved for without burnning your skin. After a perfect bath the ayurveda masseeurs await your arrival for the perfect bliss and mind boggling spa treatments using local herbal oinments and medical creams. The mouth watering local curries done with creamy coconut milk and spices to arouse your pallete along with seafood such as crab, prawn, lobster, muscssells tuna and cuttlefish make one feel that this paradise beach was meant to be the kingdom of “tritan” the god of sea. The guest houses cater to every need a holiday maker want with friendly and smilling staff to please your requirements without being asked.

Fishing near Unawatuna Beach

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Katharagama Esala Festival - 2012

At the Kataragama Shrine in the Deep South honours the God Katharagama worshipped by Budhists and Hindus with equal fervor and devotion. During the two-week festival, thousands of Hindu devotees bear chariots; pierce their flesh with hooks, s and commit acts of penitence mostly to hounor vows beseeching the benevolence of the God Skandha.

The devotional rituals conducted in a frenzied air of urgency reaches its end with h the “water-cutting” ceremony. A holy casket is dipped in the Manica Ganga the sacred river. Accompanying this ritual in the river are the thousands of pilgrims who submerge themselves – with their arms raised and crying “Haro Hara” in obeisance to the God of many names – God Skandha, Lord Murugan and God Katharagama.

At around 4 am after the river ablutions are concluded, the square in front of the main temple is cleared and carefully covered with burning Tamarind fire wood. Ccleansed pilgrims slowly make their way, barefoot, across the burning embers. The piety and devotion protects the soles of their feet. The souls relived.

2012 Esala Festival Dates 

Flag-hoisting 19 July 

Maha Perahera 1 August 

Water Cutting 2 August

Kataragama Dewalaya

Kataragama God

Kataragama Kiriwehera Dagoba

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Devinuwara Esala Festival - 2012

The Kap planting ceremony of the Sri Vishnu Maha Devalaya in Devinuwara, in connection with the Esala festival will be held on July 19.


The first Peli perahera will be held on July 26 and the other Peli peraheras will parade the streets from July 27. The Randoli Maha perahera, with elephants, up country and low country and Sabaragamuwa dancers will be held on August 1st.The festival will conclude with the Deva danaya on August 10. Deva Thovilaya will be on previous night 9 August.

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Hathmale Ella - Deniyaya

Hathmale fall is located about 8km from the Deniyaya Town. Just as you pass the main city centre of Deniyaya, turn left on to the Deniyaya - Pallegama Road. Travel about 7 km down this road. These is no sign board to the falls so look for Hathmale Ella Road sign board in the right hand side which is just before the Pallegama Bridge. Travel about 1km on this road and it will abruptly end in somebodys garden. The road is badly maintained but it is motorable upto this point. This road actually continues through this garden but to proceed form here you will need a 4 wheel drive ( you will not acually use it) or a vehicle with high ground clearence. Walk or drive about 250m on this road and then you need to climb down a steep hill to view the falls.

The source of the fall is the Deniyaya Gongala mountain range and the stream flows on to the Ginganga River at Pallegama. Hathmale Falls (45m high and 10m wide) is the tallest fall in the Ginganga River and is split into seven segments ('hathmala'). It is popular with both local and foreign visitors though sadly its popularity has had a negative effect on the environment, with plastic and polythene litter being left at the site.

Source - Click here

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Hambantota Botanical Garden

Sri Lanka's first-ever botanical gardens in the dry zone, soon to be the largest in the island, is now being developed at a 300-acre site at Mirijjawila, Hambantota. On the Suriyawewa-Hambantota Road, the Gardens is aimed at conserving the massive green patch and bio diversity in the area, according to National Botanical Gardens Department Director General Dr. Cyril Wijesundara.
He told the Business Times that this space will be like Central Park in New York, on completion, and pave the way to attract both domestic and foreign tourists to this southern town, fast turning out to be a hub of the south with the development of air and seaports and other facilities. This is the country's first new botanical gardens built in Sri Lanka in 130 years after the Senarathgoda Garden in Gampaha in 1876, and the Peradeniya Gardens long before that.
The first phase of the Hambantota project will be completed in November this year at a cost of Rs.500 million. Construction work of the internal roads underground pipe lines, irrigation canals and plant nurseries has been completed and the planting of trees like burutha (Burma teak), domba, ehela, gammalu, hal milla, helamba ingini, kaluwara, khomba, kon, kottamba, etc is now underway.The park will be opened to the general public next year. The main purpose of the new gardens is to showcase dry and arid zone plants (ex-situ conservation). The garden will also provide opportunities for ecotourism and economic development in the area and model dry zone landscape improvement.
Dr. Wijesundara noted that the new botanical gardens will provide for the conservation of dry and arid zone flora. Additionally, researchers and interested parties would be able to study less known and under-utilized plants in the dry zone. "When it comes to a tourist attraction, foreign tourists especially are keen on learning about the dry zone landscape improvement, herbal industry promotion etc.
Moreover the botanical gardens will be an educational and training centre of Botany and flora," he said. Experience of running the national botanic gardens of Peradeniya and Hakgala has demonstrated the business case for tourism, with both gardens being profitable. The new Dry Zone Garden will follow this established, and tried and tested pattern, he said.
Dr. Wijesundara said that the new gardens will be an educational resource for educational institutions of all levels, from junior school through to higher education. The gardens will also be a source of expertise, particularly in the long term where diploma courses and other formal educational provision in Floriculture and Herbal industries will become more important - and popular - within the educational curriculum.
Future courses in biodiversity and conservation will also benefit from having a national resource to draw upon, a location for student volunteers (national and international programme potential) and a place where research projects can be carried out too, he said.
The herbal industry will be supported as the gardens will hold a specialized herb collection. The dry zone has a large number of medicinal plants that are used in Sri Lanka presently. Dr. Wijesundara said that these are valuable plants which can be used in the development of the herbal industry, one of the fastest growing industries in other countries in this region.
The gardens will become a centre for the promotion of the herbal industry; one which can be sustainable in the future is managed well today. Another area of plant based industries is production of bio-fuel.

   

A group of school children walk through the unfinished Botanical Gardens when they attended a recent workshop on biodiversity for AL students in the area. Resource persons at the workshop were Samantha Gunasekara (Customs Dept.), Jagath Gunawardena (Environmentalist), Anslem de Silva (Reptile expert) and Upali Ekanayake (Bird expert). Pic courtesy Dept. of National Botanical Gardens.

Source - Sunday Times 

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Eco Village Holiday Resort - Kamburupitiya

The Eco Village Holiday Resort in Kamburupitiya is a one of best known Eco resort hotel in Kamburupitiya, Matara down south of Sri Lanka.

Surrounding the beautiful Lenabatuwa natural lake and Vilpita rain forest the Eco Village Resort is perfect place for anyone for looking for peace and tranquility combined with outstanding Sri Lankan hospitality.

Relaxation on your veranda watching the birds flying in to trees is definitely an unforgettable moment. You can taste Sri Lankan Indian Chinese and Western foods with our staff’s grate hospitality within the covered floating ferry. After having the boat ride and fish hunting you can feel comfortable sleep until hearing the bird’s sounds in morning time.

Location and Settings

Eco Village Resort kamburupitiya is locating 180 km away from the Bandaranaike International Airport takes you through the city centre of Colombo, passing with the sunny beach coastal way Mount Lavinia and the resort towns of Wadduwa, Hikkadduwa, Galle and Matara. In front of the ancient Matara Bodiya you can take Kamburupitiya road which on your left side. 19 km drive through the Kamburupitiya road with in 25 minutes you can reach to the Kamburupitiya small city with passing the Thihagoda junction. Center of the Kamburupitiya junction you can find Gathara road. After come 3 km via the Gathara road you can find the Eco village Resort.

How be at Eco Village.

Nearest train station: Matara, 19 km north.
Nearest bus station: Kamburupitiya Town 2.4 km.
Nearest motorway: Gathara Road adjacent to Hotel.
Nearest city centre: Matara, 19 km south.

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Weligama Bay & Taprobane Island

 Weligama beach is a one of best beach in Sri Lanka. You can see there are different geographical features of beach. The weligama bay is more important place because of its’ valuable features. In weligama beach we can explore that one area has huge rapid waves, another area has a natural pool characteristics, another area has the deep sea. Like that there is much diversity we can see through the same sea.
The location of weligama bay which located between Matara and Galle, 143 km away from Colombo. It is a quiet place with near off shore islet known as Taprobane where a dream house of French Count de Maunay was built in here and where later famous writer Arthur C.Clark made his home. The long, clean and safe beaches attract visitors who are searching for a relaxing and peaceful vacations and it is also a perfect starting point for exploration of nearby attractions.

Taprobane Island

Taprobane Island was originally built in the 1920's by the romantically named but self styled Count de Mauny-Talvande. The island with its neo palladian mansion has played host to kings, queens, presidents, prime ministers, aristocracy, writers and eccentrics, giving it a very colorful history, which guests can now share.
The Island comprises 2 ½ acres of sheer tropical fantasy with nothing between it and the South Pole. Accommodation is provided for in 5 en-suite bedrooms, with spacious living areas, balconies, verandahs, tropical gardens and a stunning infinity pool. A staff of 5 cater for your every need; in fact after arrival, guests frequently never leave the Island until their departure.

Location

Taprobane Island is located on Sri Lanka’s exotic south coast which is quietly becoming the Riviera of choice for the world’s most discerning and inquisitive travellers. Centrally located to the UN World Heritage site of Galle Fort, Buddhist temples, rainforests, lowland tea plantations, wildlife reserves and some of the most fabulous beaches in the Indian Ocean. 

 Taprobane Island sits just 200 yards off the Southern Coast in the centre of Weligama Bay - a 4 ½ hour drive south of Colombo’s International Airport or, for guests wishing to come by helicopter, a journey that takes less than one hour.
The island is just a 30 minute drive south of the Southern Provinces capital, Galle – home of the historic UN World Heritage site of Galle Fort.
Access to the island from the coast is usually made by wading through the surf on foot, or by some, on elephant or sedan chair!
Amazingly, there is nothing between the island and the South Pole.

Getting there & away
Distances between locations in Sri Lanka are not that far, yet the time taken by road to reach a destination can be somewhat of a tiresome experience.
Our team can arrange transfers for you by either chauffer driven air conditioned vehicles, steam train or helicopter.
Rather than traveling by road why not transfer directly from your international flight onto Sri Lankan Airlines Air Taxi and arrive in Galle (Koggala airport) in just 30 minutes. Koggala airport is only a 15 minute drive from Taprobane Island.
It is the ideal way to travel in style, comfort and luxury at an affordable price.

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Devinuwara Lighthouse - Highest Lighthouse in southern Asia

The Devinuwara Lighthouse was built by British in 1894 at Devinuwara (Dondra edge). It is about 172 feets hight at sea level and considered as the largest lighthouse in southern Asia. Its marks the last landfall before Antarctica in Asia. Nearest major city is Matara and its 160 km away from Colombo the capital. 

View from the top

 

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Hummanaya (The Blow Hole) - Dickwella

Hummanaya is the only known blowhole in Sri Lankaand it may be the second largest blowhole in the world. Meaning of the word “Hummanaya”  is the distance a sound of "hoo" can be heard.

It is located after Matara and Dikwella town in the Southern Province and at small fishing village called Kudawella 1.1 kilometres (0.7 mi) to the right. Dikwella is a coastal town 89 kilometres (55.3 mi) far away from Colombo and 22 kilometres (13.7 mi) from Matara.


R. L. Brohier first described the Hummanaya Blow Hole in Seeing Ceylon (1965) as “The hoarse gurgling roar gathers in volume – then suddenly, a pillar of water churned to a dazzling whiteness gushes out somewhere up the cliff and for the moment you stand aghast”.
The Hummanaya Blow Hole reputed to be the second largest in the world.  The Hummanaya Blow Hole is one of nature’s fountains and is located about 40 feet above sea level.  It emits a magnificent spray of water reaching about 25 meters into the air every few minutes.
This is the result of sea water rushing in through a submerged cave under the sea and as the pressure builds up, sounds similar to rumble of distant thunder can be heard, and as the pressure is released the water spews breathtakingly into the air.Visitors can be ferried by boat to the location of the Blow Hole to witness this spectacular sight, up close and personal. Along the coast, souvenir shops offering a variety of local handicrafts stand side by side with roadside kiosks selling fruit and drinks, including tasty bites of fried fish.
Both Sri Lankans and tourists should veer off the beaten track and travel to Kudawella and see this phenomenal natural fountain and not miss out on an experience of lifetime.

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Weherahena Temple

A large Buddha statue here is painted with very bright colours. There are hundreds of scenes painted to show the Buddha's life. There are three underground storeys and there you can see the shrine room in which thewalls are decorated with murals depicting the Buddha's life.

A 25m high colourful Buddha statue built at Veherahena Temple. The temple is about 2 km from the Matara town. Artificial cave decorated with 200 comic book style scenes from the life of Buddha. Illustrations on the buddha telling the life of buddha. There you can see the shrine room in which the walls are decorated with the murals depicting the Buddha’s life

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Source and more info - lalithahotel

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