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ONE OF SRI LANKA'S (THEN CEYLON'S) GREAT GOVERNORS,
Sir
Edward Barnes, enchanted by a beautiful spot lying 6,200 feet
above sea level - decided to build his private residence here,
in the early 1820s, known as 'Barnes Hall'. The original structure
did, after much change and addition, eventually become the Grand
Hotel.
Everything
is grand at Grand Hotel, from the mighty fir trees that line the
pathway to the hotel, the heavy wooden furniture, to the impossibly
high roof that bears the chandelier lighting up the great restaurant,
where waiters clad in white stand ready to serve you. The vast
carpeted and draped lounge rooms, beautifully upholstered invite
you to relax in luxurious chairs next to a warm fire, or pass
an hour with a good book. Interesting passageways criss-crossing
the length of the hotel lead to your room. The bay windows on
the upper floors look down on an eternal park, with mowed lawns
and white wrought-iron furniture set out as if expecting a party
to gather any minute. A walk just beyond introduces you to a mini
French garden complete with a pond and a children's park.
The
hotel, divided into two main wings (Governor's Wing and Golf Wing),
looks out over some breath-taking scenery, including the famed Nuwara
Eliya golf course, which runs adjacent to the hotel.
The hotel comes alive at night with three well-stocked bars including
an old-style smoking bar cum games room. You could be challenged
to a game at any of the three regal billiard tables set out in the
games room just beyond. Or you could work out in the new gym &
health center with the latest exercise equipment and sauna. For
a less active evening, there is the Fine Dining Restaurant, “The
Supper Club” with live music for entertainment. Alternatively,
you could excite the taste buds in the Grand's newest outlet, an
authentic Indian restaurant (that also has outside seating during
the day and a take-away counter too).
There
is also an entire shopping arcade extending two floors, which
include two jewellery shops, a bookstore, local handicrafts, souvenir
and silk shops. As your center for an up-country holiday experience,
there's no place 'grander'.
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