A TRIM, THOROUGHLY MODERN HOTEL

located in the new city of Anuradhapura sits on the banks of the Nuwarawewa tank. The hotel has a comfortable, easy charm with plenty of chairs and tables set out on a rolling lawn. An open-air balcony accommodates the pool and some easy chairs to catch the last of the sun's rays or to admire the magnificent vista of the huge tank below.

A bird sanctuary just beyond the boundaries of the hotel walls assure a regular supply of feathery visitors to the place, and you are always greeted by the myriad sounds of their greeting calls. A bird watching trek at 5.30 in the morning will introduce you to some thirty to forty species of them.

Most nights at the hotel will introduce you to snake charmers and local magicians. There are also BBQ nights by the pool, where you can sit under star studded nights and enjoy the calls that come from the sanctuary and surrounding environs.

The hotel accommodates a restaurant and bar, a large swimming pool, a conference room and a well-stocked bookshop where you could purchase a wide variety of books on Sri Lanka, its culture and religion. The shop also has a stock of area maps to guide you to the sacred sites.

All rooms and public areas are air-conditioned. The superior rooms are larger, centrally air-conditioned and offer a superb view of the pool and lake. Most are double rooms though there are a few triple rooms also available. Standard rooms are comfortably furnished and airy with either twin beds or king sized beds as choice. Well-lit bathrooms complement the rooms.

The hotel serves some delicious Sri Lankan cuisine and excels at their local fruit juices.

Plans for the future include a fully equipped games room.