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THIS JUNGLE RETREAT, CONCEIVED AS AN ECO-TOURIST VILLAGE,
is
set amidst 26 lush acres of tropical forest, within walking distance
of the fifth-century rock citadel of Sigiriya.
The
hotel has been carefully developed not to disturb the forest.
The rooms are individual cottages arranged in six clusters, each
with its own theme. Each cottage is comfortable and spacious,
with its own veranda and an artistic decor in keeping with the
theme of each cluster. Courtesy of the ever-attending staff and
their gracious hospitality, you really feel as if you're a guest
in a village community. Children are most welcome. They have their
own bird watching trails, bicycle rides, playground and guided
tours of the gardens, educating them about nature conservation.
As
many as 169 varieties of birds have been sighted within the boundaries
of the hotel. Aside from birding walks, you can go into the forest
on the back of the hotel elephant, or take a jeep safari to the
nearby Kauduluoya or Minneriya National Park. There are village
tours too or you can go yourself on one of the hotel bicycles.
Committed
to ecological harmony, the place is almost self sufficient. Vegetables,
mushroom, chicken, mutton, eggs, pork, milk and curd come fresh
from the organic farm on the premises. All garbage and sewage
are recycled and made useful.
The
wide V shaped open-air restaurant and the bar serve excellent food
and drinks. It's a real pleasure to sit there in the evening, cocktail
in hand, listening to Sri Lankan classical music, whilst gazing
at the mythic rock in the middle distance. The ayurvedic clinic
is an important aspect of the hotel and is supervised by a qualified
doctor from an old family of traditional medicine practitioners.
You might get treatment for specific ailments or for general well-being,
as well as relaxation through massages, steam baths and saunas.
If
you have the time and the inclination, you can also play tennis,
badminton or mini golf and even cricket on the well maintained
huge playground.
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