TikaWeeks #43/2024: Sri Lanka update
Posted by John on 26th October 2024
Where to stay when visiting Sri Lanka? The selection of quality accommodation with Tikalanka keeps on growing, from glamping sites in the lesser-known regions of Okkampitiya and Gal Oya to quirky boutique hotels in Colombo and Negombo. Makeovers of heritage properties in Kandy, Jaffna and Nuwara Eliya may be added to the list as well as guesthouse-style stays in Kataragama and Mirissa. The amazing choice is yours!
You are promised a singular safari experience at Tree Tops Jungle Lodge in the rarely visited Okkampitiya area, which is an intimate community-based tented eco-camp within a private estate in the wilds of the island's hot and dry southern plain just to the north of Yala National Park. The onsite waterhole is frequented by local wildlife including leopards, elephants and many birds, and your stay includes safari walks with the locals.
A captivating and art-filled converted family home, Aathma Colombo House exudes an eclectic charm influenced by its owners' diverse heritage. This unique property lies on a private island bordering Diyawanna Lake, a stone's throw from Beddagana Wetland Park, with the surrounding areas teeming with aquatic wildlife, which offers you a very different perspective on Colombo.
The Argyle is a contemporary haven of tranquillity surrounded by tea estates with far reaching and breathtaking views of Adam’s Peak and the magnificent, magical Hill Country. The boutique hotel is inspired by the historical characters that were instrumental in shaping the destiny of the original Scottish planters.
A sensitively refurbished, traditional Jaffna-style bungalow, Jetwing Mahesa Bhawan was initially constructed in 1935 and now creatively converted into a luxury bijou boutique hotel. This charming villa is sure to provide you with a homely, authentic Jaffna experience, guaranteeing a relaxing, tranquil stay in the north.
W15 Hanthana Estate is a luxury boutique hotel set within the eponymous Hanthana Estate near Kandy with magnificent panoramas of the Knuckles Mountain Range and beyond. This exquisitely restored former British colonial era bungalow has huge reception rooms, a generous encircling veranda opening into the garden with pool, and immaculate suites.
With just eight guest rooms, Moksha Kitulgala offers personalised service, an infinity pool, a restaurant with locally sourced menus, and two bars. This contemporary boutique hotel set within the rainforest and credited for its efforts towards sustainability has ensuite rooms with comfortable beds, verandas and modern amenities.
Wild Glamping – Gal Oya is nestled in a majestic mountain-locked village untouched for centuries and inhabited by the Veddas — the aboriginal inhabitants of Sri Lanka. Experience a unique adventure of glamping in rustic luxury cocooned by pristine savannah, life-enhancing forests and mist-wrapped mountains.
A colonial-style boutique property built in 2009 using traditional techniques and set within a palm grove on Coconut Tree Hill, The Spice House is just 3 minutes' walk inland from Mirissa's attractive crescent-shaped and protected bay. The well-appointed, ensuite rooms all have a unique charm of their own.
A luxurious home away from home, Villa Atulya – Nuwara Eliya is surrounded by enchanting tea estates and vegetable allotments with majestic Pidurutalagala as a backdrop, Sri Lanka's highest peak. The serene natural beauty and cool mountain air imbue a tranquil charm to the area, a perfect place to relax and unwind in comfort.
Uga Riva is a classic 180-year-old manor house nestled within a private two-hectare coconut palm estate seamlessly blending modern comforts with its historic heritage and offering a unique and luxurious experience. The tranquil and private setting is ideal for relaxation close to Negombo and the airport.
Mailagama Cinnamon Residence is a family-run bijou boutique guesthouse founded with passion and love and nurtured with great care. Developed from a former cinnamon plantation, the guesthouse offers an authentic stay in a traditional southeastern region Dry Zone community near Kataragama, with a singular commitment to the local people and natural surroundings.
A luxury boutique bungalow overlooking Lake Gregory in Nuwara Eliya and the Galway’s Land National Park nearby, W15 Lake Gregory has plush and well-appointed rooms that hark back to the days of yore when British tea planters graced the area. All rooms have a terrace with stunning views, colonial-style reproduction furniture, and contemporary fixtures and fittings.
Waraka Udawalawe is a serene, nature-friendly and eco-conscious boutique hotel nestled amidst lush surroundings on the borders of Udawalawe National Park. Overlooking a scenic waterway, this sustainable sanctuary offers an immersion in nature with captivating views of the verdant surroundings while staying in comfortable accommodation providing all modern amenities.
Uniquely sandwiched between the Maha Oya river, one of the Dutch colonial era canals and a private coconut plantation towards the oceanfront north of Negombo, Waterland is a tropical oasis offering five massive and differently themed villas and suites all with private plunge pools.
Taru, the well-respected local designer and hotelier, has spilt her collection of stylish boutique hotels and chic villas into two brands, the original Taru Villas and the newly launched Nyne Hotels. Taru Villas continues the commitment to offering benchmark luxury boutique hotels and private villas in Sri Lanka, while Nyne Hotels strives to engage not just the traditional senses but all nine senses, aspiring to represent the pinnacle of the dedication to providing exceptional hospitality.
Categories: Accommodation, News, Sri Lanka, Sustainability
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