SET A DATE FOR A WEEKEND IN THE HILLS

Hidden amidst the lush hills of Ambewela, making you feel there’s no one else but yourself, Jetwing Warwick Gardens promises you solitude, peace, tranquillity and soulful rejuvenation. Built in the 1800’s by a Scottish tea planter and located some 1850 metres above sea level, this little English bungalow is the ideal ‘get away’ for the busy, overworked and stressed out businessman eager to spend some quality time with his family.

This luxury bungalow is uniquely situated, being both secluded within the Ambewela mountain range and in close proximity to places such as the Ambewela farm, Hakgala Gardens and Horton Plains for exciting day trips. Leopard and Sambar can be spotted at Horton Plains.

Jetwing Warwick Gardens is also ideal for small groups who want the hills exclusively to themselves. It also caters well for couples on their honeymoon and for those who just want to getaway from it all. This bungalow boasts of ‘Warwick’ the master bedroom with a spectacular view of the garden and mountain range; ‘Netherleigh’, which is secretly hidden behind a drape of antique carpets sewn together, midway through the landing, is the honeymoon suite with its crisp white linen and furniture. There are three other deluxe rooms, each with varying views and experience. Four of the rooms including the sitting room have their own fire place, which is lit in the evenings on request. In addition, there is a cosy sitting room with a private fire place and a baby grand piano for beautiful melodies. A day room for morning meals and a comfortable library with an interesting selection of books can also be enjoyed.

A place filled with experiences, Jetwing Warwick Gardens gives guests the opportunity to laze around in the bungalow doing absolutely nothing or settle in to a cozy chat, enjoy a typical English breakfast in bed or on the lawn with fresh eggs from the Warwick Farm or even have a Sri Lankan picnic in the garden. The bungalow also features a selection of teas from Sri Lanka’s finest tea growing regions. The guest could also experience the local version of the traditional High Tea at any one of the stunning locations. To the delight of the guests a stone Bar-Be-Que in the garden can also be arranged. The men also have the luxury of enjoying a morning shave or a head massage by the local barber, in the outdoors.

JETWING KURULUBEDDA, NATURE’S PERFECT LITTLE HIDEAWAY!

Wake up to the soothing sound of rustling leaves, the chirping of birds, the distant echo of temple bells and yet, be captivated with the stillness of perfect surroundings... this could be your morning at nature’s perfect little hideaway, Jetwing Kurulubedda.

A serene ten minute boat ride down the Kepu Ela in Mahamodera, Galle, a short waterway off the Gingganga, so near yet so far away from the hustle and bustle of life in Galle, leads you to two stilted dwellings situated amidst a mangrove on a quiet little village patch off the river.

Jetwing Kurulubedda, consisting of two luxury dwellings built on stilts boasts a bedroom suite, a large terrace with casual and relaxed seating and a spacious plunge pool below. A dining pavilion overlooking the marshes and paddy field, which is organically grown, a lounge surrounded by nature with a ramp leading to the edge of the river and a sprawling lawn for relaxation and lazing in a time wrap that is singularly yours to alter . This is a perfect location for small parties, quiet cosy chats or for couples seeking to reignite their passion.

Take a bath at the well where you can draw your own water in true village style, a drink of Kirala (Genus – Sonneratia Species – caseolaris) from the trees above, red rice from the paddy field around, organically grown vegetables and greens from the plots within and a smiling Sri Lankan butler to serve you any time of the day; the luxury of being truly pampered in style.

Experience a refreshing massage on the edge of the field followed by an evening cup of single estate hand rolled bio-tea with home styled patties and cutlets made in the kitchen. Take a dip in your private pool only to be greeted thereafter with a glass of Rosé wine from the cellar and then a dinner under the star studded sky.

Windsor Park Agri Holiday Resort, Hingurakgoda – Introducing Agro Tourism to Sri Lanka

Windsor Park is an Agri Holiday resort situated in Hingurakgoda (in the North central Province of Sri Lanka), Sri Lanka which is about 203 Kilometers away from Colombo. Hingurakgoda, located near Polonnaruwa, which is a historical kingdom of the ancient rulers of Sri Lanka, is a distinguished centre of Sri Lanka’s agro industry. Hingurakgoda, claiming kinship to a glorious past, during which an age-old hydro-culture flourished could be characterized as an oasis of those industrious and energetic people who conquered nature.

The Windsor Park is surrounded by the farmland spread around 1300 Acres for which is about 700 Acres are under paddy. This paddy cultivation is also considered as the biggest seed paddy production farm in the country. The highland area of the farm is utilized for the production of perennial crops & livestock. Minneriya sanctuary, Polonnaruwa ancient ruins, Sigiriya ancient ruins, Kawudulla Park are within the close proximity to the hotel.

The resort provides the luxury of relaxation with 7 cabanas provided with hot & cold water; air conditioned rooms, open verandah and a sitting area. All these cabanas are under fruitful tree shades to soothe your body & mind while the effect of the burning sun is dispelled by the winds that blow across the reservoirs. Restaurant allows you to taste all the Sri Lankan foods at your choice prepared with its own fresh herbs & vegetables picked from their own farmland. The daily rate of a single person is 65 US Dollars on Full Board Basis. The Inland reservoir & the ponds provide an excellent opportunity for the bird watchers to observe number of bird species for which are endemic birds to Sri Lanka. The flocks of peacocks that move about freely are the most spectacular natural sights in the Windsor Park.

Seed Paddy Cultivation: The seed paddy production of this farm is about 2.7 million of Kilograms a year with about 13 varieties ranging from 3 months to 4 & half months for the harvest.

Banana Cultivation: About 50 Acres of banana cultivation is maintained in the farm by using drip irrigation system and fertigation facilities. Cavendish SFC09 is being cultivated in 12 plots with an average of 5 acres of extent for a plot.

Dairy Farm: A herd of buffaloes and cattle are maintained at the farm for milk production and for breeding purposes. The farm produces about 500 liters of buffalo curd daily.

Traditional Home Garden: Wide varieties of Sri Lankan vegetables are grown by using only the traditional methods & fertilizing.

Vegetable Cultivation: About 10 acres of land are being cultivated the vegetables like chillie, tomato, capsicum, cucumber, brinjals etc. by using drip irrigation & micro irrigation system. Average production of vegetables is about 250 Kilograms a day.

Mango Cultivation: Around 40 acres of land are being used for the mango cultivation of the farm. Some of the varieties grown here are Karthakolumbun, Vilad, Hingurakgoda Vilad, Vellekolumbun etc. Hingurakgoda Vilad is an endemic fruit to Sri Lanka.

Fresh Water Fish/Prawns: The inland reservoir and three special ponds are maintained to grow fish under high intensity systems.

With all these unique facilities Hotel Windsor Park offers incomparable, cozy, unforgettable experience to the guests who choose to stay for a holiday. Also the Nature Park blessed with an amazing bio-diversity, is a wonderful forest park for environmentalists.

Some of the very attractive features the Hotel Windsor Park offers are

• Elephants Safaris
• Cycling through the farmland
• Experience the traditional techniques of farming
• Bird Watching
• Cultural Visits to the Ancient ruins

Reservations: 0094773052873 Ganga

0094272247233 Indrajothy

The Waterside Hotel, Bentota, Sri Lanka – A Perfect holiday experience in a tranquil location with its theme concept of a rural village life

The waterside hotel, Bentota situated in a tranquil location, which is about 70 kilometers south of the city of Colombo. With its very own theme concept of a simple village life, tranquility and the friendly atmosphere provides you incomparable holiday experience.

Waterside boosts with six rooms with a panoramic view of the Bentota River, towards the lagoon and the sea. Each room ensures its own luxury provided with Satellite TV, Mini bar, Telephone facilities, and attached bathroom with hot and cold water.

The open sided elegant fine dining restaurant overlooking the Bentota River, serves an exquisite array of International and Sri Lankan dishes with specialty of seafood varieties on ala carte menu.

Early morning nature tour through the picturesque Bentota River by the boat-exciting feature that Waterside offers which provides unforgettable memories for the nature lovers. In the same time, this tour gives you the opportunity to observe number of bird species including some of the migrant species. Some of the birds you could observe while while you are on this tour are Stork Billed Kingfisher, Common Kingfisher, White Throated Kingfisher, White Breasted water hen, Red Wattled Lapwing, Indian Pond heron, Purple heron, Little cormorant, Brahminy kite, White Bellied sea eagle, Common Kestrel, Spotted dove, Pompadour Green pigeon, Green imperial pigeon, Rose ringed parakeet, Asian koel, Blue tailed bee eater, Brown headed barbet, Barn swallow, Scarlet Minivet, Yellow wagtail, Red vented bulbul, Oriental magpie robin, Common tailor bird, Asian paradise flycatcher (Ceylon paradise flycatcher), Asian Paradise flycatcher (Indian paradise flycatcher), Purple rumped sunbird, Loten’s sunbird, Black hooded oriole, white bellied drongo, Common Iora, Common myna, Scaly breasted munia etc.

View of the swimming pool

Some of the very attractive features that Hotel Waterside offers are

• Sri Lankan weddings including traditional poruwa etc.
• Nature/Bird watching tours by the boat
• Day trips to Galle, Ambalangoda mask factory, Kosgoda turtle hatchery etc.
• Deep sea fishing
• Tuk tuk rides
• Fishing

Address : Yathramulla, Bentota, Sri Lanka

Telephone : 0094342270080/81

Fax : 0094342270084

Email : reservations@bentotawaterside.com

Website : www.bentotawaterside.com

Yaka Mala - The flower of Devil යකා මල

Honestly not sure, what is the exact English name for this flower but direct translation from Sinhala is "Devil's flower" which means the flower of Devil because its exact shape of a face of a Devil.

Indian Roller - දුම් ඛොන්නා

This colorful bird captured by me at Pinnawala very close to the Elephant orphanage while I am participating a wedding of one of my close relatives.

AIDA Ayurveda & Holistic Health Resort,Bentota,Sri Lanka – Feel the Harmony of real Ayurveda Philosophy

AIDA Ayurveda & Holistic Health Resort is conveniently located in Mangala mawatha,Bentota which is about 70 kilometers away from the city of Colombo. The hotel features with 40 rooms for which 16 rooms are main house rooms & the rest of the rooms are riverside rooms. Each & every room provided with hot & cold water, Telephone facilities, A/C, TV, Electronic safe etc.

By the means of its name AIDA Ayurveda & Holistic Health Resort, is a special place for Ayurveda treatments in Sri Lanka. On arrival of the guest an experienced doctor will conduct a diagnose to design their individual health & wellness schedule to be followed during their stay in the hotel. This comprehensive diagnose will be followed by using its very own traditional methods of Ayurveda like pulse reading, palm reading, tongue diagnosing, eye diagnosing etc. These treatments include internal & external treatments. Development of emotional balance are followed by very comprehensive methods like conducting Yoga & Meditation programs, allowing them to hear very emotional music, allowing them to see & feel the fragrance of very impressive flowers etc. With its very own special surroundings, it naturally allows the guests to improve their internal spirit.

The physical treatments include number of holistic therapies, head massages, foot massages, body massages, flower baths, herbal baths, steams, sauna etc. Ayurveda, the secret of Asian beauty, the herbal beauty clinic of AIDA resort offers very special beauty treatments with the harmony of Ayurveda. Some of the beauty treatments are facials, Pedicure etc.

Herbal garden of AIDA resort which has number of herbs is an attractive place of the guests who stays in the hotel. They always love to hang around the bushes of herbs & breathe the fresh air blowing through the plants.

Traditional “Shanthi Karma”, a way of treatment for certain illnesses which has a proud history of the country is very interesting event that this hotel organizes. The scenic restaurant of the hotel provides an array of Ayurvedic friendly healthy foods with the recommendation of the doctor.

The riverside gallery restaurant with a view over Bentota River, serves lots of delicious food including seafood who are not on Ayurveda cure. Also the AIDA offers one day Ayurveda treatment package for the non residents of the hotel.

Address: 12A, Mangala Mawatha, Bentota, Sri Lanka

Reservations: 0094-34-2271137, 0094-34-2271138

Email: aida1@sltnet.lk, aida1@visual.lk

Website: www.aidaayurveda.com

Field Trip to Palabaddala with FOGSL

Deciding at the last minute joined the FOGSL field trip to Palabaddala, a village that situated on the trekking track to Adam's peak bordering to the "Sri Pada" wildlife sanctuary in Ratnapura district. Situated within close proximity to the World Heritage site Sinharaja Rain Forest, the area has identified as rich in birdlife.

After enjoying a simple lunch but rich in nutrition value prepared with locally found greens, herbs etc. started proceeding to "MapalanaElla" a picturesque waterfall while observing birds on the way. With few yards of walking observed, a Hill Swallow landed on an electricity wire and that was a very good opportunity to learn how to differentiate a Hill Swallow from the Red Rumped Swallow because of the explanation given by our professional birder Amila Salgado as usual. Sri Lanka Myna, Sri Lanka Yellow fronted barbet, Red Rumped swallow, Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, Sri Lanka Layard's parakeet, Sri Lanka Orange billed babblers, Hill Myna are some of the highlights of the first day birding.

Second day started with a big challenge to climb up to the Adam's peak but instructions were given to turn back at 2 pm irrespective of the place where you climbed up to ensure the safe return before the dawn. The group was scattered I was with Amila. We were the first to decide to return immediate after the breakfast because of the gloomy conditions and correctly identified as not a good day for birding by my colleague. On our return, we stepped to a village house due to the rain, with their hospitality they offered us two chairs nicely arranged facing the river allowing us to observe birds until rain is over. We spotted a Shikra, a pair of Sri Lanka Grey Horn bills, A number of Sri Lankan Myna's, a number of Crimson fronted barbets while we were enjoying a cup of tea offered by them. We stepped down to the base around 12.30 in the noon and finished our lunch with a plan of going for birding to the nearest 50-acre forest patch. The whole plan for the evening washed off by the torrential rain started around 2 pm continued up to 6 pm in the evening leaving us the only option to have a nap and relax a bit. Greater Flameback , Sri Lanka Yellow fronted barbet, Black capped bulbul, Yellow browed bulbul, Hill swallow, Red rumped swallow , Shikra, Sri Lanka grey Horn bill, Scarlet minivet, Black bulbul are some of the highlights for the second day birding.

In the morning of the final day, we were lucky to spot a pair of Sri Lanka White faced starling on a fruit tree while we were waiting for the breakfast. After the break fast we proceeded to the 50 Acre forest patch for birding where we managed to observe Sri Lanka Orange billed babblers, Sri Lanka White faced starlings, Crested Serpent Eagle, Shikra, Sri Lanka Myna, Sri Lanka Yellow Fronted Barbet, Common Iora, Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, Sri Lanka Layard's Parakeet and some other few bird species.

Hotel Yala Village – A Blend of Untamed Beauty of Nature, Adventure & Luxury of Relaxation

Hotel Yala Village is situated in Kirinda,Sri Lanka (in deep south of Sri Lanka) bordered by the Yala Wildlife Sanctuary which is about 280km away from Colombo International Airport. Approximately it takes about 5 to 6 hours drive via Ratnapura. Yala Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the Sri Lanka’s best preserved areas for which is the shelter for hundreds of elephants,crocodiles,wild boar,peacocks,about 56 species of birds,12 species of mammals,20 species of butterflies,15 species of reptiles etc.

It is a tranquil location spread over 10 acres of vegetation scattered with 61 chalets. Each chalet is unique in design with animal inspired themes in décor ensuring that each guest enjoys the untamed beauty of nature while allowing you the luxury of relaxation in absolute privacy. Wild elephant, Wild Boar, Peacocks, Spotted deer, many species of birds can be commonly seen in the hotel park. All the chalets are air conditioned and it includes with a private verandah, satellite TV, well stocked Mini Bar, Telephone/IDD provided with hot & clod water. Chalets are categorized as Fisherman’s, Beach, Round, Stilt, Traditional Village and Tarzan Suite ranging from 165 US dollars to 415 US Dollars on Full Board basis.

Observation Desk is a very attractive place in the hotel which allows the guests to have a panoramic view of the vastness while the picturesque swimming pool provides an invigorating swim with a spectacular pool bar serving up delightful concoctions. Eastern & Western cuisine can be enjoyed at the hotel restaurant with Ala carte and table d’hote menus. Also the hotel enriches with a Naturalist (Mr. Dilan Peiris) who has a sound knowledge about the Sri Lankan birds, Animals, Reptiles, Mammals and the Nature.

Some of the very attractive features the Hotel Yala Village offers are

· Bird Trails (Bundala Sanctuary & Inside the Hotel park)

· Adventure Safaris – Yala Wildlife Sanctuary

· Cultural Visits – Kataragama, Thissamaharamaya, Sithulapawwa etc.

· Nature walk with the Naturalist

· Airport pickups

· Participation of Sri Lankan cookery workshops on request

Safety Tips

Remember you stay in a part of the jungle so wild animals are freely roaming through the hotel park. Always seeks the assistance of the hotel staff while you walk in the evening & the night because meet the Wild elephant is a common incident in this hotel. Also please refrain from giving foods to the wild animals & remember not to leave any fruits in your vehicle.

Telephone : 0094112320862,0094112439049-51

0094472239450

Reservations : htlres@keells.com