sri-lanka-13-full-pdf-ebook.pdf

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and airy, and you can look forward to troops
of monkeys in the morning and squadrons
of bats at dusk.

Castle Hill Guest House HOmESTAY $$
(map p 146 ; %222 4376; 22 Rajapihilla mawa-
tha; s/d incl breakfast Rs 4950/6050, cabins Rs
5000; W) This place has beautiful gardens
with views over the lake, town and distant
mountain peaks playing peek-a-boo with
the clouds. The guest rooms don’t quite live
up to the high expectations that the gardens
instil but they’re peaceful, well away from
the tourist hustle and full of authentic 1930s
architecture and decor.
It also has some newer cabins out in the
garden but these are grossly overpriced. If
these are all they have available then look
elsewhere.

Highest View g UESTHOUSE $$
(map p 146 ; %223 3778; http://www.highestview.com;
129/3 Saranankara Rd; r Rs 4000-5000; W) It’s
not quite the ‘highest view’ but we won’t
quibble because the views are pretty darn
good. Pastel-coloured rooms, quiet shared
areas, and a spacious restaurant and bar add
up to a good choice on winding Saranankara
Rd.

Blue Haven Guesthouse g UESTHOUSE $$
(map p 146 ; %222 9617; http://www.bluehavenguest
house.com; 30/2 Poorna lane, Asgiriya; r incl break-
fast Rs 3500-5000; Ws) The rooms here are
rather ordinary, but the location is peaceful,
the pool a big plus and there are fantastic
views out over the Knuckles Range. The pro-
prietor, Mr Linton, is an entertaining host
who can arrange car hire and tours of the
country. A three-wheeler ride from town to
the guesthouse costs Rs 250 to Rs 300.

Forest Glen g UESTHOUSE $$
(map p 146 ; %222 2239; http://www.forestglenkandy.com;
150/6 lady gordon’s Dr, Sri Dalada Thapowana ma-
watha; r Rs 4000-5500; W) Simple, somewhat
faded, but very quiet rooms feature at this
wonderfully secluded family guesthouse on
a winding road on the edge of Udawattakelle
Sanctuary. The lovely woman who runs it
also works as a nanny and if you’re travelling
with young children they’ll be delighted to
know that there’s a small playground.
Kandy’s bright lights are just a 10-minute
walk away.

oVilla Rosa BOUTiQUE HOTEl $$$
(map p 146 ; %221 5556; http://www.villarosa-kandy.com;
Asigiriya; s US$90-150, d US$160-240; W) Dotted

with antiques, and with stunning views over

a secluded arc of the Mahaweli Ganga, Villa

Rosa is the kind of place you’d build if you

moved to Sri Lanka (and had deep pock-

ets!). Spacious wooden-floored rooms in

cool, neutral tones share the limelight with

relaxing lounges and a what-do-I-read-next

reading room. A separate pavilion houses

yoga and meditation centres.

The Elephant Stables BOUTiQUE HOTEl $$$

(map p 159 ; %743 3201; http://www.elephantstables.com;

46 Nittawela Rd; r incl breakfast US$250; aWs)

This colonial-era villa has been lovingly con-

verted into a beautiful boutique hotel, with

excellent service, earthy tones, polished con-

crete and gnarled wood. Two of the rooms

have balconies overlooking a rather inviting

pool and the not-so-distant mountains.

True to its name elephants used to be

stabled up here and staff can arrange for an

elephant to come trumpeting past.

Queens Hotel HiSTORiC HOTEl $$$

(map p 146 ; %223 3026; queenshotel1938@

gmail.com; Dalada vidiya; s/d incl breakfast from

US$139/145; aWs) Ambience and location

are the key reasons for checking in here.

While other Asian colonial hotel landmarks

have been gussied up, the Queens Hotel

hangs in there with an array of old-school

rooms with charming floral decor, sharply

polished floorboards and a lobby that’s big

enough for a one-day cricket match.

It’s only a short walk from the Temple

of the Sacred Tooth Relic (p 145 ) and Roy-

al Palace Park (map p 146 ; admission Rs 100;

h8.30am-4.30pm) and it’s the place to be

during the Kandy Esala Perahera. Try and

get a room away from the noisy road though.

Amaara Sky Hotel BOUTiQUE HOTEl $$$

(map p 159 ; %223 9888; http://www.amaarasky.com;

72/22 AB Damunupola mawatha; s/d incl breakfast

US$140/150; aW) Flash new boutique hotel

atop the hills of Kandy. The rooms are prob-

ably the largest in town and while there’s

little that can be faulted about the place, it

is rather business-hotel sterile with little Sri

Lankan character.

Cinnamon Citadel RESORT $$$

(map p 146 ; %Colombo 223 4365; http://www.

cinnamonhotels.com; 124 Srimath Kuda Ratwatte

mawatha; s/d incl breakfast US$190/200; aWs)

Designer-chic rooms in chocolate tones and

grey slate incorporate a riverside location

with a breezy lobby and poolside bar at one

of Kandy’s nicest package-tour resorts. It’s