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

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Amaya Hills AYURvEDA
(map p 159 ; %447 4022; http://www.amayaresorts.com;
Heerassagala; facial from Rs 2500, oil massage &
steam bath Rs 6000) Outside Kandy and the
nicest Ayurveda centre in the area is the
colourful ambience of the treatment centre
at Amaya Hills. Also a resort, Amaya Hills
is high in the hills on a winding road. A
three-wheeler from Kandy costs around Rs
1000 return. Make a day of it, have lunch and
spend a few hours around the stunning pool.

Victoria Golf & Country Resort gOlF
(%237 6376; http://www.golfsrilanka.com; green fees
US$70, caddy per round Rs 650) This resort is lo-
cated 20km east of Kandy and is surround-
ed on three sides by the Victoria Reservoir,
with the Knuckles Range as a backdrop. It’s
worth coming here for lunch at the club-
house and to savour the views. Claimed to
be the best golf course in the subcontinent,
it’s a fairly challenging 18 holes.

Joy Motorboat Service BOATiNg
(map p 146 ; 20min Rs 2000; h9am-6pm) Put on
an eye patch and set sail like a pirate into
the great blue...lake. Little puttering boats
can be hired from this place on the jetty at
the western end of the lake.

Sri Lanka Trekking HiKiNg
(map p 146 ; %075 799 7667, 071 499 7666; http://www.
srilankatrekking.com; Expeditor guest House, 41
Saranankara Rd) Sumone Bandara and Ravi
Kandy can arrange trekking around Kandy,
and camping and trekking (and birdwatch-
ing) expeditions to the rugged Knuckles
Range. They can also arrange mountain-bik-
ing and rafting trips in other parts of the
Hill Country. For a standard overnight trek
in the Knuckles expect to pay €69. The
per-person price decreases with group size.

4 Sleeping

Kandy has many good guesthouses, and the
more comfortable hotels often occupy spec-
tacular hilltop locations. There’s an increasing
range of smaller, boutique-style accommo-
dation within around 45 minutes’ drive of
Kandy. These places enjoy quiet locations, but
you will need your own transport.
At the time of the Kandy Esala Perahera,
room prices can treble or quadruple, and
usually book out in advance. Booking far
ahead may secure you a better deal.
The highest concentration of accommo-
dation is along or just off Anagarika Dhar-

mapala Mawatha and Saranankara Rd;

buses 654, 655 and 698 will get you there

(or just ask for ‘Sanghamitta Mawatha’ at

the clock-tower bus stop).

At the time of research a monstrous

100-plus room, seven-storey hotel (which is

against local building regulations that only

allow for four storeys) was going up on Sa-

ranankara Rd and blocking the views of

many a guesthouse. Rumour has it that it’s

owned by a friend of the president’s family.

Most places have in-house restaurants.

Hotel Mango Garden g UESTHOUSE $

(map p 146 ; %223 5135; http://www.mangogarden.lk; 3 2 /A

Saranankara Rd; r Rs 3000-3500, with shared bath-

room Rs 2500; aW) Manager Malik and his

French wife run a tight ship here. Rooms are

plain but spacious with pristine bedding. The

bathrooms let the side down a bit but it’s a

minor quibble. There’s a lovely wooden ter-

race restaurant for end-of-day drinks and ex-

cellent meals (open to all).

The Mango Garden can arrange car hire

and local tours.

Day’s Inn g UESTHOUSE $

(map p 146 ; %224 1124; http://www.daysinn-kandy.com;

66A Rajapihilla mawatha; r US$31; aW) Staying

at this intimate six-room guesthouse is a

pleasure. It’s bursting with pictures, colour

and decorations and has a warm homely

feel. However, if you want a lie-in avoid the

rooms close to the dining area, which can

get noisy at breakfast time.

St Bridget’s

Country Bungalow HOmESTAY $

(map p 146 ; %221 5806; http://www.stbridgets-kandy.

com; 125 Sri Sumangala mawatha, Asgiriya; r from

Rs 2700; i) Hemmed in by jungly forest

filled with birds, this gorgeous family house

has rather plain rooms, a very warm wel-

come, superb home-cooking (dinner Rs 700)

and a guestbook full of happy comments.

It’s a 20-minute uphill walk from town or Rs

200 in a three-wheeler.

Expeditor Guest House g UESTHOUSE $

(map p 146 ; %490 1628, 223 8316; http://www.expeditor

kandy.com; 41 Saranankara Rd; r Rs 2000-5000;

aW) Lots of potted plants, balconies with

views, a warm welcome, spotless rooms and

the opportunity to share the living areas

with the guesthouse owners give Expeditor

a cosy bed-and-breakfast feel. The owners

offer fantastic treks in the Knuckles Moun-

tains and can provide good advice.