Heritance Ahungalla Hotel in Sri Lanka

Welcome to a beach hotel where style and substance mix like a classic cocktail. Just as the turquoise infinity pool seems to blend into the ultramarine Indian Ocean, so our award-winning cuisine fuses the best of east and west. Your perfect day might combine soaking up the sun on our pristine beach with a river safari among virgin mangroves on the Madu Ganga. Welcome to Heritance Ahungalla, where we weave a little magic into your holiday memories.

Geoffrey Bawa

Heritance Ahungalla was built by Sri Lanka’s greatest architect, Geoffrey Bawa. He began his career as an architect at the late age of 37 (he originally trained as a lawyer in England). However, in a career that continued for nearly 40 years, he came to be regarded as the most prolific and respected architect Sri Lanka has ever produced.

Bawa was a genius at blending buildings with their natural environment, interconnecting outside spaces with the inside. As the Geoffrey Bawa Trust puts it:

“Bawa’s work is characterised by a sensitivity to site and context. He produced ‘sustainable architecture’ long before the term was coined, and had developed his own ‘regional modernist’ stance well in advance of the theoreticians. His designs broke down the barriers between inside and outside, between interior design and landscape architecture and reduced buildings to a series of scenographically conceived spaces separated by courtyards and gardens.”

At Heritance Ahungalla (previously known as the Triton Hotel), the natural environment is never far away. The polished open plan lobby seems to float between two pools of water, with the sea beyond, so as you approach the hotel you look straight through it without really seeing it. “If the world were flat, you would be able to see Africa,” Bawa himself observed.

The style of the hotel harks back to that of a traditional resthouse, with two wings under overhanging roofs. But tucked between the stairs and corridors are unexpected internal courtyards of greenery, again open to the elements.

Decoration is minimal – a giant white plaster pun kalas relief (clay pot of young coconut flowers) in the lobby, or jungle creepers painted by local artist Laki Senanayake snaking down a wall.

Bawa’s buildings are not just bricks and mortar, but the expression of intangible emotions. Heritance Ahungalla is the living embodiment of Geoffrey Bawa’s architectural vision.

His best known works are Lunuganga (his own garden in Bentota that he designed over a 40-year period), the Parliament of Sri Lanka and the Madurai Club in India. He also designed three of the Heritance Hotels – as well as Heritance Kandalama, he was the architect of Heritance Ahungalla and Heritance Ayurveda Maha Gedara.

facilities

Heritance Ahungalla is a wonderful place to relax and recharge your batteries, with two superb swimming pools as well as the beach. And if you want to feel even better or more beautiful, our Diviyan Spa is ready to provide some professional pampering.

If you prefer something a bit more active, you can hire a bike or sweat it out in the gym. Or give your credit card a workout in our shops, where the finest Sri Lankan gems and handicrafts twinkle enticingly.

We are a popular conference venue and provide free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel as well as two computer terminals with high-speed broadband connection in the library.

And of course we provide all the everyday services you might need, such as currency exchange, postal service and taxis. Just ask at reception – we’ll be happy to help.

Some facilities may not be available in bad weather. Use of all facilities is at your own risk.

Location

Heritance Ahungalla is on Sri Lanka’s southwest coast, just south of Bentota and 76km from Colombo. It takes 2.5 hours to drive from Colombo and 3.5 hours from the international airport.

We are happy to arrange pick-up at the airport for $110. We can also provide a taxi service for local excursions – please ask at reception.

Destination	Distance	Time
Colombo	76km	2.5 hours
Nearest town(Ambalangoda)	9km	25 minutes
Bus station	100m	5 minutes(walk)
Train station	200m	10 minutes(walk)
International airport	115km	3.5 hours
Church	3km	10 minutes
Temple	400m	15 minutes(walk)
Hospital (Balapitiya)	6km	15 minutes
Pharmacy	150m	10 minutes

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Source :- View the Official site here

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A Tourist’s Paradise - Sri Lanka

One of the top performing industries in Sri Lanka is tourism. Most of the travelers visiting the country come from Great Britain, Australia, Canada, United States and India. To make the most of the trip, one has to see the top ten tourist spots in Sri Lanka.

Dambulla Cave Temple:

The Dambulla Cave Temple abreast Colombo and Kandy is the best preserved and best temple in the country. It is of stone and the caves are built inside a huge overhanging rock. Inside the caves, tourists can buy paintings and statues. The main attractions are the Cave of the Great Kings, the Cave of the Divine King and the Great New Monastery. 

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Polonnaruwa:

Polonnaruwa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  A must see locations are the Lankatilaka Temple, the Royal Palace and the Thuparama. Retail shops, restaurants and hotels are fast growing in this small city. 

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Anuradhapura:

One of the traditional cities in the country, Anuradhapura is known for its best preserved ruins. The place is just 206 km away from Colombo. The popular spots here are the Brazen Palace, the Sacred Bo-Tree and therefore the Nuwara Lake.

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Sigiriya:

Sigiriya is of the most beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the country, located at the heart of the district of Matale. The attractions include the Gardens of Sigriya, the Sigriya Rock & the Mirror Wall.

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Sacred City of Kandy:

The Sacred City of Kandy is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Temple of the Tooth, the Royal Palace of Kandy and the Kandy Lake are the major tourist attractions.  

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Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage:

The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is in Kegalle. In 2008, eighty four elephants lived here at this orphanage. It is open to public place daily. One can also watch the elephants bathing and eating and this is an enjoyable watch, especially with the kids.


View BIA to Dambulla in a larger map

Hikkaduwa National Park:

The Hikkaduwa National Park is a wildlife altar at the southern part of the country. The abode is accepted for its cute apricot reefs. The abode  is home to some baptized breeds including sea worms, prawns and black tip beach shark.

Knuckles Mountain Range:

Knuckles Mountain Range begins at the northeast ancillary of Kandy. It is home to assorted flora and fauna. One can try their hands at hiking, bedrock aggressive and cycling.

Yala National Park:

The Yala National Park is close to Colombo. The Sri Lankan Elephant, the grizzled large squirrel and also the Indian Pangolin are the most famous sightings. Apart from these, Grey-headed Fish Eagle and Estuarine crocodiles are also popular.

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Kumana National Park:

The Kumana National Park is found in the eastern part of the country. The nearest city to the park is Hambantota. The park is home to different wildlife species like the Pacific Golden Plover, the Common Sandpiper and the Wild Boar. Other species at the park include the European Otter and the Fishing Cat.

Sri Lanka is a beautiful country with some breathtaking landscapes and attractions. And the best way to experience the beauty of the place is to opt for the different day trip destinations. 

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Author Bio: John Anderson is an ardent outdoor enthusiast who has a special interest in fishing adventures. He is from the land of the Down Under and has travelled almost all the wonderful places in the country and other part of the world in search of some great times and experiences. He is also a proficient author of several outdoor articles on travel with a bias towards boating and fishing.

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Mihintale Temple

mihintaleThe  sacred  mountain  of  Mihintale  lies  just  12  kilometres  away  from Anuradhapura and is the site where Buddhism was first introduced to Sri Lanka.    Mihintale  in  the  Pali  language  means  simply ‘Mahinda’s  Peak’, denoting  the  location  where  Ven.  Mahinda  first  met  King  Devanampiya Tissa  in  247  BCE  before  converting  him  and  his  followers  to  Buddhism.  Part of a mountain range 300 metres high, it is now a sacred site for pilgrims with many stupas and other places of religious and historical significance.

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Poson Festival In Sri Lanka

Poson full-moon poya day (Poson Poya Day/Poson Festival) is celebrated the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BC, a festival of great historical and religious significance celebrated island-wide by Buddhists. Poson, held on the full moon day of June, commemorates the occasion over 2,000 years ago when Arahat Mahinda, son of Emperor Asoka of India, converted King Devanampiyatissa to Buddhism. The main center of celebration is Mihintale, the ancient monastic complex where the royal missionary monk Mahinda perched the first sermon to the ruling king and at Anuradhapura the ancient capital, to which large crowd of pilgrims converge. Mass religious observances, illuminations pageants are part of the celebrations.

For Buddhists, this hallowed day of Poson is second only to Vesak in terms of importance. Although Poson is celebrated throughout the island, the major ceremonies are to be found in Anuradhapura and Mihintale. Long lines of devotees dressed in white climb the many steps to the top of the Mihintale hill first to the temple, and then to the dagobas that lie adorn the nearby hillocks. In addition, many devotees climb to the very top of the rock, to the spot where Arahat Mahinda delivered his initial discourses.

Poson Poya is celebrated annually with great fervour throughout the island but particularly in Mihinthalaya where Mahinda Thero first put his foot to preach the word of Lord Buddha.This is why Mihinthalaya is called the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. With the establishment of Bhikku Sasanaya all other elements of a civilized society began to emerge with the art of writing,art, architecture, river civilization, religious rituals in song and dance forms, literature, all with royal patronage.

Many religious activities are organized during this poson period in Sri Lanka such as Sil campaigns,Bodhi Poojas,Dansalas(Freely giving foods, coffee, tea from people ), Poson devotional songs, Poson pandols( thoran) and lanterns. Lot of Poson pandols and Poson Lanterns are making Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka.

In Poson many temples are filled with Atasil devotees and pilgrims all over Sri Lanka to mark this great event. The devout, clad in pure white with no make-up or jewelry,make their way to the temple,to spend the next twenty four hours in quiet contemplation. While the rest of the village, gather at the temple grounds after sunset to participate in lesser religious activities, like reading of holy books, or listen to the saffron clad monk relate ancient stories from Lord Buddha's previous lives. During the Poson Festival, the selling of alcohol and flesh is usually prohibited, with abattoirs also being closed.

A festival of great piety and sanctity which focuses on the virtual of compassion to all living creature,it is also one of much colour and gaiety, with street, homes and public places decorated with beautiful and finely decorated hand-made paper lanterns small and big and glittering with illuminations, pandals depicting the different occurrences in the life of the Buddha or his previous births.

Source :- View the Official site here

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