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CINNAMON LODGE, HABARANA
Cinnamon Lodge in Habarana has just reopened after a complete
refurbishment, Situated in Habarana, about 4 hours drive from Colombo,
in the heart of the Cultural Triangle, Cinnamon Lodge, which belongs to
3 of the more exclusive Cinnamon properties of the John Keells hotel
group, is ideally sited for visits to the world heritage sites and
ancient cities of the Cultural Triangle; Sigiriya, Dambulla,
Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa all of which are under 2 hours driving
distance, and not least the little known, waiting to be discovered 2000
year old Ritigala Monastry. These have all inspired the unique
architectural concept of the Lodge.
What makes the setting of the Lodge different is that accommodation is
in dispersed chalets surrounded by lakes and woodland. All guests get
their own cottage. The chalets are inspired by the architecture of the
ancient monastries at Ritigala with their long walkways and paths ideal
for meditation and reflection.
Beautifully laid out over some twenty five acres of tranquil and
picturesque woodland around a beautiful man-made lake, taking just the
bare minimum away from the natural landscape, the Lodge blends into
nature have been inseparable right from the beginning
The large gardens are filled with gigantic tropical trees and tranquil
waterways all providing home to a variety of birds, grey monkeys and
rock squirrels. The layout of the hotel is similar to the ancient cities
of the Cultural Triangle especially the nearby “undiscovered” 2000
Ritigale, where individual abodes and central public areas, are
connected by meandering pathways, are set amidst tranquil surroundings
with the greatest respect to nature.
At Cinnamon Lodge the individual abodes are in the form of luxurious
two-storey chalets with verandahs and balconies.
These enable guests to enjoy a maximum of privacy at
their own pace.
Accommodation:
The newly-refurbished two-storey chalets follow the traditional
architectural style with columns and verandahs, cooling terracotta
floors and clay tiles on the roof. Accommodation comes in the form of
superior rooms, deluxe rooms and suites. The spacious and comfortable
rooms have ensuite bathrooms and a verandah or balcony overlooking the
lake or garden. The room interiors follow a traditional colour palate of
ochre, saffron and olive green with antique bed heads, couches and
planter's chairs. The beds are dressed in luxurious linen with your
choice of pillows to be selected from the pillow menu. Other facilities
include individually controlled air conditioning, telephone with
international dialing facilities, mini bar, Television, satellite TV
channels, internet facilities, coffee/tea making facilities, and
electronic safe.
Superior
Rooms:
The 72 superior rooms are
situated on the ground floor or first floor of some of the chalets
scattered throughout the gardens. The layout consists of a bedroom,
living room and ensuite bathroom with large shower area with hot and
cold water.
Deluxe
Rooms:
The
40 deluxe rooms are located on the ground floor or first floor of some
of the chalets that overlook the picturesque gardens. The layout
consists of a bedroom, living room and stylish bathroom with bathtub and
separate shower area. In-room Spa treatments and a Butler service are
available upon request.
The deluxe rooms shown
here are Nos 28 and Nos 29, which our directors stayed at during an
extended hotel inspection visit.
Suite Rooms: This newly created accommodation, occupies and entire
chalet with the master bedroom upstairs and a second bedroom on the
ground floor. The Suites also have an exquisite lounge and dinging area
with marvelous views of the gardens, and the serene lake beyond. The
luxurious furniture, hardwood floors, and interiors adorned with rare
antique ornaments and wood carvings, makes for a cozy home away from
home. The ensuite bathrooms have `his' and `hers' vanities, bathtub and
separate shower area.
Facilities:
Dining at Cinnamon Lodge
is at your convenience. Dine in your own chalet, in the garden under a
Mango tree, or by the lake under the stars. For those wanting a more
formal setting, there is the Ahala open air restaurant on the mezzanine
floor of the central area, overlooking the pool and surrounded by
Frangipani trees. The restaurant serves international cuisine and has an
a la carte and set menu, themed dinging, and also arranges BBQs in the
gardens. The Lotus restaurant, overlooking the pool and the fish pond,
is a signature restaurant offering booth indoor and outdoor seating and
a selection of locally inspired traditional Sri Lankan dishes. The
Tuskers Bar, the double storied main hotel bar, has a cozy upstair
lounge where guests can indulge in the legendary Cinnamon tea collection
prepared in style, specialty coffees, an aperitif, or a cigar from the
exclusive cigar collection. The Tuskers Bar has a library filled with
titles on Sri Lankan heritage and wildlife. Other hotel facilities
include a large swimming pool, table tennis, Badminton, a business
centre with secretarial and computer facilities, and medical & emergency
assistance. An Ayurveda wellness centre is located amidst an extensive
herbal and medicinal garden, and offers a wide menu of therapies
including traditional massages, baths, and scrubs using herbal oils. An
experienced Ayurveda Physician is at hand at all times at the centre.
Excursions: The natural surroundings are home
to over 138 species of birds. The in-house Naturalist is always at hand
to take guests on bird watching excursions, guided walks, nature trails,
and provide information on the surrounding fauna and flora. Other
adventurous activities include Elephant safaris, and picnic excursions
in the surrounding nature reserves. Beyond the village of Habarana, the
entire Cultural Triangle lies in close proximity including the ancient
cities of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Dambulla and Sigiriya. The
Minneriya National Park, which is a mix of dry evergreen forest, scrub
jungle and grassy plains and is dominated by the Minneriya Tank, is also
located near by. Large groups of elephants, sambar deer and toque
monkeys are regularly seen here, as well as plenty of bird life.
In accordance with
our "Visit and Inspect Before Recomanding Policy" Habarana Lodge was
visited by the Director of our London Office on 31 March 07;
Shailesh Adalja whose party stayed in
Delux Rooms
Nos 28 (lower floor) and no 29
(upper floor) in a 2 storey chalet.
All the images used on this page are from his visit, so you can see
The Lodge exactly as another visitor would see this property.
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