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| Sunday, 7 April 2002 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Mahaweli Reach - the first 5-star in Kandy by Bevereley Jansz
The soft opening of Mahaweli Reach Hotel on August 3, 1994, heralded the start of a pragmatic journey for Kandy's first five star property. The history of Mahaweli Reach Hotel maps out the foresight of an innovative individual, the late John Atul Panabokke, who made goodbye to a fruitful tea planter's carer in 1972 at the age of 44, to realise his cherished vision of creating Kandy's finest hotel. Utilising a modest capital, Panabokke's specious home set in 4 - 1/2 acres of garden on the scenic sweep of the Mahaweli river, five kms. from Kandy, opened its doors in 1973 as an 'A' grade tourist guest house comprising just four rooms and six staff. In 1976, Mahaweli Reach was upgraded to a hotel consisting of 23 rooms and by 1982, grew into an establishment of 50 rooms, constantly used by a host of tour operators of Sri Lanka. By 1996, with 115 rooms operational inclusive of two Presidential suites, the journey for Mahaweli Reach to become Kandy's first five star hotel began. Within a short span of two years, on October 29, 2000, Panabokke's dream became a reality when Mahaweli Reach received the 5-start classification and became Kandy's first 5-star hotel, offering 115 luxurious air conditioned rooms which includes two magnificent suites. All rooms open out to the mighty Mahaweli river. The hotel stands on a lush tropical garden of 4-1/2 acres, adorned by a beautiful free-forming swimming pool.
Current facilitates Mahaweli Reach include tennis, table tennis, billiard-indoor games, exciting river cruises on the Mahaweli river, picnics, fishing, cultural shows, theme nights offering guests delicious cuisine, BBQ's and special buffets on request, together with in-house satellite movie channels, an Ayurvedic health centre for herbal treatment and a fully equipped laundry. The Squash Court and Beauty Salon are to be opened shortly. The hotel offers special rates for Sri Lankans. It can accommodate over 300 guests for conferences and conventions. The Turf take-away and snack outlet for guests in and around Kandy is open on Fridays and Saturdays offering delicious Kotthu, string hoppers and hoppers. Golf packages for the Sri Lanka's famous Victoria Gold Links at Digana, Kandy include free transport for over 20 guests, free shuttle to Golf Links on special 'Green Free' rates, canoeing on the Mahaweli river and hikes to 'Knuckles Range, Kandy. One of the main attractions at Mahaweli Reach is its classic display of Vintage vehicles. Guests could have a city tour of Kandy or a drive to the Victoria Golf Links in one of the Vintage vehicles. Mahaweli Reach prides itself of being a hotel that caters to individual
needs and personalised services. It is a 'home away from home' in star
comfort, at Katugastota, Kandy. Confifi horse riding in Beruwela
In addition to many recreation and sports facilities available within the Riverina and Club Palm Garden hotels, horse riding has become a popular sport amongst European guests and Sri Lankans, and expatriate visitors. Stables have been put up at the Riverina hotel and four Australian top pedigree horses have been brought down for leisure riding. These horses are well trained and tamed and are extremely human friendly. Amongst the domestic clientele, the kids have taken a great delight in taking a horse back ride along the beach or with in the hotel premises. Each horse has a groomer who will assist every guest to settle on the horse back and the riding centre at Riverina Hotel is well equipped to meet the required International standards, Udawatte said. Horse back riding is a popular sport in Europe and the Confifi Group Hotels are proud to announce that so far this facility is only available in their hotels in Beruwala. It is open for all and any body could book a ride at Riverina Hotel in Beruwala. In addition to Riverina Hotel and Club Palm Garden the group also manages Eden Resort & Spa, Confifi Beach Hotel in Beruwala. Club Horizon, Koggala and Auarius Sports Resort in Marawila. (BJ) |
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News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
Confifi group has introduced for the first time in Sri Lanka, horse
riding on the Beruwala beach. This is another first by Confifi Group
Hotels offering its clientele a difference in hospitality. The holiday
makers always want to experience something different and clients
appreciate such innovative ideas said the General Manager Sales, Confifi
Group Anil Udawatte.
