|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 23 June 2002 |
 |
|
 |
Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Favourite haunt for honeymooners : Kitulgala Rest House - a holiday maker's dream by BEVERLEY JANSZ
Kitulgala Rest House surrounded by the scenic beauty of the misty mountains and the gigantic Kelani river is a dream come true for all discerning travellers be it a foreigner or Sri Lankan. It is an abundance of nature which takes your breath away and leaves lasting memories. Those who experience its splendour are always 'repeater' guests to the rest house. The climate and lustre of Kitulgala has made it a favourite destination for honeymooners and a dream come true for lovers. Kitulgala Rest House is popularly known as the 'spot' of the 'Bridge of the River Kwai' as the world acclaimed film was shot in the scenic surroundings of the rest house while the film producers and other cast patronised Kitulgala Rest House for their stay during the shooting of "Bridge on the River Kwai" the world acclaimed film, in Sri Lanka in 1956. The rest house was taken over by the Ceylon Hotels Corporation (CHC) in 1969, prior to which it was run by the Ceylon Tourist Board. When the CHC took over the rest house in 1969, it had only four rooms. Kitulgala now stands as a star class rest house with 20 deluxe rooms providing all modern facilities. It is one of the flagships of the Ceylon Hotels Corporation which owns and manages .... rest houses around the country.
The rest house has a spacious restaurant with a resplendent interior decor. The delicious Sri Lankan cuisine offered to guests on Saturday and Sunday as a wide spread lunch buffet is very popular not only among in-house guests but other travellers using the Colombo-Hatton highway. The a la-carte menu and Sri Lankan rice and curry have also become very popular amongst guests. The rest house takes a carnival atmosphere on week ends with Sri Lankan families making it a popular 'family holiday spot'. White water rafting, canoeing and river bathing in the Kelani River adjacent to the rest house, is very popular amongst tourists, expatriates and Sri Lankans. Another popular tourist attraction at the rest house is the local boat rides (Oruwa) on the Kelani River. Over 50 species of birds have been identified in the vicinity and mountains bordering the rest house and therefore it has become a famous bird watching spot, for tourists. The scenic surroundings of the Kitulgala Rest House blends with the friendly, charming and affable staff, from the humble bell boy to the energetic Manager, Saman Alwis, who treats every guests be it a foreigner or Sri Lanka as a VIP during their stay at the rest house. Alwis is an experienced hotelier with ever 18 years experience in the hotel trade both here and abroad. Since versatile hotelier, Bodhi Ranasinghe was appointed the new Chairman of the Ceylon Hotels Corporation, there has been a marked improvement in services and up-grading of all properties managed by the CHC. Under the guidance of Bodhi Ranasinghe, Manager Sales and Marketing, Ceylon Hotels Corporation, Ranjith Balasuriya, another experienced hotelier, is working round the clock to convert all properties managed by the CHC, into star class rest houses, offering all modern facilities to the discerning traveller. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
