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| Sunday, 3 July 2005 |
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Editorial
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Travel & Tourism
Richmond Castle-a day care centre todayby Hiran H. Senewiratne Richmond Castle, once a plush mansion surrounded by a beautiful flower garden owned by one of the richest persons in the Kalutara district has been converted into a day care centre.
This mansion of historic value is over 100 years old and one of the few largest remaining mansions in the country, apart from the Maduwanwela Disawe's Walawwa in the Ratnapura district. The mansion on 42 acres of land is close to the Kalu Ganga. One has to travel nearly 47-kilometres from Colombo to reach this castle, which is at Palathota along the Tudugala road. The flamboyant Castle depicts a delightful legacy of a bygone era of the British Colonial period. It was entrusted to the Public Trustee of Sri Lanka in 1947 by its proprietor Mudliyar Padikara Mudalindu Nanayakkara Rajawasala Appuhamilage Don Arthur de Silva Wijayasinghe Siriwardena. The interior of this mansion has been designed like a winter house in a Western country. Mudliyar Siriwardena had built the castle to resemble a Palace in India, belonging to a Maharajah at that time. The mansion is complete with a stable, servants' quarters, guard rooms, dancing floor and all requirements for a luxury life. The mansion has a splendid dancing floor, which has a natural air conditioning system. According to the caretaker, this is a unique system. Under this system air is being pumped to the dancing floor straight from the Kalu Ganga through underground tubes. It also has a good sewerage system. Burma Teak pillars, Italian and Scotland glass windows and mirrors and shiploads of timber from England were imported to build this magnificient edifice. Kandyan era wood carvings on pillars especially in the dancing floor depict the combination of Eastern and Western cultures at this beautiful palace. Richmond Castle has 99 door frames, 38 windows and one roof covering the entire mansion.It is said that Mudliyar Siriwardena maintained this place as a flower garden,which was known as Richmond Park Estate. Anyone visiting the castle could also see their personal collection of old photographs taken by Plate which are over 100 years old. Mudliyar Siriwardena, the chief Mudliyar of the Kalutara district was in charge of 12 villages. He had 40 guards to protect him. Food a speciality at Pussellawa Rest House by Chanuka Mannapperuma Whenever I travelled to the hill country, specially to Nuwara Eliya known as little England, I have always looked for a place to have a "good meal" deviating from usual restaurant foods which are often cooked using much oil and sauce. The meals provided by the Pussellawa Rest House were most appealing to us as it mostly serves the traditional lunch and dinner. The Pussellawa Rest House in the calm and misty hills on the way to Nuwara Eliya has added much colour and value to the hotel chain of the Ceylon Hotels Corporation. It is about 40 Kms away from Peradeniya on the Gampola-Nuwara Eliya main Road. Most travellers stay there and take a rest and enjoy a good meal before leaving for the preferred holiday destination. "Most visitors arrive here for lunch as this is the best place to take a rest and have a good meal on the way to Nuwara Eliya," said its Manager S. Senathilake. The Rest House has four double family rooms with all facilities. However, the building was not originally constructed for a Rest House. It was the bungalow of the road development engineers' built as far back as 1837. Thereafter, it was converted into a coffee planters and tea planters bungalow. Finally, it was converted into a Rest House and made more attractive. Situated on two acres of bare land full of flowers, the rest house is surrounded by several mountains. "We have foreign visitors as well as domestic travellers," the manager said. Referring to the hotel's meal arrangements, he explained that they offer set menus and also buffets." We are ready to serve customers, their individual taste and requirements. If clients need various kinds of food we are always ready to cater to them." The rest house is in close proximity to the Ramboda Falls, Kotmale
reservoir and several exquisite tea estates. |
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