Nawalakanda Holiday Bungalow: A dream location

by Beverley Jansz

Nawalakanda Holiday Bungalow at Elpitiya, managed by Athukorale Group (Pvt) Ltd, is a dream location for a perfect vacation.

The Sri Lanka leisure travellers are increasing daily. They now go for non-traditional places. The colonial type Nawalakanda Holiday Bungalow is over 100 years old. The British type bungalow was occupied by British planter, Tedd North, who preferred low grown tea to the high grown.

The present owner of the bungalow and tea estate on which it stands, Athukorala Group has changed the entire design of the bungalow. It now has a modern touch and is opened to the Sri Lankan leisure sector. It has five extra-large bed rooms with attached toilets, in which nearly 16 visitors can be accommodated comfortably.

The manager of the Bungalow, Sumith Perera an experienced hotelier, said that the bungalow is given as one unit, and caters mainly to small families. It is ideal for honeymooners and weekend outings, he said.

It has a 'Summer Hut' which is meant for morning tea or for a relaxed evening drink. It also has a children's park and a ground ideal for daytime cricket matches.

The cuisine at the bungalow is another unique experience. It offers mainly Sri Lankan menu, but Western cuisine is also available.

Garden fresh vegetable grown at the bungalow are used for cooking. Daytime outings or excursions are arranged. Trekking to the nearby ancient temple, to tea estates or rubber jungle, bird watching, or picnic to a stream would be an ideal choice for a day out. A small gym is the other attraction at the bungalow, which is uncommon in any estate bungalow.

"We are also targeting the foreign groups coming to Hikkaduwa and the surrounding areas" Sumith said. The bungalow can be used for a lunch stopover for tour groups travelling to the deep south, he said. Nawalakanda Holiday Bungalow is only 16 Km away from Ambalangoda, three Kms away from Elpitiya, and three Kms from the Colombo - Matara new express highway now under construction.

Nawalakanda Holiday Bungalow is on web www.nawalakandabungalow.com. E-mail [email protected]. The bungalow is owned and managed by the Athukorale Group (Pvt) Ltd. Its Managing Director is Anura Athukorala.