Travel / Lifestyle

Elephant Corridor a trend setter

by Gamini Warushamana

The Elephant Corridor hotel, the first Sri Lankan boutique hotel celebrated its fourth anniversary on March 1. The hotel which spans across 200 acres of jungle close to a lake, off the Dambulla-Sigiriya road captures the real spirit of the wilderness.

The land is a path-way for the elephants between the Sigiriya forest, Minneriya and the Kavudulla National parks. The whistling sounds of thousands of birds can be heard from the crack of dawn. The frequency of the rhythm of the music is broken by the sounds of peacocks which is a paradise for them.

This sound echoes throughout the day until the sun sets in the forest. A different rhythm including the trumpheting of elephants in close proximity can be heard at nightfall. The landscaping in the hotel garden is the untouched savana type dryzone forest and greens that are maintained in the hotel compound.

When you arrive at the entrance of the hotel premises, half a mile away from the hotel lobby, the Elephant Corridor staff welcomes you in their unique style. Vehicles are not permitted along the earthen narrow roads in the hotel area and one has to get down and travel in a buggy provided by the hotel.

The picturesque Sigiriya rock, the 8th Wonder of the world fascinates you as you enter the lobby. The wilderness together with five star luxury facilities creates a niche for high spending tourists. The hotel consists of 21 luxury suites.

There are two wings named Upuladevi and Mugalan as a tribute to the sister and brother of King Kasyapa who was the architect of Sigiriya in the fifth century AD. There are 10 suites in each wing in addition to the President's Villa, the isolated suite with many facilities that ensures your privacy without secluding you from the wilderness.

The Romantic Suite has been specially designed for honeymooners providing privacy and freedom including an indoor plunge pool.

Each suite has a private plunge pool, garden, dressing area, four poster bed, day bed, TV and DVD. The airconditioned rooms give you added comfort. Dining at the Elephant Corridor too has diversity.

You can choose the air-conditioned "Ambrosia" restaurant upstairs at the lobby facing the jungle range to the horizon and picturesque scenery of Sigiriya on one side and the Kandalama mountain range on the other. Ensuit dining or wilderness dining at the "Ebony and Ivory" jungle bar in the wood close to the swimming pool are the other options.

The Elephant Corridor Hotel is one of the pioneers that changed the tourism industry in Sri Lanka from a cheap tourist destination to a high end eco tourism, said the General Manager of the hotel P.N.P Wijenayake.

The chairman of the hotel and a well known hotelier in Sri Lanka Prasanna Jayawardena introduced the concept. Jayawardena has a wealth of experience in the hotel industry having worked in over 10 countries in 40 years.

The Elephant Corridor was a trailblazer and as a result many boutique hotels have come up. The general ups and downs in the tourism industry hardly affect the hotel as it mainly targets the UK market through reputed travel agents. Wijenayake said that the normal occupancy rate of the hotel is over 50%.

The hotel carries out various programs regularly together with the community of the surrounding villages and the Forest and the Wildlife Departments to protect nature. It is not a CSR program and if there are no trees and animals we have no business, Wijenayake said.

More than 50% of the staff has been with the hotel since its inception and are still working with us, Wijenayake said. Each one has been given a responsibility and he knows what has to be done and is the manager of that task. They have career prospects and I am the ideal example, Wijenayake said.

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Lanka safe, say UK couple

Bvuce Middleditch and Sue Middleditch, a couple from England are now holidaying at the Elephant Corridor. Bvuce is a retired police officer while Sue is still a police officer.

They will be in Sri Lanka for three weeks and have decided to stay for one week at the Elephant Corridor. This is their second trip to Sri Lanka since their first visit 14 years ago.

As the adverse publicity on the security situation in Sri Lanka has become a main barrier to the tourism industry some European countries have issued travel warnings, I inquired from them as to why they decided to visit Sri Lanka. Sue's reply was, "Normally once a year we travel to India, Maldives or Africa.

This year we were keen on visiting Sri Lanka and did not have any fear, because our travel agents did not warn us. Travel agents do not recommend risky destinations.

We knew that there is a problem in some parts of the island but not in the places we were planning to visit", she said. "On the other hand there are risks everywhere, even in London, after the 7/7 terrorist attack we live in fear.

There are problems in Bali, India or any other tourist destination and as travellers we face risks even when flying. We did not have any fear to visit Sri Lanka and we were looking forward to come here, Bvuce said. They can recommend Sri Lanka as a safe tourist destination.

They commended the tranquillity of the Elephant Corridor hotel.

On the second day they had decided to have their lunch under a thick jungle shade in front of the hotel close to the lake.

"We visited nearby national parks, historical sites, climbed Sigiriya thrice and enjoyed every moment of it, Sue said.

Sue said that she has everything in this jungle hotel. The hotel is fantastic and the staff is wonderful. They serve us special Sri Lankan meals.

The room is arranged daily with beautiful flower decorations.

The environment, the view and other luxury facilities are excellent, she said. We were tired with the noisy and busy city life in London. After staying here for a few days all our stress vanished, Bvuce added.