Kandy raises the bar with the Golden Crown
Carved into the Kandyan heritage artistry and design, the US$15 million investment into a five star property in Ampitiya is set to add to the competition in the hills and with a view to ring in the night life in future for travellers.
Kandy will be getting a five star hotel opening next month, the Golden Crown designed by architect Dr. Upendra Rajapakse and owned by its Chairman Sriyananda Wijekoon, the hotel’s Managing Director Chanuka Wijekoon said at a media briefing held in Colombo on Tuesday.
The family-owned venture is within two km from the Kandy city centre and comprises 90 rooms including 72 Deluxe rooms, 10 Junior suites, six Premium Suites, a Crown suite and a Presidential Suite complete with a private elevator for both the Presidential and Crown Suites; and a helipad for the convenience of travellers to arrive at their destination.
It would also have an infinity pool on the second floor; three banquet halls that would have a combined capacity of over 2000 persons and 36,000 different shades of fully animated lighting systems to match any theme or colour. A fitness, sauna and spa would also be made available in addition to a gymnasium as well.
Taking charge of operations would be tourism veteran, General Manager Roshan Fernando who explained that they would be marketing the rooms for US$150 per night on bed and breakfast and believed that they were capable of working with the competition in Kandy.
The hotel would also serve at The Brix, one of the restaurants, local, South Asian and international cuisines for breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets; The Long Bar with an Irish pub atmosphere; and the Treats coffee shop and the Lavo catering to 175 persons on the upper floor as a chic night time venue.
Mr. Wijekoon pointed out that they had employed artisans to carry out the intricate Kandyan carvings that grace the doors to some of the banquet halls and ceilings.
He explained that in this respect the hotel was a unique concept for Kandy which took nearly two and a half years to build and is set for completion by the end of this year.
The hotel has a key feature at the entrance which is a 45 metre length fountain, and each guest is welcomed with the blowing of conch shells and the beating of drums.
With fully animated ceilings to match any theme that the guest desires the hotel has complex ceiling designs as well.
They would also be looking at attracting increased numbers of travellers to the night life that is largely lacking in Kandy by establishing a club for locals and encouraging more entertainment after night fall, Mr. Wijekoon explained.