Rustic tranquillity
in lap of luxury
Dying to escape the routine and have a dream holiday? Well, we've
got lots of great surprises in our all-new travel competition where
you can win exciting weekends at some of the country's best hotels
and who knows even a trip abroad.
Just read the
article here and answer the questions given on the coupon before
posting it to:
Times Travel Quiz 3
C/o The Sunday Times,
P.O. Box 1136
Colombo.
The first three
correct entries drawn win three free weekends (one night's stay)
for three lucky couples at Sigiriya Village. Entries close on Wednesday,
June 12, 2002 and the winners' names will be published in The Sunday
Times Travel page of June 16.
Employees of
Wijeya Newspapers and Sigiriya Village and their families are not
eligible to take part in this quiz.
"Green
Globe is the global performance brand for sustainable Travel and
Tourism, demonstrating environmental, social and economic responsibility."
It has set standards based on Agenda 21 of the 1992 World Environmental
Summit at Rio and incorporated principles from the Montreal and
Kyoto Protocol.
1) A.P Ratnayake
91, Kandawatte Rd,
Nugegoda.
2) Mrs. Lester
Perera
58/2 Medawelikade Rd
Rajagiriya.
3) Ms. A. Dharmaraj
164/150, Galle Rd,
Soysapura
Moratuwa.
By Esther
Williams
The land belongs not only to us but also to
every living creature that first inhabited this area. We are only
enjoying the hospitality of their habitat. This explains the philosophy
adopted by Sigiriya Village Hotel, an exclusive jungle retreat and
also the fourth
in Asia to win the prestigious Green Globe Award.
Proximity to
the Sigiriya Rock, one of Sri Lanka's seven cultural heritage sites
and the Cultural Triangle, makes the hotel a wonderful getaway to
enjoy the glory of an ancient culture as well as the natural beauty
of the surrounding landscape. Having won the Green Globe, Sigiriya
Village is committed to the protection and conservation of the environment
as they meet certain prescribed standards as a provider of sustainable
tourism with care for nature, culture and society.
According to
the Hotel's General Manager, Nimal Sangakkara, they have been practising
eco-friendly tourism since their inception in 1980 and, therefore,
did not have to do much to obtain the award. "There are trees
on this premises that are older than the hotel itself, that can
be dated back to King Kasyappa's period. We have preserved them
along with the flora and fauna of the region." Therefore, in
planning and managing their hotel, they have taken active measures
to protect the land, forest, wildlife, culture and water resources.
The retreat
ideal for nature lovers, is spread over 32 acres of forest area
with the fascinating Lion Rock looming ahead. To complement the
rural setting, 126 elegantly designed earth-toned cottages are decorated
with themes that are symbolic of rustic village life and are grouped
into clusters, each with a different theme and colour scheme.
The Paddy Field
Cluster has cottages set around a mini rice field complete with
a barn, pond, rice storage bins, a tree hut where farmers look out
for elephants and a grinning scarecrow right in the centre. Guests
are occasionally treated to dishes made of tank fish and locally
grown vegetables that are served on lotus leaves by traditionally
clad women. To suit this theme, colours of the field are used in
the rooms with the lampshades looking like winnows.
In the Temple
Cluster, rooms are done in the warm colours of the Buddhist robes
and appliqué flowers that are used in worship, all of which
have been created by local craftsmen. In the quadrangle is a meditation
path lined with lotus plants leading up to a platform that is lit
at night with lamps.
The New Year
Cluster (Avurudu) features a Sri Lankan village recreated with family
rooms decorated in betel leaf design, drum-shaped tables, terracotta
pots as lamp shades and a kiribath design on the walls.
The River Side
Cluster (Ganga Addara) boasts a tranquil setting with the sound
of trickling water, crickets, bees and birds amidst the lotus ponds
pervading the air. The little sit-outs allow guests to have their
morning cuppa enjoying the unspoilt beauty of nature. It is not
uncommon to see water monitors creeping along the paths.
In the King's
Arbour, lush foliage has grown over the walls made of bricks and
clay, making it look like the remains of the 5th Century.
Creepers, flowers
and fruit done in appliqué and Sigiriya paintings done on
glass panels complement the decor of the room.
The Kingfisher
Cluster, named after the beautiful Sri Lankan bird, creates a scene
of the lake and the birds hovering above it, done in appliqué.
The area around this cluster has little ponds and streams that contain
brightly-coloured fish.
The hotel also
has an Ayurvedic centre with facilities for head and body massage
and herbal steam bath, and also the "Pancha Karma" (five
treatments) that promises to cleanse the body of all toxic elements.
Through this, the hotel intends to preserve traditional wisdom and
practices.
In addition,
vegetables, fruit and mushroom are grown organically in their farm,
says environmentalist Nilantha Herath. "Through this we ensure
healthy food and protection of eco-systems," he explains. Dried
leaves are collected and put into a compost pit to be later used
as manure. The farm also has cows, pigs, goats and poultry for the
hotel's requirements. They even breed their own tank fish. The surplus
is sold to the villagers during the weekends.
When you are
feeling energetic you can head into the jungle to look at the elephants
or follow the bird trails; to unwind you sit in the garden and listen
to the rich sounds of nature. You can actually see monkeys from
the dining area and exotic birds and geese. When you have nothing
better to do, you have the dramatic view of the Rock, a fortress
in the sky - all the better to contemplate life, the universe and
everything in it.
For children
it would be a 'back to nature trip' to draw their attention to the
fascinating interdependence of man, animals and nature.
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