Plus

Plus

Corridor of luxury nestling in the wilds
Lanka’s first boutique hotel enjoys full occupancy
By Aaysha Cader
It's like a little hamlet in the middle of the jungle; only that this hamlet has 21 luxury suites, there are no disturbances, and its limited number of occupants are offered ultra personalized service. Elephant Corridor, Sigiriya now completing its first year of operation is successfully wooing the wildlife enthusiast, the ardent safari-lover, or the traveller who wants to just hang out and relax, away from the cares of the world. When The Sunday Times visited last week, all suites were fully booked.

Built on sprawling unfenced land extending up to 200 acres, the hotel which opened last March was the first to offer designer lifestyle or the 'boutique hotel' concept in Sri Lanka.

The 200-acre land is also the crossing 'corridor' of many wild animals from Minneriya to Wasgamuwa. Situated in the hub of the cultural triangle, Elephant Corridor is within close proximity to most of Sri Lanka's historic monuments.

On either side of the route leading to the hotel, you will find dry zone shrubs, short trees and the occasional rock, reminiscent of those game tracks you see in the movies, only this place is probably a lot safer!

Visitors are driven from the car-park to the hotel (some distance away) in a 'buggy', a mini-car that operates entirely on battery and therefore does not emit environment-pollutants. A gentle breeze blows across the lobby area, and the first-time visitor can distinctly sense a very 'elephant-like' atmosphere, from the light fittings to the wood that adorns the tables.

Elephant Corridor comprises 21 luxury suites, sub categorised as deluxe, super deluxe, romantic and royal suites. Room rates for the deluxe suite begin at US$ 200, and the suites differ slightly according to space. They are housed in two separate wings, named Mugalan and Upula Devi, after the brother and sister of the famous king Kasyapa who made Sigiriya his capital. With the objective of entirely personalizing the service offered, the suites are not numbered, and the key tag to each room carries its occupant's name.

The suites are spacious, and come with a private plunge pool, home entertainment system (CD,VCD and DVD player) as well as access to worldwide TV networks, a mini-bar, binoculars to enjoy the breathtaking surroundings, and even an easel with papers and paints. There is extreme attention to detail- the spacious beds are draped in Egyptian cotton linen and boast allergy-free pillows. Each of the suites also has its own private garden, cordoned off with cadjan and equipped with outdoor table and chairs, in case you want to enjoy your meals outside.

The hotel offers meals of 'any sort, at any time, at any place. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, in between snacks are at your convenience. Most visitors have their meals delivered to their rooms, despite the facility of a spacious restaurant atop the lobby, that offers yet another great view of the surrounding landscape.

A little walk further from the 20 suites is the Presidential Villa that can accommodate 8 persons in super-luxury comfort. The villa is in two wings, and once again, equipped with separate plunge pools, in addition to a separate dining area. A little further down, away from the suites is the hotel's main pool, with the 'jungle bar' in the vicinity. The pool parlour is also a popular barbecue area, and the hotel offers private barbecues at any time, anywhere, 'even in the jungle'!

Elephant Corridor's 'Fables and Tales' bar is a relaxing area, combined with comfortable sofas and a little library stacked with books on Sri Lanka. Fancy a walk in the jungle? Bird watching? A stroll through real forest with a naturalist in tow, provides the wildlife fanatic with a bird watching oportunity perhaps even of catching a glimpse of wild elephants, spotted deer, wild boar and the jungle fowl. The hotel naturalist Gamini de Silva reveals that many of the British tourists recognize migrant birds that flock to the area.

Special care has been taken so as not to disturb the wildlife, flora and fauna of the area, and even the lush gardens leading to the suites have been 'nature-scaped' (not landscaped) with only indigenous plants.

The landscape surrounding the entire expanse of land is breathtaking- teak forests on one side, the Pothana tank and Kandalama hills on the other, not to mention the famous Sigiriya rock fortress visible from the lobby .

Among its many recreation activities, the hotel, in addition to a high-tech gymnasium, also offers elephant and horse rides around the pathway of the jungle, archery, cricket nets, a golf practice range and basketball court. There is also a special Ayurvedic Spa.

Elephant Corridor's General Manager S.Kumar Thambyah reveals that plans are also underway to begin organic farming, "so that visitors can choose what they want to have cooked for meals as well." The hotel has even seen royalty staying with them. The special Kurutu Gee style wall where visitors inscribe what they would usually do in a guest book, is ample evidence of the service enjoyed by its visitors.

Adds Mr Thambyah, "People who come to Elephant Corridor are looking for a real holiday experience, and we want to give them value for their money."

City hotel amidst ravages of war
Elephant Corridor, the first boutique style hotel in Sri Lanka was conceived and developed by Sanasuma Developments Ltd. The hotel is managed by Tropical Leisure Management Ltd.

Chairman of Sanasuma Developments (Pvt.) Ltd Prasanna W. Jayawardene says the company's next venture is to open up a city hotel in Jaffna, thus filling a long-standing need in the northern tip of the island. Jayawardene says this is an attempt to promote Jaffna as a tourist destination and for peace in the country.

Equipped with water, electricity and other communication facilities, the city inhabited uninterrupted for over a thousand years is rich not only in its cultural heritage --the people's positive approach and capacity to work are also plus points for setting up a hotel there, he feels.

As for the prospective clientele in Jaffna, Jayawardene says that they are looking at executives who travel to the city for business purposes, ambassadors, humanitarian and aid workers, as well as the normal traveller to Jaffna. Asked how promising Jaffna is as a tourist destination, Jayawardene compared it to Vietnam, (also once war-stricken but which attracts as many as 2 million tourist arrivals per annum); "Jaffna has the potential to become a tourist destination within a destination," he says, adding that tourism in the South can also be driven by enhancing tourism in the North. With inter-city bus as well air travel available, getting to Jaffna is not a hassle either, he adds.

The chairman of Sanasuma believes that there is a lot of untapped tourist potential in the country, and hopes to promote those areas too. Boutique hotels in the Matale hills, Pasikuda, and Padaviya, as well as in the established tourist destinations in Yala, Wilpattu and Uda Walawe are on the cards for the future.

Recognising Sri Lanka's tremendous potential in tourism, Sanasuma began work on a master plan that would facilitate tourism development in the country. The outcome was the conception of 'Designer Lifestyle' hotels better known as 'boutique hotels' which mainly cater to a select upmarket population and tourists.

"Occupancy rates have far exceeded expectations," says Sanasuma's Executive Director Susanne Filippin revealing that approximately 30% of the clientele are locals, with the larger part of foreign customers being British. In addition to Japanese, Singaporean and Chinese tourists, Elephant Corridor has had bookings from countries like Afghanistan and Vietnam as well.

A chance for rural youth
Among the many university, hotel school and management accountant graduates who are part of the Elephant Corridor Management Trainee Programme is Buddhika Bandara from Kibissa Village, who has worked his way up at Elephant Corridor displaying outstanding interest and ability.

Beginning as a National Apprentices Board Trainee, he is proof of the opportunities accorded to promising youth in the industry. Bandara hails from the nearby village and his knowledge of local conditions will no doubt help him assist with the community development programmes initiated by the hotel.

Back to Plus