TV Times

TV Times

‘Alta Vista’ : New kid in Ella
By Kshanika Goonesekera
It is that time of the year once again when the sun smiles overhead and temperatures sore to 300 - 310 C a day and the heat is so unbearable you wish you can walk around in a bikini !

But why suffer in the polluted city when the upcoming holidays can be spent among the amazing, breathtaking mountains blanketed by a cool, or even cold weather?

Every year when the season begins, city dwellers vanish into the central hills where they are welcomed with not only the 'Nuwara Eliya' scenery, but rock concerts, horse races, fairs and what not. This year is no different except for a few new establishments, arms wide open in welcome.

Alta Vista is one such lodging in Ella, overlooking the Namunukula mountain range with its exotic endemic and even some threatened species diversity.
Quite young in age - Alta Vista - appropriately named as 'a view from a height' is situated in the heart of the Ella town, in the midst of all activity, yet secluded to provide the peace and tranquility required by holiday makers.
‘I had just come back from Russia, after finishing my degree, when a few of us wanted to go to Katharagama" explained proprietor Ananda Dabare.

The return trip however ended up in Bandarawela. The friends wanted to experience the cool climate perhaps after all that time in the freezing temperature of Moscow, but somehow the Sri Lankan (hill country) 100 C cold temperature is not as agonizing as in the temperate regions. "The feeling I got during that vacation is unexplainable", but all who have visited the hill country know only too well this unexplainable joy of having your heart leap in your throat, spine tingling, and mind bursting with a feeling that is not simply ' joy '.
"After that experience I was compelled to follow my dream of owning a bungalow somewhere in the hills", he said still unable to explain the mysterious call of the hills.

3 years later, after long last - it appeared that his dream had come true and Mr. Dabare had finally aquired some land, but soon the bungalow turned into a timber-lined 7 roomed ideal get-away so that others too could experience what he had. "The location is ideal" he said once again, Katharagama, Yala, Udawalawe are only 1 - 1 ½ hours drive away. Other places situated close by include the Adisham Church, Bambarakanda Falls, Dunhinda falls, Horton Plains, World's End, among others.

Banquet area, roof terrace, Italian food or just the luxury of your room with room service, unless you'd prefer a hike and adventure along the quiet country lanes, Ella seems much more inviting than the usual Nuwara Eliya holiday.
(For further details check www.altavistasrilanka.com)

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