Kukuleganga Resort:for Nature lovers

Kukule is a very remote area, few years ago. It came to limelight, with the Kukule Ganga Hydro power project, but yet not known to outside world.

Since lately, the attention was come on Kukule Ganga Holiday Resort (KGHR), not knowing it is a part of the project.

For the last two years the Resort was in operation under Sri Lanka Army (SLA), the second hotel project under taken by SLA.

'The very first hospitality venture of the Army is Wadduwa Holiday Resort and this is the second' said Lieutenant Colonel Bimal Widanage, the CEO of the Resort.

Actually this was a neglected property owned by the CEB sometime back and because of UN Peace Keeping Training Centre in the area, Army took over this project' he explained.

'Kukule Ganga Holiday Resort' is a former resident bungalows of the top brass of the Swedish expatriates.

It has 64 fully A/C single, two and three roomed apartments. Each apartment comprises of furnished big hall with TV, fully equipped kitchen and dining area with all cutlery and crockery and bathrooms with washing machine and dryers.

'It is a luxury home and only difference is no cooking is allowed. At the resort over 200 guests can stay at any given time' Colonel Bimal Widanage said

Kukule Ganga Holiday Resort is located on valley of rubber plantation in Uskvalley in Molkawa off the banks of Kukule Ganga. It can be reached from Agalawatta and just 9 kms off Lathpandura junction on Matugama - Baduraliya/Kalawan Road. Also just two hours drive from Horana - Bulathsinhala and across the ferry to KGHR.

The resort has a swimming pool of international standards, gym, sauna, and indoor games - Pool Table, Tennis Court, Squash Court, big playground, internet Café and Mini Mall. The main Restaurant serves main meals. Speciality dishes like Indian, Chinese and Sri Lankan favourites are the attraction on weekends.

'We arrange bar-ber-ques and poolside dinner on special occasion and on weekends with full house. The senior chefs and other restaurant staff are all civilians' said the F&B Manager Captain Vajira Pathrathna.

Apart from the top four positions, mostly front office and administration office workers are civilians at the resort.

Major Ajith Senadeera is the Manager Administration and Second Lieutenant K.G.A. Raveendra looks after supply and maintenance.

The major attraction of the Kukule Ganga Holiday Resort is the nature and the adventure based activities.

'I always wanted this place to be the number one adventure tourism destination. > I don't think any other hotel or a resort get surrounding like this. We are just one and half hours drive from Sinharaja Rain Forest and about two hours drive from 'Morning Side', one of the best sun rise sights in Sri Lanka' Colonel Bimal Widanage explained

He said, if the promotion will go right way, this will be the biggest eco attraction in the future.

Makeliya Water Fall and Natural Pool, Kukule Ganga Reservoir, Dun (Shorea) Tree, Sky Bridge, Sinharaja Rain Forest, Morning Side, Kalugala Monastery and Pahiyangala Rock Cave are some of the major attraction among foreign and Sri Lankan travellers.

Sinharaja Rain Forest is the largest Rain Forest covering 11200 hectares and also bordering Ratnapura, Galle and Matara Districts. Named after the massive Rock of a lion's shape, it has been declared a World-Heritage site by UNESCO. Massive vegetation with blankets of bees and butterflies had created a high canopy under which streams with crystal-clear water is frequently seen.

Kukule Ganga remains static and its still water stretches for about 1.5 Km before the sophisticated dam 'Run of the river' methodology is adapted at the dam which is only of two metre height. The water runs for around 8 km through the huge rock tunnel before it mingles with the turbines in the rock itself. The project is just 20 minutes away from the Resort.

Kalugala Monastery is hermitages and various places of veneration, just 23 kms away from the Resort. Superbly constructed buildings like beautiful shrines, enormous statues, preaching halls, alms-giving enclosures, massive inscriptions, rock caves, pacing beds, flower gardens can be visited. All facilities have been arranged for visitors.

Pahiyangala Rock Cave is just 9kms away on Molkawa and Paragoda road. This enormous cave in the massive rock is supposed to be the biggest and the sole of its nature in the whole of Asia. Carbon techniques have confirmed that our oldest human being The Homosapian had lived in this cave with his clan before some 37500 years. Sculls, skeletons, remnants of consumed organism and implements have been found in excavations.

Chinese clergy pilgrim Rev. Fa Hsien is said to have spent his sojourn in this cave during the 5th century exploring religious, social and cultural activities of Sri Lanka.

‘Apart from these adventure travel facilities, KGHR is a family holiday resort. Most of the Sri Lankan clientele is coming here to just relax' said Major Senadeera

For more details log into www.kkgholidayresort .com