It’s a bumpy ride to the Dolphin Beach Resort. Once you reach Kalpitiya, you need to take a pothole speckled by-road to reach the resort at Norochcholai. The ride however, is worth every bounce when you arrive at your destination. Designed around a scatter of dwarf coconut trees are novelty luxury tents complete with an Arabian-esque feel. These are your rooms.
While Arabian-esque tents may at first sight, seem incongruous in Sri Lanka, they blend in well with the location. They are unimposing, almost subtle and light constructions, that will tempt you to immediately collapse on the large comfy bed with its excess of colourful fluffy pillows and rest while the cool A/C lulls you to sleep. If you’re able to resist the urge to doze off in the splendour of the tent and head out into the cluster of coconut trees, you might just be drawn to relaxing while sipping a cool lassi in a hammock. The low grown coconut trees provide ample shade from the blazing Kalpitiya sun and some are connected by a dispersal of hammocks.
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Designed by Architect Christine Wallbeoff, Dolphin Beach Resort started out simply as an area from which people could set out into the ocean for Dolphin Safaris. Later, three tents were constructed to allow people to relax after a morning out at sea. Just around the latter part of last year, Christine’s design for the full-blown resort was assembled.
Making your stay that much more pleasant, the staff at the resort are friendly, obliging and will even invite you to join them in a game of cricket in the late afternoon. They will also whip you up meals that are gastronomic treats. The meals are essential a buffet of local fare. Even the roast paan, served for breakfast is none like the kind you find in Colombo. Light and crispy, it is served for breakfast with an assortment of mouth-watering curries and an omelette or you have the option of string hoppers. Lunch is another set of curries with Basmati rice, and dinner is a choice between light rottis and pittu, with the most delicious crabby curry.
The dining area is located closer to the shoreline for a view of the ocean while you enjoy these delightful meals. The meals and the enticingly relaxing design of the resort will tempt you to spend your vacation idling in the resort but the activities they offer will however, draw you out. Activity numero-uno would be of course dolphin watching—the main attraction. Canopied motor-boats will transport you into the sea and take you as close as possible to a pod of the most playful and friendly marine mammals. If you’re lucky you may even spot a few whales on your safari.
But before you decide to pack off to the resort you might want to check if it’s the season for Dolphin watching or you’ll be sorely disappointed. In fact, the end of March also signals the end of the dolphin season. The chance of spotting them frolicking in the water, is zero.
However, during the off season the rooms are priced less and there are a number of other activities that you can indulge in. These include kayaking into the wide open sea, snorkelling or taking a safari in the Wilpattu Nature reserve.
With all that the resort has to offer, the prices are sure enough a bit on the heavy end. During the low season, single occupancy on full-board will cost you around Rs. 7,700, each night. And during the peak season, the price is hiked up to around Rs. 13,000.
For more information visit their website at http://www.dolphinbeach.lk/. |
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