‘Elephant Corridor’ the wild retreat

3 February 2014 04:12 am Views - 7622

Famed as the first luxury boutique hotel in Sri Lanka, the Elephant Corridor Hotel is located in Pothana, Kimbissa off Sigiriya main road on 200 acres of natural landscape. Enforcing environmentally friendly methods the rooms are built to preserve the natural environment surrounding it. With a range of luxurious amenities and unmatched services, guests can enjoy a la carte meals, pamper themselves at the wellness spa or simply enjoy some outdoor activities including exploratory trekking, nature walks around the place.

A magical combination of wildlife and historical settings, the Elephant Corridor Hotel is located in harmony with nature.With peacocks and elephants seen roaming around the hotel's pathways, the hotel is a luxurious boutique hotel with en-suite accommodation, excellent dining facilities, and rejuvenating massages.True to its name, the Elephant Corridor Hotel is built on an elephant corridor between the Minneriya and Sigiriya National Parks, approximately four kms away from the historical Sigiriya Rock Fortres.

All the visitors are driven from the car-park to the hotel (some distance away) in a‘buggy', a minicar that operates entirely on battery or bullock cart to minimize the environment-pollutants. 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 Elephant Corridor Hotel is a class apart with its modern, luxurious and serene atmosphere. Guestrooms consist of six deluxe suites, eight super deluxe suites, four romantic suites, two royal suites, and two adjoining Presidential villas, that can be accommodated up to six pax each. Emanating luxury from every corner, each room is adorned with modern amenities, state of the art bathroom fittings, a large television with satellite access and DVD player,an in-room safe,an IDD accessible cordless phone and an extensive beverage cabinet. The hotel consists of 21 cabin suites all with their own verandahs, private entrance and plunge pool.

The hotel offers meals of‘any sort, at any time, at any place. Breakfast, lunch, dinner or in between snacks are at guest's convenience. Most visitors have their meals delivered to their rooms, despite the facility of a spacious restaurant atop the lobby that offers the view of Sigiriya and Pidurangala along with the surrounding landscape.

‘You can also order room service and enjoy your meals in the comfort of your room.We are ready with full butler service on request' said Lalith Rajapakshe, the General Manager of the Hotel.

The latest addition to this ten year old property will be the 50 four star plus luxury rooms by the jungle north to the original structure.

‘These will be the luxury rooms for the lower category. The new wing will be away from the boutique rooms.The construction will start very soon and will be ready by end of 2015'added Manager Lalith.

With views of the surroundings, the Elephant Corridor Hotel boasts of its very own a la carte restaurant-‘The Ambrosia' that offers a wide range of Eastern and Western cuisine combined.The Ambrosia Restaurant offers culinary delights from rich Sri Lankan curries to gourmet hamburgers, all which are created using seasonal organic vegetables and fresh produce straight from the hotel farm.

‘With prior notice we can arrange a special dining experience under the stars or by the Sigiriya lake with the assistance of a personal butler with all beverages and signature cocktails' said the Executive Chef Sachndra Gamage

Apart from the main features,the‘Ebony & Ivory Jungle bar' offers a tropical atmosphere.‘The Fables &Tales Library Bar' consists of a pool table, board games and decks of cards as well as a 42 inch television for movies and sporting events.

'Guests can enjoy many outdoor activities while at the Elephant Corridor Hotel which includes elephant rides, bicycle rides, a butterfly walkway, cricket net, star gazing, horseback riding an archery station, bird watching and nature walks'GM Rajapakshe explained.

The hotel is also quite popular as a wedding destination as well a high-end corporate outing venue.

‘We are known for corporate meetings and functions including outdoor training activities. Soon will be gearing up for state of art facilities for outbound training' said Ravini Karunaratne, the Manager Sales.

‘Our guided‘nature walk' with Naturalist Panduka is popular with most of the visitors to the hotel. Excursions could be arranged to the Minneriya National park, Kaudulla, Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, Dambulla, Sigiriya Fortress, Polonnaruwa andAnuradhapura with Panduka on request.