Mirissa is no longer a traditionally ‘fisherman’s haven’. With the emerge of whale and dolphin watching activities, Mirissa has become the paradise of rich high end people. A couple of luxury boutique hotels have come up in the beautiful red cliffs off Mirissa, creating more opportunities to the people of the area.

Mandara Resort is one of the pioneering hotels in the area. Located on the beach of beautiful Weligama Bay off Pollatumodara River, this unique boutique style resort provides a comprehensive range of activities and facilities to ensensure an unforgettable holiholiday experience to both Sri Lankans and overseas visitors. visi

Explore the underwater treatreasures or set off on an expexpedition/ adventure to watwatch whale and dolphin habhabitats, as Sri Lanka and parparticularly Mirissa is now becbecoming a hot-spot for sucsuch experiences and is attrattracting whale watchers frofrom all over the world. SinSince the Continental Shelf is aat its narrowest point, the deep water provides an ideal feeding ground for migrating whales from November to April every year.

‘Apart from the luxury beach living at the resort, our main activity is providing services to all aquatic adventure travellers through Mirissa Harbour. Privately operated as well as Navy operated vessels are utilized to cruise whale watchers to the deep blue waters. The hotel arranges the entire whale watching tour which starts at 6.00am,’ explained Manoj Alwis, the Manager of the Resort.

This sea excursion includes a four hour whale and dolphin watching tour into the deep sea with expertise, modern facilities and on board breakfast.

Mandara Resort houses 20 extravagantly furnished rooms with each room uniquely designed with a different layout. Superior and comfortable in every way all rooms are equipped with en-suite bathrooms, a satellite television, safety lockers, air-conditioning Wi-Fi and a DVD/CD player. There are four standard rooms, four penthouse rooms, four superior rooms with plunge pools and eight deluxe rooms with a Jacuzzi. Most rooms have the best panoramic view of Mirissa Bay, Red Cliffs or the Ocean.

The main air conditioned restaurant serves cuisine from around the globe.

‘But our specialty is varieties of ocean fresh fish, crabs and lobsters,’ said Chef Karu.

‘We are capable of creating innovative local and international dining experiences. Our menus are designed to offer a real range of oriental and western flavours while adding the aromas using the world famous spices Sri Lanka is well known for from ancient times,’ he added.

‘Our Chef is versatile in cuisine and has years of experience behind him with star class culinary skills,’ said Ruklanthi Jayatissa, the Marketing and Sales Manager of the Rosen Hotels, the owning Company of the Resort.

Mandara Ayurveda Centre, one of the popular Ayurveda Spas in the area, promotes the natural way to health by following one of the world’s oldest forms of healing systems. With tailor made treatments using a combination of herbal extracts, herbal powders and oils to rejuvenate and heal your body, mind and soul.

The Hotel also provide half a day or full day excursions to near by tourist attractions to historic Veheragalle Temple, 17th Century Dutch Fort in Galle City and Natural Harbour, Galle Heritage Centre, Veherahena Temple, Matara Fort, Kushtarajagala Statue in Weligama, Sinharaja Forest, popular Unawatuna beach and Devinuwara Devalaya.

The new wing with thirteen economic rooms and a banquet hall is now under construction and will be ready by the end of this year.

Veteran hotelier Sagara Palihawadana is the Chairman/ Managing Director of Mandara Hotels & Resorts.