Ulagalla – Luxury in the wilderness.

A cool 4-4.5 hours drive from Colombo, leads you to a lush 58 acres of natural woodland in the historic city of Anuradhapura. A 150 year old Mansion is in clear view as you drive up to the entrance and “Seeya” clad in a crisp white shirt and sarong greets you with the most genuine smile you have seen all day.

Whilst the “new normal” check-in is performed to the T, the team serves you a refreshing king coconut drink with some traditional pol pani (coconut and honey) pancakes. Your luggage is then loaded onto an electric buggy while you’re whisked away into your private villa, your home for the next few days (or weeks if you’re lucky).

It’s a scenic and bumpy journey to your villa, the view opening out to the golden paddy fields, their own organic farm and the stables where you can catch a fleeting glimpse of Rolex, the resident horse and a troop of monkeys out with their babies.

Villa 22 – Our home for the next few days is creatively designed and its splendor spans 2,100 sq feet.

With chic furnishing, a king-size four-poster bed sits in a spacious room flanked by a grand bathroom and classic tub, while a separate living room is the perfect space for movie nights inclusive of a tea / coffee making station and an extra bathroom.

Both rooms open out to a large outdoor deck and plunge pool with sun loungers to relax with the balmy breeze rippling through the surrounding forests.

Mealtimes can be enjoyed back at the “Walawwa”, a buggy ride away. This Mansion, carefully restored is now the restaurant at Ulagalla. The 3-course lunch menu gives you a wide variety of options, all equally delicious and well prepared.

The Grilled Squid comes with homemade chili jam and orange a personal favourite, along with the Pan fried Modha with cumin rice, a unique mince beef stir fry with fragrant coconut rice and of course the traditional Sri Lankan rice and curry, all thoughtful dishes prepared with locally sourced ingredients.

Dinner too is quite a gastronomic dream with a separate Sri Lankan menu that’s a feast for all the senses from Jaffna spiced Mutton to Coconut Roti, Kottu Roti and string hoppers an abundance of incredible dishes. The international menu features grilled lamb chops, fillet mignon, Barramundi and a choice of pasta to name a few with a variety of options for vegetarians too.

While the dessert menu gives your sweet tooth what its heart desires, nothing quite tops the dark chocolate fondant served with caramel toffee sauce and dollop of vanilla ice cream. It was our go-to, five days in a row!

You can either while away your time with a book and some wine or, if you are feeling adventurous, the resort offers some incredible excursions and activities. Rolex is an absolute beauty and overall a fun equestrian experience with the added benefit of a picturesque setting.

Kayaking in the local lake during sunset is also something you really must try. Kayaking the tranquil waters, on the lake of lilies, with Rankoth, a trained member of the Ulagalla team is truly memorable as you watch the stunning sunset. The perfect end to a perfect day in paradise.

Ulagalla is a place of tranquility, luxury and adventure, all in one. If you ever decide to visit the historic region of Sri Lanka, this getaway is a must. You most certainly will not regret it.