Sri Lanka
Mahaweli Reach Hotel, Kandy, Sri Lanka
FIVE STARS DELUXE RESORT | 4 SUITES | 112 DELUXE ROOMS
“A wonderful stay again..! Staff extremely helpful and hotel again fantastic…”
Reg Dickason
England Cricket Team
5th December 2007
In the Royal City of Kandy, the lush green hill capital of Sri Lanka, the Mahaweli Reach Hotel will captivate your imagination no sooner you enter its elegant interiors. The smiles of the staff always welcoming, complements the warmth of a friendly and personal level of luxurious service bestowed on all guests in traditional Kandyan flair.
The Hotel acquires its name from its unique location along Sri Lanka’s longest river, the great Mahaweli. The Mahaweli is to Sri Lanka what the Ganges is to India or the Yangtze is to China. Mahaweli Reach Hotel is located only a few minute’s away from the city centre of Kandy, providing guests with easy access to this great World Heritage City and all her beautiful and unique sites.
The Hotel further has the honour of being the first hotel in Kandy to obtain five star rating and continues to be the benchmark for hotels in the city.
History of the Mahaweli Reach Hotel
The story of the Mahaweli Reach is one woven with determination, courage and a sense of adventure. When its founder, Atul Panabokke, a tea planter by profession, embarked on this project in the early seventies, few would have believed that this venture could become a fledgling industry and would progress so far. His vision and commitment together with the able assistance of his wife and family laid the foundations for these remarkable achievements.
Commencing as a four roomed guest house where guests were welcomed and looked after by the owner, his gracious wife and sons, this enterprise has developed steadily. Firstly it was upgraded to a twenty three roomed hotel and later to fifty rooms and finally renovated and repositioned as a one hundred and fourteen roomed five star hotel. The first five star rated property in the City.
Still managed by the Panabokke family, Atul Panabokke’s vision of a modern hotel which maintains the old world charm and hospitality seems to have become a reality. His sons, Jayantha, the Managing Director, and Mohan, the Director General Manager of the hotel have managed to combine the traditional and modern and guided by their mother the current Chairperson of the Company, have developed a unique style of management.
In the recent years the story of the Mahaweli Reach has taken yet another twist. After going public, the majority shareholding in the hotel today is held by the Universal Group of the Maldives, which is yet another family owned and managed company. The synergies created by this strategic alliance are considered especially beneficial, as the Universal Group is one of the largest resort operators in the Maldives. Today amongst the hotels in Kandy, the Mahaweli Reach Hotel remains a market leader enjoying a reputation for quality and excellence, unobtrusive charm and a warm hospitality which comes from the heart.
ACCOMMODATION
112 tastefully decorated rooms with all modern amenities, complete with breathtaking views of the grand Mahaweli River or the tropical gardens of the hotel.
The hotel gives you the choice of 04 magnificent suites in addition to the Deluxe Rooms. The suites, The Presidential Suite and The Executive Suites, are designed for distinctive extravagance.
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Presidential Suite
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Executive Suite
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Deluxe Room
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CUISINE
The dining comprises a variety of international and Sri Lankan cuisine. As could be expected of a five stars hotel, there are different dining options suited to all guests.
EXCURSIONS
Golf: Golf at the Victoria Golf Club
Dalada Maligawa: Dating back to the 16th century, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha is located in the heart of the Kandy town. One of the most spectacular sections of this temple is the Patthirippuwa or Octagon, which was added by the king of Kandy in the early 19th century, the same King also built the Kandy Lake. Rituals, accompanied by flute, trumpets and drums, are enacted daily in the temple to venerate the relic. Public honour is paid to the Tooth Relic when the Esala Perahera, an ancient street pageant is held during the month of Esala in July/August each year. This extravagant event is a “must see” for any tourist and attracts thousands each year.
The Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya: 3 miles from Kandy on the Colombo/Kandy road are the Pleasure Gardens of an ancient Kandyan Queen. The Gardens, spanning 150 acres, are a paradise of tropical foliage. It is well worth a visit, with seats, gazebos, pavilions and a restaurant at the entrance. Highlights of the Gardens include the Great Palm Avenue, the Orchid House, the Pergola, Octagon House to name a few.
Rangiri Dambulla Vihara – The Golden Rock Temple: The name Dambulla derives from Damba [rock] and Ulla [fountain], and comes from a continuous dripping of a single droplet of water into a brass pot that never overflows, within the main cave and image house of the rock temple.
This Vihara or temple was built by King Vattagamini Abhaya [43 to17 BC] and houses within the 4 main monasteries and the temples a 153 Buddha statues, 3 statues of kings and 4 of gods and goddesses, which are all unique works of art, painted using ancient techniques that are only to be marvelled at today. Besides the statues, there are the most brilliant artworks adorning the walls and ceiling of the main gallery.
It was within this complex that the monks began the militant nationalist movement against the British in 1848. It is considered an art gallery of unique beauty.
Labookellie Tea Centre: Mackwoods Labookellie Tea Centre, situated approximately 1,500 meters above sea level in the heart of Labookellie Estate, one of the fine tea plantation in Sri Lanka, is today a popular stop in an international travellers itinerary providing an opportunity to experience Tea at its best in the salubrious hill country clime where it grows as well as providing an instructive glimpse into the manufacture of Ceylon Tea.
Sigiriya: Sigiriya is a UNESCO world heritage site and is widely regarded as the “Eighth Wonder of the Ancient World”. It held the Palace of King Kassapa completed with moats, walls, terraces and water gardens, a true citadel in the sky. Most spectacular is the famous Sigiriya Frescoes of celestial maidens that manifest an almost vivifying vibrancy and the Mirror Wall, where ancient murals and graffiti remain, unique in history.
Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage: The Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage was started in 1975 by the Department of Wildlife on a twenty-five acre coconut estate on the Maha Oya river at Rambukkana. The orphanage was primarily designed to afford care and protection to the many baby elephants found in the jungle without their mothers. Initially this orphanage was at the Wilpattu National Park, then shifted to the tourist complex at Bentota and then to the Dehiwala Zoo. From the Zoo it was shifted to Pinnawela. At the time, the orphanage had five baby elephants which formed its nucleus. It was hoped that this facility would attract both local and foreign visitors, the income from which would help to maintain the orphanage.
The orphanage is now home to about 60 elephants, out of which many are baby elephants found, abandoned or orphaned in the wild. They are being cared, fed and trained by the wild life authorities. The orphanage has become a resounding success and is acclaimed as the only one of its kind in the world.
The best time to visit is during the feeding times, when one will have the opportunity of seeing the baby elephants being bottle-fed. Visitors can accompany the elephants to the river close-by and join them taking their daily bath.
Lankathilaka Rajamaha Vihara: Bearing the same name as the famous construction of King Parakramabahu I at Polonnaruwa, this temple built in 1344AD by a minister of King Bhuvanaikabahu IV of Gampola, is located at Handessa and is an important architectural monument. A cruciform building that servers as an image house of The Buddha. The temple is full of exquisite painted scenes commanding unfolding village scenery of charm and beauty.
Depicted are the lives of 24 former Buddhas with a colossal seated image of Gautama Buddha at centre.
This shrine is also significant since it combines the worship of the Buddha with that of the Hindu gods and with other indigenous deities too. This feature of religious synthesis is also evident at Gadaladeniya, which belongs to the same period.
Embekke Devale: Built by King Vikramabahu in 1371AD, the Embekke Devale [Hindu Temple] is located at Welamboda. It is a superb example of architecture in wood. The wood art of this temple is astounding with dancers, swans, creepers, soldiers on horseback, floral emblems, double headed eagles and wrestlers magnificently carved out of the timber. Special treasures are the doorways of carved sandalwood and the palanquin used by King Rajasingha II.
Udawatte Kele Royal Sanctuary: Kandy, with its historical, archaeological and religious value, has always protected the Udawatte Kele Sanctuary even during the time when Kandy was the capital of the island. In fact, Kandy has been named “Senkadagala” in 1371, during the time of King Wickramabahu, because a Brahmin called “Senkada” who had lived in a cave found in this forest. During the King’s reign, a palace was built within the sanctuary, as it provided safety and is abundant natural beauty.
During the many foreign invasions, the King used to go into hiding in this area. Located to the north of Sri Dalada Maligawa [Temple of the Tooth], this virgin forest is about 257 acres in area and is home to a large number of bird species, animals and butterflies.
Check-in/Check-out Time: Check-in is 12.00 noon and Check-Out is 11.00 a.m. An earlier Check-in Time or later Check-out time can be requested on a case by case basis and the resort may agree depending on availability.
Address: Kandy, Sri Lanka Airport: Colombo International – 110KM
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