As this year’s dazzling Esala Perahera season draws to an end, we look forward to sharing the amazing experience of Kandy Esala Perahera 2018 with our lucky travellers!
This year’s Esala Perahera in Kandy, like every year, has yet again failed to disappoint. The jugglers, performers, fire-breathers and extravagantly decorated elephants were out in full festive force as crowds gathered to celebrate and honour the tooth relic and the four gods; Vishnu, Pattini, Natha and Kataragama.
This is a well-established eco-resort that has a very definite back to nature feel with its octagonal shaped wooden cabanas under swaying palms in a lush tropical garden. By their nature, the accommodation is more basic in the cabanas. With the addition of some modern villas, the hotel now caters for those who would like a little more luxury. The hotel fronts a beautiful sheltered cove.
This is a delightful small luxurious boutique hotel that is on a headland overlooking the most glorious deserted beach and the Indian Ocean. The gardens slope down to the beach, where there is safe swimming between December and March. The hotel is in a remote spot close to Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary and Rekawa Beach where you can watch the turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs.
The Frangipani Tree is an extremely elegant and luxurious boutique hotel situated right by the beach at Thalpe (which is about 30mins from Galle). Having been taken over by the Edwards Collection in 2014, they have now taken The Frangipani Tree to a new level. Having only 9 rooms, it does feel very intimate and there are plenty of opportunities to relax under the swaying palms. Whilst it is not safe to swim directly from the beach in front of the hotel, they do have a magnificent swimming pool. If you particularly want to swim, then the hotel recommends either Vijaya Beach which is a 20minute walk on the beach from The Frangipani Tree, and has a protected reef or taking a tuk-tuk to Unawatuna where you can swim safely all year round.
