Double Adventure at GUSR
Director Chandana and kitchen brigade of the GURS
Udawalwe is a popular travel destination for nature and wildlife lovers always. Apart from Bundala, Minneriya and Yala, Uda Walawe National Park and ‘Ath Athuru Sevena’ draw a major attraction for Elephants.
Grand Udawalwe Safari Resort (GUSR) situated in close proximity to the Park, is the only star class in the area. Grand Udawalawe Safari Resort was initially opened in October 2012 as a 57 room luxury resort. Much projected second phase of GUSR with 22 Grand Suites was opened on 29th November last year. With this new addition, GUSR has become the double adventure venue of Udawalawe.
All the grand suites in the new wing consist of elevated bed room, luxury living room and a bath with all modern amenities including led TV, IDD facilities, mini bar, hot and cold running water, tea/ coffee making facilities, Wi Fi connection, safety lockers and the open private terrace. ‘With the addition of this new wing, GURS has become one of the biggest resorts in the Sabaragamuwa Province. The banquet facility itself is the largest in the Province. 600 pax can be accommodated at the two banquet halls’ explained Chandana Pathma Kumara, the Director Operations and Finance of the property.
Located just 45 minutes away from Rajapaksa International Airport in Mattala and just 30 minutes from the Suriyawewa International Cricket Stadium, Grand Udawalawe Safari Resort Hotel, is the first four star hotel in the area with 79 rooms including 22 new luxury villas, four suites, 24 deluxe and 29 superior rooms.
The new wing is built in a separated jungle area with no disturbance to its guests.
‘This is strictly for the relaxing guests and we always keep this area out of bounds for the outsiders’ Chandana said. The old wing of the GUSR has 57 modernly designed rooms inclusive of four suites. The resort was designed by architect Muditha Jayakody, and the old 57 rooms are divided into three wings. Forest wing and Pool wing is naturally separated from the Stream wing by ‘Malabotu Ela’, a small stream off the Walawe River.
‘Stream wing consist of the main restaurant, banquet hall and bar areas, which is consider more noisy areas. The rooms and the pool are separately kept from natural stream and kept without much noise to give visitors a relax environment’ Chandana explained.
For dining purposes, the Grand Udawalawe Safari Resort has a coffee shop named ‘Monara,’ the open air main restaurant with a capacity of hosting 250 pax, A/c dining area, and two bars – ‘Ath Gala’ and ‘Ali Mankada’.
A mini theatre is also in place for tourists seeking leisure along with a large open air theatre ‘Una Sevana’ designed in a similar pattern to the open air theatre ‘Wala’ of the Peradeniya University. The resort has been designed to conserve the environment with water and waste recycling being inserted into the system and the construction work been done around nature without felling a single tree during the process. However, the resort boasts the latest technologies on the property with a state-of-the-art business centre, gymnasium, specially-designed swimming pool with adjoining bar, 200 pax conference hall, and 400 pax banquet hall and a Mini-Theatre. The Resort has the biggest laundry in the area.
Grand Udawalawe Safari Resort (GUSR) is just half km away from the popular ‘Ath Athuru Sevana’ (Elephant transit camp), and five minutes drive from the Uda Walawe National Park. Popular Maduwanwala Walawwa is just 40 minutes away from the Resort. Sankapala Viharaya is just 15 minutes away and Madunagala Hot water spring and Katuwana Dutch Fort are just 45 and 40 minutes away from the Resort respectively. Yala, Kataragama, Situlpawwa, Kirinda and Kiriwehera are over two hours drive from the Hotel.
‘Governor’s summit for the year 2013 was held at GUSR, while Both Sri Lanka and England National cricket teams and New Zealand team stayed at the Resort during their matches in November and December last year’ Chandana added
The double full board rate at the new wing Villas is Rs 32,000/- and for deluxe rooms are Rs 21,000/- and for superior rooms are priced at Rs 23,500/- Grand Udawalawe Safari Resort is located at No. 912, Thanamalwila Road, Udawalawe.
Call 047 2232000, 047 2232004/5, 0777998181 or log on to www.udawalawesafari.com