TV Times

TV Times

Galway Forest Lodge : Luxury with nature
By Sanath Weerasuriya
Nature and eco tourism is not a new to Nuwara Eliya. Mountains, water falls and forests are part of this colonial ‘garden city’. The Galway Forest is the closest nature reserve to the Nuwara Eliya town.

This forest plays a major role in the tourism industry of the region. Most of the holiday makers visiting the city for the April season, are looking for a cool green holiday and want to avoid the heat wave in Colombo and other areas.

“This April will be the biggest holiday season for Sri Lankans after the tsunami disaster and we hope the Spring Fest will be much active and busy as usual. So they really look for the green and nature is the main attraction here” said a tourism official from the area.

The beautiful Galway Forest was established by an Irish exploer in the late nineteenth century. He brought this streach of forest under his control and was later handed over to the state after Independence.

According to the Wildlife Department, this 42.5 hectares forest as in the present day, is the home for some rare species of birds and animals. The new addition to the forest is Galway Forest Lodge. It was commissioned in May 1998. This 52-roomed luxury three star property is unique in style and location. The main idea of the hotel is to mix the luxury with nature.

‘We carefully planned, that our hotel is to be a part of nature. Even after seven years of operation, the Galway Forest Lodge has not disturbed the environment, but improved the balance of ecology’ said Tyrell Morrison, the Executive Residence Manager of the hotel.

‘The forest is getting smaller and smaller every year for various reasons. but we keep our friendly approch towards the jungle by protecting it as much as we can’ he added.

In par with the colonial touch, the hotel’s 52 cozy rooms have three sets with different ambience named Victoria, Elizabeth and Adelaide. All rooms furnished with television, mini bar and other facilities.

Duke Restaurant is the main dining area and the attached kitchen is named Duke’s Kitchen. ‘Galway Forest Lodge is a popular place for wedding receptions and it has won a name as a hide away in the hills for the honeymooners.

‘We have a special package for the honeymooner. Cakes for the couple and friends, candle lit dinner, romantic music for them by special musicians’ he added.

The coming April Spring season in Nuwara Eliya will be the biggest relief measure for the hoteliers after the tsunami disaster.
Galway too has planned to offer various activities and a culinary fare to give the travellers the maximum satisfaction during the season.

The Executive Chef Wijesiri Delthalawage is planning to improve the festival dining by introducing new theme nights soon.
‘Theme nights, such as Sri Lankan, Chinese, Indian are popular amongst visitors to the.

Festival. These are some of the usual and popular theme foods. We will be having open air BBQ dinner on Friday Night of the Avurudu week’ explained the chef.

‘We are offering a 25% discount on every reservation before March 31 for the season.’ he said.

Gregory’s Lake, Golf Club, Race Course, Lovers Leap fall, Victoria Park, SOS Village are some of the popular places can be reached within few minutes drive from the hotel. Hakkgala, Gardens, Horton Plains, World’s End, Seeta Amman Kovil, and some popular water falls are some of the other attractions that can be found with three to four hour drives.

‘Water Falls, Mountains, Sacred Places, Tea Factories are the attractions for the European travellers. Hotel can arranged excursions to these places upon request’ said Harsha Gamage, the Public Relations Manager of the hotel.

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