Monday, 21 October 2013 00:00
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It is believed that the beautiful old colonial bungalow in Chundikulli, en route to the Palaly airport, was originally owned by an old Tamil family of considerable fortune. The 19th century manor house with its sprawling gardens dotted with neem or kohomba trees give Fits Margosa, a cosy boutique hotel its name.
The neem or margosa tree is revered in South Asian ayurvedic medicine for its many anti-bacterial and restorative uses, and it is often said that simply allowing cool neem-scented breezes to touch the skin can be healing. In the heat of the Jaffna sun, the soft breezes blow under tall neem trees can be oasis-like. Fits Margosa, with its cosy hideaway quality and friendly and inconspicuous staff has that same oasis feel.
Located about 10 kilometres from town, the old Jaffna bungalow has six fairly spacious rooms, all air-conditioned and some with open to sky rain shower bathing areas to heighten the sensory experience.
The property has beautifully landscaped gardens with plenty of sitting and strolling areas for guests to enjoy a cool tropical evening. The interiors of the bungalow have been restored true to the building’s original architecture, replete with heritage pieces of furniture, cool polished cement flooring and dressed in earthy handloom drapery and upholstery. The hotel offers free wireless internet for guests throughout the property.
Typical of old Sri Lankan manor homes, Fits Margosa has a beautiful courtyard in the centre of the house, with rooms on one side and its large pantry and kitchens on the other. The open spaces give the entire bungalow a cool, spacious quality much welcome in the heat of long Jaffna afternoons.
The boutique hotel’s main restaurant is located near this court yard and visitors to Fits Margosa all rave about the delicious food served up by the chef and his local help, a lady from the village. The restaurant serves up local spicy curries with steaming rice or even Western and Chinese fare, depending on guests’ preferred tastes. Meals are cooked to order and while the hotel does not have an open restaurant but the property is also available for small functions and private parties.
With the hotel able to maintain 60-70% occupancy during most times of the year, guests should book early. Once safely ensconced at Fits Margosa, the hotel will also arrange tours to all the cultural and historic sites in the Jaffna peninsula and even to the Wanni districts of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu.
