Wednesday Sep 25, 2024
Wednesday Sep 25, 2024
Wednesday, 27 November 2013 00:26 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Aptly named ‘Forest Rock Garden’, it consists of massive boulders surrounded by swathes of green forest as the gardens, and ancient Sri Lankan architectural elements such as massive rock columns and structures used in such a way that even the resident deer and elephants in the area don’t seem to mind much as they go about their daily routines. This is what sets the hotel apart from most eco hotels I’ve been to. What Chandrasiri has accomplished here, quite admirably, is the successful merging of humans and nature; one not in the way of the other and cohabitating in peace and harmony.
Situated on 50 lush acres, just about 10 kilometres along the Anuradhapura-Puttalam road, Forest Rock Garden is a veritable oasis amidst the very limited accommodation options available in the area. With 25 luxury suites and deluxe chalets offering modern European comforts combined with an ambience that makes one imagine what it may have been like to live in the grand palaces of the kings of old.
From idea to reality
When you meet the quiet and unassuming Baladurage Chandrasiri, you wouldn’t suspect that beneath that calm exterior lies a mind that is constantly innovating, sketching and scribbling away the images that he says he sees in his mind when he looks at the natural world. This, he says, is how he came up with the idea for the hotel.
Having purchased the 50 acre property years before, he spent months perched on a rock under a tree, letting his imagination and creativity run away with him. The inspiration he says came from the abundant natural beauty he was surrounded by and his long time love of ancient Sri Lankan architectural techniques and design elements.
Chandrasiri’s long stint in Italy, where he studied architecture helped him he says in having a free hand with his design. Whatever complicated structural issues were solved using basic common sense and a lot of innovation.
This rings true, when you walk along the four kilometres of raised walkways 20 feet from ground level, past the many ponds and dotted with convenient ‘ambalamas’ for a breather, which connect all 25 chalets. They keep you at eye level with the forest canopy, and looking down at the elephant prints in the soft sand, you realise that here is a hotel that has understood that they are not alone in this beautiful piece of natural forest. 
You get the feeling that the animals themselves don’t seem to realise that among them is a luxury tourist hotel and don’t seem inconvenienced in any way at all. Another quite commendable aspect of the construction is that the whole task was accomplished without the need to cut down a single tree. Instead, Chandrasiri says, the hotel began a program that saw the planting of over 50000 medicinal plants and trees on the property with more to come as well. In addition, an artificial lake was also constructed as a “gift” to the animals, he added.
Facilities
The most important part of a hotel as opposed to it looks are its facilities and Forest Rock Garden doesn’t disappoint.
Firstly, the hotel boasts the most stunningly beautiful rock swimming pool I have seen in Sri Lanka so far. Built out of faux granite and shaped like an ancient royal pool or ‘pokuna,’ it brings to mind the famous ‘Kuttam Pokuna’ in Anuradhapura. Surrounded by lush vegetation, and with three raised ambalamas looking down on the clear blue water of the pool and the water gushing out of the mouths of rock lions, you imagine yourself a king in his private domain.
The hotel serves only vegetarian meals at its beautiful restaurant off down one of the many winding walkways and getting to it is an adventure in itself. Decorated with wood sculptures amidst the comfortably plush leather chairs with rich burgundy shades that look out through the open vistas into the wilderness, it can accommodate up to 60 guests at a time serving a variety of dishes from its modern kitchen and bakery. The restaurant also possesses quite a well-stocked wine cellar, with a range of predominantly Italian wines.
Further on down one of the pathways I discovered the hotel’s bar, and quite a well-stocked one at that. It offers quite a choice of premium beverages and again plush seating in air conditioned comfort in a cosy and quaint ambience.
In addition to all of this, the hotel also provides guests access to its on-site Buddhist library and a beautifully serene meditation centre and shrine.
Accommodation
Forest Rock Garden gives you two choices of accommodation, both quite luxuriously appointed with all the modern amenities you’d expect and private secluded walkways with secure access control.
The Deluxe Rooms come with a queen size bed, comfortable sitting area and lounge with flat screen cable TV, free high speed Wi-Fi, tea and coffee and a well stocked mini-bar that comes all-inclusive for the price of the room. All rooms come with view of the surrounding forests and paddy fields.
The Suites are all individually situated in private nooks and come with their own plunge pools and give you much more space and also include a queen size bed, flat screen cable TV, free high speed Wi-Fi and of course the mini bar and a massive bath overlooking views of the forest. They also come with a spacious living room and lounge beds by the pool.
Convenient location
Anuradhapura possesses a rich variety of historical Buddhist sites of interest that see both pilgrims and tourists flocking there every year to experience places such as the famous Bodhi tree, Jetavanaramaya, Isurumuniya, Ruwanwelisaya, Lovamahapaya , Thuparamaya, etc., and Forest Rock Gardens is situated just a short driving excursion away from it all.
The hotel is also situated just 8 kilometres away from the entrance to the Wilpattu National Park, making it an ideal base camp for wildlife enthusiasts venturing out to experience the many ‘willus,’ or natural, sand-rimmed water basins that fill with rainwater, dotting the landscape in addition to the abundant wildlife it possesses.
All in all, Forest Rock Garden is a veritable gem waiting to be discovered in the cultural triangle. With an addictive ambience all-round and well-thought-out rooms combined with some great vegetarian food and excellently attentive staff to pamper you, it will soon be a highly sought-after property for those who like a little bit of luxury and privacy on family outings.
Reservations and additional information can be found on its Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/forestrockgardenhotel?fref=ts, or by calling 025 2223961.
Pix by Sameera Wijesinghe
