Enjoy Sri Lanka Culture with Kani Lanka Resort

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. October 14, 2008

SRI LANKA, September 18, 2006. Kani Lanka Resort and Spa offers the perfect accommodation option for visitors to Sri Lanka. The resort, designed by Geoffrey Bawa, is located on the South West Coast of Sri Lanka, just a few minutes from the historical town of Kalutara and 70km from Colombo International Airport.

Kani Lanka Resort & Spa is an ideal base from which to explore many of Sri Lanka's cultural leisure activities and sightseeing visits including mining for gems, visiting historical temples and shrines, boat trips, bird-watching and shopping for local crafts.

Kalutara- boat trips and genuine handicrafts

Kalutara is rich in history and culture and was once a bustling spice port before the British replaced the inland estates with rubber plantations. Today the remains of the spice port can be found along the spice route, a fascinating trail where guests can paddle through the old canals. The route also passes Richmond Castle, an old spice plantation mansion, which was built in 1906 and is surrounded by 42 acres of land. The owner, who built the castle and eventually married there, donated the castle to the public trustee in 1947.

Roadside stalls selling coir rugs, basketware and reed mats are a very popular sight in Kalutara. At the Kalutara Basket Society visitors can see how locals can transform the stiff, stubborn thorn leaf into mats, lampshades, purses and baskets. Kalutara is also well known for its mangosteens- a dark purple shiny fruit that Queen Victoria longed to try. Kalutata got its name from the Kalu Ganga (Black River).

Kani Lanka Resort and Spa is conveniently located on the Kalu Ganga River where boat trips depart for tours of this interesting area. The famous Kalu Ganga (aka Black River) flows from the heart of the island down to the west coast town of Kalutara where it meets the Indian Ocean. Guests can participate in a canoe trip down this stunning river, where visitors can marvel at the ever-changing landscapes, wildlife and the fascinating variety of flora and fauna. The Kalu Ganga is a relatively slow flowing river so it is ideal for novice canoeists. The route also passes through Ratnapura town where the riverbank environment becomes more scenic and peaceful, with lonely sand collectors' houses surrounded by thick vegetation and palm trees. For those seeking a more exciting adventure, it is possible to continue down the river to experience the rapids (full training will be given). The journey finishes at the west coast town of Kalutara which is famous for its impressive 'Gangatilaka Vihara' (Buddhist shrine), fine basketware and the best mangosteens in Sri Lanka.

Kandy

The city of Kandy is full of remarkable historical sights including one of Sri Lanka's oldest shrines built in the 14th century. The shrine is one of the greatest examples of South Indian architecture and is home to a beautiful bronze statue of God Lokeshwara Natha, a Bodhisathwa of the Mahayana Buddhist pantheon.

Kandy is also home to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, one of the most sacred places in the world to Buddhists. It is widely believed that the Sri Lankan Buddhists possess one of Lord Buddha's teeth taken from his cremated ashes in 583 BC and visitors to the temple can see the tooth in its sacred place.

The Elephant Orphanage

Located just outside Kandy is the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, where young and old elephants are given sanctuary in a natural environment. Visitors can get close to the elephants during feeding and bathing times.

Ratnapura - the gem city of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has the largest consolidation of gems on earth and the city of Ratnapura is the gem-mining capital. Visitors can find a wide variety of gems including white, yellow, pink, orange, purple and blue star sapphires, ruby and star ruby, cat's eye, topaz, amethyst, moonstone, aquamarine, tourmaline, garnet, zircon, spinel, alexandrite, citrine and exotic gems such as patite, sinhalite, ekanite, enstatite, andalusite and kornerupine. Visitors can enjoy guided tours of some of the gem mining sights as well as purchasing the jewels at bargain prices from authorised gem dealers on the streets.

Bird watching and jungle adventures in the rainforest.

The Sinharaja Rainforest is a world heritage site and is Sri Lanka's oldest and largest tropical rainforest where visitors can observe a variety of wildlife in the bio-diverse climate. The forest is the perfect place to spot a variety of birds including ceylan lorikeets, layard's parakeets, jungle and spur fowl, ceylon wood pigeon, grey hombill, spotted wing thrushes, rufous and brown-capped babblers, ashy-headed laughing thrushes, ceylon blue magpies and legge's flowerpckers.

A guided tour can be arranged which involves being picked up in a jeep by a qualified guide and participating in a three hour trek through the rainforest. There are three entrances to the forest but it is advised to begin your rainforest adventure at the Kudawa entrance, as this route offers the best road access and also offers a variety of different walking trails. Waterproof clothing is essential if visiting especially in the monsoon season.

Festivals

There are a lot of festivals in Sri Lanka each year including; The Kandy Perahera Festival (festival of the Sacred Tooth Relic believed to be Lord Buddha's tooth), Vel Festival (Hindu festival celebrating the God of War), and the Deepavali Festival (the festival of lights usually held in October or November celebrating good over evil).

Kani Lanka Resort and Spa

Kani Lanka Resort and Spa is located on the south west coast of Sri Lanka on the tip of the Kalu Ganga river mouth and 72km from Sri Lanka's International Airport. Designed by renowned Asian architect Geoffrey Bawa, it follows his classic footprints in architecture of contemporary yet comfortable design. Set in 26 acres of coconut groves, the property overlooks pristine beachfront and a beautiful lake. The resort boasts 99 superior rooms and six suites, which overlook the river mouth where the Kalu Ganga River meets the Indian Ocean.

The Amaan spa at the resort offers a range of Ayurvedic treatments and therapies that take an ancient Indian approach to healing. The Amaan Spa signature range is broken down in to the categories of peace, harmony, balance and well-being and treatments include a Warm Stone Massage, Slimming Chocolate Wrap and a range of facials.

Facilities at the hotel include two restaurants, swimming pools for adults and children, a fitness centre, souvenir shop, library, beach volleyball, indoor games including table tennis and pool, a board games room and a floodlit tennis court. There is also a water sports centre that organises windsurfing, catamaran sailing, canoeing and kayaking. Exciting cultural entertainment is arranged for guests in the evenings that include shows, live music performances and dances.