Uga Ulagalla - Anuradhapura

Returning after nearly two years to one of our favourite places built around the mansion of a regional chieftain of the past. Uga Ulagalla lies in the heart of Rajarata. Rajarata meaning "King's country" was one of three historical regions of Sri Lanka. Here lies the remains of many ancient cities including Anuradhapura the capital of Sri Lanka for over a thousand years from 3rd C BCE. Uga Ulagalla is a convenient place to visit the ancient cities as well as peek into the marvels of one of the greatest ancient hydraulic civilisations in the world. This luxury lodge is a veritable arboretum with spacious villas, spaced quite apart, each with an outdoor jacuzzi - an architectural masterpiece blending with nature. Every aspect here pleases the eye. Everything is immaculately kept, and one wonders what skill and ingenuity are needed to maintain a place as vast as this thus. The secret is leadership given by veteran GM Thashinthan Panchanathan ably supported by ever bright and breezy FOM Dilrukshi Priyadarsheni. We were always looked after to feel more than at home. What caught our eye that differentiates Uga Ulagalla from others in its class was the gender and ethnic diversity of its elegantly dressed and enthusiastic staff. The staff at Ulagalla truly represent Sri Lanka, a melting pot of cultures. We only hope that other top end resorts take a cue from this. The food finely crafted by Chef Ruwan was original and came with colourful presentation. The expansive pool set amongst the trees, cycling paths, paddy fields, the ancient tank or man-made lake behind ideal for kayaking, inhouse horse stable for horse riding etc makes this truly a place to relax. And for someone who wants to mix work and relaxation, the online connectivity was excellent. “In ancient days of Rajarata grand, Lies a land of grace, so vast and grand. With fields of gold, and temples fair, A kingdom thriving, beyond compare”

Second visit to this amazing resort with the family, and thoroughly enjoyed the two night stay. The staff are well trained, welcoming and ever so eager to assist. The General Manager Dimuthu also made an extra effort to make our stay comfortable. Plenty of activities including bicycle rides, kayaking, archery, horse rides or if you want to relax, can do so in the comfort of the private plunge pool! The rooms are well maintained and the service levels are at the highest level. Food is amazing. Will surely come back. Thank you for the amazing experience and keep it up!

We left this morning after 5 nights in one of the 25 villas here and we were very sad to leave. This is a very special place. From the beauty of the natural surroundings to the spaciousness & creature comforts of the villas, no stone is left unturned to ensure a magical stay. The attention to detail and attentiveness of the staff is second to none, the service really is first class.Rarely if ever have we stayed somewhere where the staff are so invested in ensuring a first rate experience, we will miss their smiling faces and cheery greetings very much. Heartfelt thanks to the whole team.

Diluka welcomed us to her beautiful and authentic Sri Lankan kitchen, Karmata, the name for the rice harvest area in the centre of a paddy field. A wonderful peaceful setting, where she makes traditional delicious curries with fresh local ingredients, cooked and served with great skill and love. She takes pride in preparing and serving food in the traditional way. It is a memorable experience absolutely not to be missed.