A feeling of stillness envelops you upon entering the premises, that is only occasionally disturbed by the random bird call or the subtle sweep of the wind. This majestic bungalow fully equipped and upgraded with all the comforts of the modern world, is in reality 120 years old, although it had only been converted into a hotel in the year of 1994.
Words Jayani C Senanayake Photographs Menaka Aravinda and Rumesh Perera
Blanketed within the lush, abundant greenery of the Ancient Kingdom of Kandy, to this very day Tree of Life retains its colonial identity as a British Tea Estate bungalow, complete with the sprawling gardens and the imposing colonial frontier of the bungalow. Driving through the gates and into the premises, we felt transported into an era where the grandiose lifestyle of the British tea planting gentility was in full swing.
Entering in to the lobby, we were overwhelmed by the grandeur of a bygone colonial era still left intact. The wooden floor boards, the arched doorways and antique ornaments still standing patient, bear witness to the luxurious lifestyles of generations of planters who thrived within those walls.
This beatific location spells romance, perhaps very evidently as the privacy of the place and its serene surroundings make it an ideal place for honeymooners revel in celebration of their new life together.
The whole hotel expands itself over 13 acres and we had to trudge along cement paved paths lined with copious greens in order to get to one block from the other. While we walked, the trees above rustled softly, inundating us with rare coolness.
This beatific location spells romance, perhaps very evidently as the privacy of the place and its serene surroundings make it an ideal place for honeymooners revel in celebration of their new life together.
We were struck speechless by the breathtaking view that greeted us as we drew apart the curtains of one of the rooms. The distant mountains seemed to robe themselves in green just for the guests residing within. It would indeed be a luxury to wake up to these beauties adorned in the golden rays of the sun.
Various birds flew about the area while some rested in the green alcoves within the premises. True to our observations, we were told that the Hotel offers a myriad of activities of which bird watching, nature walks and mountain biking are absolute favorites. For the sporty natured among us, Tree of Life also offers a cricket ground, a volleyball court as well as a swimming pool to keep their guests engaged. We walked into its latest restaurant “Kos Pela” where the clay walls and the thatched roof reminiscent of a typical village kitchen stirred our nostalgia for the good old times. We were told that it offered authentic Sri Lankan dishes, complete with servings of toddy and curried dishes served up out of clay pots straight from the kitchens.
When we entered Saukya, the hotel’s Ayurveda centre, we were greeted with the mystic and heady fragrances of various medicinal herbs accompanied by the bright and chirpy smiles of its friendly staff. It is here that guests are offered the privilege of indulging in various massages at the hands of its skilled therapists as well as spa treatments, herbal Swedana steam baths and Shirodara Kutiseda herbal saunas to cleanse them of the impurities of the city. Two uniquely designed sauna rooms made out of a medicinal clay and daubed with various herbs and medicinal ingredients caught our attention. Here the guests can experience a uniquely therapeutic experience of being bathed by the medicinal fumes.
This outstanding location, combining the age old aura of the bygone times as well as the tranquillity of nature most undoubtedly offers a little piece of heaven to its fortunate guests. Standing amidst the all consuming serenity of the place, one cannot help but be healed by the wonders that Mother Nature has so benevolently bestowed, perhaps more lavishly within these premises, situated in the glorious hill capital of Sri Lanka.
Tree of Life, Yahalathenna, Kandy, Sri Lanka
Tel: (+94 81) 249 9777
reservations@hoteltreeoflife.com
hoteltreeoflife.com
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