Well manicured lawns and cooling foliage gradually transforms into sandy terrain and the blue ocean. Creating a perfect oasis in the sun kissed parts of Hambantota in southern Sri Lanka,
Peacock Beach Hotel provides an ideal getaway.
Words Udeshi Amarasinghe Photographs Menaka Aravinda
Opened in 1985, the Peacock Beach Hotel is a four star 94 key property spanning over three floors. The Hotel is part of the Guruge Group of Companies of which Dulani Guruge is the Managing Director.
Upon entering the premises, the Lobby Lounge provides a spacious area to relax with its comfortable sofas and modern amenities while the welcoming ambiance of the Hotel is heightened by the warmth of the friendly staff. The main dining room, the Monara Restaurant, is on the first floor and the walls of this room is decorated in the various shades of a peacock, keeping in line with the name of the hotel. Monara Restaurant can accommodate 200 diners and serves Sri Lankan and international cuisines. Popular for its buffets, it also has an extensive à la carte menu. Theme nights such as Italian nights, Sri Lankan nights and BBQs are also held at the restaurant.
The Restaurant opens out to the beach and the blue ocean beyond. Coastal shrubs adorn the beachside garden depicting the semi arid nature of Hambantota and the Ocean View pool shimmers in the afternoon light seamlessly blending in with the blue of the Indian Ocean. Besides the Ocean View pool, the Peacock Beach Hotel has a second pool, which is the Garden View pool and is open to non residents as well. Not stopping there, the fully equipped gymnasium, the badminton courts as well as the volley ball courts provide ample opportunities for the guests to engage in their daily fitness activities.
The bedrooms at the hotel consists of three types; deluxe, super deluxe and suites. The suites are named Blue Sapphire and Pink Sapphire and is equipped with their own sitting room and dining area. The suites also differ from the rest in that its bathroom is equipped with a jacuzzi. The Super Deluxe and Deluxe rooms are similar yet different due to the fact that the Super Deluxe rooms are carpeted and come with a tub whereas the Deluxe rooms have wooden floors and shower cubicles. The rooms are all beautifully decorated and are reminiscent of the colours of a peacock. All rooms face the ocean and have resplendent views.
With the soothing sound of the ocean, the Lihiniya Bar and Coffee Shop is an ideal place to relax. Wewal (cane) had been used as the decorative element and the floors were of terra cotta with all four sides open to the cooling breeze.
The Peacock Beach Hotel is suitable for conferences and business functions as well, with its conference room that can accomodate 100 persons theatre style and 45 guests classroom style. Furthermore, the Emerald Room provides boardroom facilities while a fully equipped Business Centre is also available at the Hotel.
Double decker bus tours can be arranged upon request for more than 20 persons, where the Hotel takes the guests to see the natural salterns, the Hambantota Dodol market and the newly developed areas of the District. Furthermore, excursions to Yala and Bundala can also be arranged if guests want to explore other surrounding areas.
As the sun receded and the evening light gave an ethereal glow, peacocks started to flock on the lawns of the Peacock Beach Hotel. With a relaxed mind and gazing upon this scenery we bid adieu to this resplendent abode…
Peacock Beach Hotel, Hambantota
Tel: (+94 47) 567 1000
peacockbeachonline.com
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