Sri Lanka-Pearl of The Indian Ocean

There’s more to Ulagalla than just the view. Guests can wake up with the dawn chorus and take a guided walk around the estate and beyond. This leisurely 90-minute ramble includes a walk along the banks of Wannemaduwa ‘tank’, a traditional irrigation reservoir built to a design over two thousand years old.

Guests can take to the waters of Wannemaduwa tank in a kayak at dawn or dusk to experience the wildlife of the forest at its most active. Paddle quietly with friendly staff guide through floating islands of lotus blossom, stands of water bird-haunted reeds and overhanging boughs. The soft light of the rising or setting sun turns the air to honey and touches the dragonflies’ wings with gold.

Guests discover the elegant simplicity of Sri Lankan village life on this two-hour guided bicycle excursion, while keeping an eye open for exotic birds and small wildlife along the route. The destination is Veheragalla, a traditional farming village not far from the hotel. Guests will meet the inhabitants and be welcomed at the home of the village headman.

For the nature-loving foodie, guests can enjoy a guided tour of the organic herb and vegetable garden, during which they can hand-pick fresh, juicy ingredients for their lunch. Ending the walk with a visit to the traditional health kitchen, where the herbs and vegetables they’ve selected will be transformed into delicious Sri Lankan dishes.

Surrounded by green woods at Ulagalla, guests may want to try their hand at being Robin Hood. If so, the hotel can supply the equipment – bows, arrows and targets – as well as expert advice and even some friendly competition from the recreational assistants, who are graduates of the Colombo School of Archery. Or guests can engage in a tournament with their own party or fellow guests.

An expert visiting instructor conducts programmes for guests on request. Sessions vary in duration and intensity depending on guests' preference.

This very special excursion only takes place on Poya (full moon) days, which are holy to the Buddhists of Sri Lanka. A Buddhist guide will take guests to Veheragala Temple, where they can observe and participate in the traditional rites of Sinhalese Buddhism such as lamp lighting, circling the stupa and offering floral tributes.

Kite making and kite-flying are popular traditional pastimes all over South Asia. Guests can come along and learn how to make, launch and fly a bamboo and paper kite of classic Sri Lankan design, such as a nye sarungala.

The Loris, with its large bulging eyes and tiny limbs, is a nocturnal primate found in India, Sri Lanka and South East Asia. Hidden in the scrub forests, this mystical creature moves slowly through the trees after dusk to feed on insects and berries. At Jetwing Vil Uyana the conservation of the resident loris has been given much prominence and the Loris Information Centre which is near the Loris Conservation site provides information on these strange and fascinating creatures.

Jetwing Vil Uyana sits on its own man-made eco-reserve which boasts a wetland, secondary monsoon forests and paddy lands. What was formerly a barren patch of land has now emerged into a nature lover's paradise with more than a hundred varieties of wildlife inhabiting the area. Amongst the most eco-friendly hotels in Sigiriya, Sri Lanka, the property is surrounded by nature on all sides and a stroll through the premises will bring guests into close contact with the environment and the animals and birds that live there. The enhanced biodiversity of the environment enables the hotel to conduct wildlife watching tours on the premises itself, which means guests only have to step out of their room to experience the local wildlife.

The World Heritage Site of Sigiriya or Lion Mountain as it is also known holds the ruins of a rock fortress and palace. Constructed by King Kasyapa at the end of the 5th Century, it was built on the lines of an impenetrable fortress, ringed by a moat and ramparts and surrounded by dense forests. The rock which has a unique shape that is easily recognisable rises to a height of 200 metres and extends over an area of 1.6 hectares at its summit.

Listed sixth in the Lonely Planet's Guide to the Natural Wildlife Spectacles of the world, the Gathering is the largest assembling of Asian Elephants at any given time. Jetwing Vil Uyana offers guests the opportunity of witnessing this unique phenomenon by conducting elephant watching safaris into the Minneriya National Park. Situated in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka, the centrepiece of the park is the Minneriya Tank which is surrounded by varied habitats of wetlands, grasslands and scrub jungle.

The Wilpattu National Park situated along the North Western coastal lowland of Sri Lanka is both the oldest and largest national park on the island. The many 'villus' or small lakes that dot the landscape of the park are responsible for its name ‘villu-pattu’ which means "Land of Lakes". These depressions which fill up with rainwater attract a wide range of water birds and wildlife. The park is also a prominent place in the island's history as, according to the records of the Mahavamsa, Prince Vijjaya from India landed at Kudiremalai Point in Wilpattu, married Kuveni a local princess and founded the Sinhala race.

The town of Dambulla which is located north of Kandy is considered to be the central point of Sri Lanka. Built around a vast isolated rock mass, the name Dambulla was derived from the words ‘Damba’ which means rock and ‘ulla’ meaning fountain. Comprising five caves which have been converted into shrine rooms, it is considered the best preserved and largest temple complex in Sri Lanka. Among the many improvements made to the complex over the centuries, one of the most spectacular is the gilding of the inside of the temple by King Nissankamalla, thereby earning it the name “Ran Giri” which means Golden Rock.

Sri Lanka, with its tropical climate and exotic landscape, has been described as a paradise for bird watchers. The varied habitats in the country which include lowland rainforests, montane forests and plains, wetlands and monsoon forests are home to 492 recorded species of birds. Of this large number of species, 272 are migratory from India, Siberia, Scandinavia and Western Europe, and 26 are known to be endemic to Sri Lanka. About 150 of the species are common to the Dry Zone and can be seen in the area around Sigiriya. Jetwing Vil Uyana is located in Rangirigama, an area which has become well known as a haven for birders, with over 120 recorded species.

Situated in the island’s central hills, Kandy was the last royal capital of Sri Lanka, bringing to an end 2500 years of royal rule. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, this ancient kingdom and its kings warded off attempted invasions by the Portuguese and Dutch, but fell to the British at the beginning of the 19th century. A sacred pilgrimage site and amongst the most important places in Sri Lanka for Buddhists, it is the home of the Sri Dalada Maligawa - the Temple of the Tooth where the Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha is housed. The Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya, which is close to Kandy, was a royal residence and park during the reign of the last king of Sri Lanka.

Anuradhapura, the most renowned of Sri Lanka's early cities and capitals, has also been called the cradle of Sinhalese Buddhist civilisation. The capital of the North Central Province of Sri Lanka, it is famous for its well-preserved ruins of ancient Sri Lankan civilisation. The city has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. With a history that dates back to 400 BC, Anuradhapura served as the capital city for 1400 years. During this period many stupas, palaces, hospitals and complex irrigation systems were built, and even today these palaces, monasteries and monuments draw many pilgrims and visitors to the sacred city.

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the ancient city of Polonnaruwa was the capital of Sri Lanka between the 11th and 13th centuries AD. The kingdom contained royal palaces, bathing ponds, monasteries, and dagabas and owed most of its splendour to the three kings - King Vijayabahu I, Parakramabahu I, and Nissankamalla I. The sites in Polonnaruwa reflect a combination of Sinhalese and South Indian culture and architecture, and though it was ravaged by invasion in the centuries that followed, there is still evidence of its former grandeur. The ruins of the ancient city stand on the east shore of the Parakrama Samudraya (the Sea of Parakrama).

Located about a kilometre north of Sigiriya, the massive rock formation of Pidurangala has a history that is closely related to the rock fortress. Built by King Kasyapa, this rock served as the royal temple during his reign in the 5th Century AD and today is one of the main places to visit in Sigiriya. The Buddhist monastery which housed over 500 monks contains the Chapter House, Image House, a sacred Bo tree, a shrine and monks' dwellings. The climb to the summit can be divided into two stages, the first is up flights of irregular steps that lead to a landing, and the second stage starts at the far end of the landing past the reclining Buddha, and has no clearly defined path or steps. Reaching the summit of Pidurangala is like being on the rooftop of the world - it offers a magnificent view of the surrounding area which includes the Sigiriya Rock.

Considered a most exciting and enjoyable activity, whale and dolphin watching is fast becoming one of Sri Lanka's most popular attractions. One of the top locations for watching whales is the port city of Trincomalee which is situated on Sri Lanka's north-eastern coast. Witnessing these magnificent ocean giants in their natural habitat is a thrilling sight that is best seen when the northeast monsoon recedes. Trincomalee is the only place in the world which offers the sight of blue whales from land, and the vantage point at Swami Rock in Trincomalee provides views of whales passing the submarine canyon. When it comes to whale watching in Trincomalee most sightings occur between March or April and August or September when whales continue their migration around the island from the south coast where they are from December to April.

Guests can enjoy many cultural and heritage tours the area has to offer including the Botanical Peradeniya Gardens, the University of Paradeniya, the British Garrison Cemetery where a guide will bring history to life through stories, the Kandyan Arts Association’s renowned Cultural Show for dance and drumming, and the Ceylon Tea Museum.

Guests can visit The Temple of the Tooth to view ceremonies presided over by resident monks and wander to the Devales Shrines, discover the glass murals in the serene hill-top Trinity College Chapel, or venture a little further to the Dambulla Caves and Temple that date back to the first century BC.

Guests can choose from a variety of wildlife and nature experiences including ambling around Udawattakelle Sanctuary, 270 acres filled with flora and forest birds, porcupines and monkeys, hike or bike The Knuckles Range, with peaks of 1500m and varieties of wildlife in its midst, or wash some elephants at the Pinnawella Elephant Orphanage.

Guests can organise a round of Golf at the world class Victoria Golf Course, 12 miles from Kandy with the Knuckles range as a backdrop, catch a game at Muttiah Muralitharan International Cricket Stadium, recently renamed to commemorate Sri Lanka’s famous bowler, cycle around the countryside, or take a walk through the local village and lush paddy fields and have chat with a chief monk in the local temple.

Guests can embark on a voyage into the southern waters off Sri Lanka, one of the best places in the world to witness blue whales, sperm whales and dolphins in their natural habitat.

Guests can escape to the stunning cliff top resort and improve their fitness level in the balanced 3, 5 and 7-day fitness camps under the expert guidance of a personal trainer. The 3-day programme will get guests back in the fitness mode and enables them to continue their fitness programme at their own level once back home. The 5-day programme is focused on rebooting. This programme is recommended for guests who want a combination of balancing rejuvenation and high-intensity training. The 5-day programme will give guests the opportunity to strike a balance between relaxation and fitness-oriented activities. The 7-day program is the most suitable for those who are looking for body fat reduction and increased fitness levels. If guests are looking to lose weight and get some serious results then this is the programme best suited to them, as they can opt for the more physically demanding training and activities to get some achievable results.

The Cape Ayurveda Experience is an authentic Ayurveda programme designed to introduce Cape Weligama guests to the world’s oldest holistic healing system. While the programmes of treatment will take into account any medical concerns guests may have, the short duration means that it is only an introduction to Ayurveda. The programmes including Ayurveda based lunch will be around 5 hours. Guests can select a programme for 3 days, 5 days or 7 days, and are advised to follow the physician’s instructions on diet during the period of treatment.