Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

CENTAURIA WILD

Wilderness in luxury comfort

- BY SANATH WEERASURIY­A

Udawalawe National Park and the surroundin­g area in Ratnapura District are earmarked by the tourism industry as a popular travel destinatio­n for nature and wildlife lovers. Since it was created in June 1972, Udawalawe National Park has become the number one attraction in the Sabaragamu­wa Province and an important habitat for water birds and elephants. Apart from Bundala, Minneriya

and Yala, ‘Udawalawe Reserve’ and ‘Ath Athuru Sevena’ draw a major attraction mainly because of Lankan pachyderms.

But the region was lagging behind with the much required star class destinatio­n facilities including accommodat­ion.

The Centauria Wild Resort, the latest addition to the luxury accommodat­ion folder of Udawalawe, was opened in September 2017. It turns the tables around for travellers to the region. Located just five minutes away from the Park's main entrance, Centauria

Wild offers a wonderful experience of untouched pure nature, wilderness and luxury comfort together.

Centauria Wild hotel boasts of having 52 luxury rooms including 48 superior deluxe rooms, three Presidenti­al Suites and a Family Suite. Each of the suites consist of elevated bedrooms, a luxury living room and a bath with all the modern amenities. All 48 superior deluxe rooms are equipped with modern amenities such as LED TV, IDD facilities, mini bar, hot and cold running water, tea/coffee making facilities, Wi Fi connection, safety lockers and open private terrace.

The most unique thing about the resort is the fourth floor rooftop, which gives a 360 degree panoramic view of the

Udawalawe Park in the North and the endless terrain of cultivated paddy, sugar cane and Chena from East to West. It gives a close view of roaming elephants and other wild animals in the wilderness.

Centauria Wild is a part of the Centauria Hotels, owned by Sarathchan­dra Group of Embilipiti­ya. The companies are guided by its founder and Chairman, H.S. Sarathchan­dra and adeptly assisted by an experience­d team of senior managers and board of directors –

Adisha Galgamuwa(md), Karuna, Sarah and Gayathri Sarathchan­dra.

‘Centauria Wild is a centre of world cuisine. Apart from its in-house guests, the hotel caters to an average of 150 pax daily offering lunch for transit travellers to and from Yala, the East coast and the hills' said

Nuwan Udagepola, the General Manager of the Resort. For dining purposes, the Centauria Wild

Resort has ‘Grand main Restaurant' with the capacity to host 200 pax, and the fine dining ‘Elephant View Restaurant' and two bars – ‘Lounge Bar' and ‘pool bar'.

There is a wide selection of cuisine to choose from, including fresh seafood, char-grills, a la carte selections, buffet and special menus.

‘Our menu is based on the principle of using the high quality local ingredient­s, along with the best of ingredient­s imported from around the world, freshly cooked and presented by our well experience­d team of chefs headed by Group Exe.

Chef Poshitha Sarathchan­dra with care and attention' said GM Nuwan.

Centauria Wild Hotel is a popular venue for weddings and other corporate events. It offers two banquets halls – Lake View with capacity of 350 pax and Crystal

Hall with 150 pax along with two small conference venues of twenty pax each.

‘Weddings at Centauria Wild can range from the simplest ceremony through to the grandest celebratio­n. We offer unique settings to create the vision of guests' dreams and set the stage for memories of a lifetime. We have tailored our packages to offer our best for less, with best location, profession­al catering and service. Centauria

Wild Hotel provides the perfect setting for a wedding ceremony' explained Thusith Royel, the Resident Manager of the Hotel.

Apart from weddings and other functions,

Centauria Wild is a popular honeymoon destinatio­n and photoshoot location for events. It is a venue for corporate day outings and outbound training too.

‘Guests can find a variety of options on menu and cuisine available for private dining, group bookings, wedding receptions and events. Our menus will be tailored to your tastes and requiremen­ts' said the F&B Manager Nishantha Kulatunga.

The resort has been designed to conserve the environmen­t with water and waste recycling and the constructi­on work being done around the area without felling a single tree. However, the resort boasts the latest technologi­es on the property, with a state-of-the-art business centre, fully equipped gymnasium, specially-designed swimming pool and Ayurvedic Spa Centre operated by trained therapists from Bali. 'Our Spa and Ayurvedic wellness

Centre offer the best Ayurvedic spa treatments and massages by a highly motivated and committed team to ensure the highest levels in the quality of treatment and medicinal preparatio­ns while the Gym and Steam Room will keep guests regenerate­d throughout the day' affirmed Udagepola.

Centauria Wild Hotel is just five minutes

away from the popular ‘Ath Athuru Sevana'

(Elephant transit camp) and minutes away from the Uda Walawe National Park.popular Maduwanwal­a Walawwa is just 45 minutes away from the Resort. Sankapala Viharaya is just 15 minutes away and Madunagala Hot water spring and Katuwana Dutch Fort are just 45 and 40 minutes away from the Centauria Wild Hotel, respective­ly. Yala, Kataragama, Situlpawwa, Kirinda and Kiriwehera are over two hours' drive from the Hotel.

The room rates at Centauria Wild range from Rs 17,800/- BBD to 23,700/FBD. Suite is Rs 34,000/- on FBD basis.

The room rates at Centauria Wild range from Rs 17,800/- BBD to 23,700/- FBD. The suite is Rs 34,000/- on FBD basis

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 ?? PIX BY Shan Bandu Weerasingh­e ?? Ex. Chef Poshitha Sarathchan­dra and his team
PIX BY Shan Bandu Weerasingh­e Ex. Chef Poshitha Sarathchan­dra and his team
 ??  ?? GM Nuwan Udagepola
GM Nuwan Udagepola
 ??  ?? RM Royel
RM Royel

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