Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas announced the opening of its second resort in Sri Lanka. The doors have opened at the 141-key Anantara Kalutara Resort, a peacefully secluded hideaway located along the island’s southwest coast.
Only ten minutes from the town of Kalutara and an hour south of the capital Colombo, Anantara Kalutara has a unique setting between the Indian Ocean and Kalu River and boasts coastal, river and lagoon frontage, providing a tranquil retreat in between the array of enriching nearby adventures.
Dillip Rajakarier, CEO of Minor Hotels, commented, “We are excited to open Anantara Kalutara, our second luxury Anantara resort in Sri Lanka. With its unique ocean and river front location and its original design by famed Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa, we are confident that Anantara Kalutara will become one of the ‘must stay’ luxury properties for discerning travellers visiting the island, along with the now well established Anantara Tangalle on the south coast.”
The resort was originally designed by Sri Lanka’s most notable architect, the late Geoffrey Bawa, and is inspired by his vision of simplistic elegance and great craftsmanship, whilst showcasing the Kalu River and Indian Ocean. Blending effortlessly with the island’s tropical beauty and rich culture, the resort fuses natural luxury with colonial and Sri Lankan artistry. The main building has a Dutch colonial style, with a soaring gable roof. The reception’s free-flowing space ushers in the coastal breeze and overlooks the lagoon of the Kalu River estuary, creating a sense of destination on arrival.
141 guest rooms, suites and pool villas immerse guests in stunning views, with private balconies and terraces overlooking lush gardens, the ocean or lagoon. All guest rooms come with a wine humidor as standard and interconnecting, disabled and poolside guest rooms are available. Suites are set apart by an elegant lounge and the one-of-a-kind One Bedroom Presidential Suite boasts a private plunge pool and sundeck. Suites and villa guests can listen to music on the Bose Bluetooth speaker, and special requests are taken care of by the Villa Host. One and Two Bedroom Villas feature an enclosed garden terrace offering seclusion whilst swimming in the private pool, sunbathing on the deck and dining al fresco. For holidays with family and friends, some of the One Bedroom Garden Pool Villas feature interconnecting gardens.
A range of leisure facilities is available for guests to enjoy, whether for romance or quality family time. The Watersports Centre offers jet skiing, water skiing and banana rides. Guests can work out in the gym whilst taking in the river view, or raise their game with a personal trainer. There are two swimming pools – the lagoon-side pool with its Jacuzzi jets and children’s section ideal for families and the ocean view pool offering a tranquil escape. Dedicated to Geoffrey Bawa, the library is a quiet retreat showcasing drawings from his archive and some of his favourite designs in Batik.
The resort’s Anantara Spa is a serene double storey sanctuary, surrounded by a lotus pond. Ten luxurious treatment rooms include six for individuals and four for couples, including the option for Ayurvedic therapies. Soothing spa journeys draw on holistic Asian traditions and rejuvenating western spa wisdom, with an additional pavilion for yoga and meditation sessions.
Family-friendly services begin on arrival with children receiving special treats. Adventurer Club engages youngsters in cultural activities, outdoor games and action-packed excursions. Relaxation is a pampering delight with special family spa experiences. Children can enjoy a range of fun treats, such as a chocolate oil massage and hair braiding. Teen girls can refresh their look with facials, manicures and pedicures, and teen boys are expertly groomed. Dedicated packages for ‘Mum & Me’ and ‘Dad & Me’ allow parents to share unique spa time with their children. Upon departure, a keepsake gift is given to the children.
The resort has a choice of three restaurants. Spice Traders invites travellers to choose between Thai, Indian and Chinese cuisines. All day dining restaurant Olu offers international classics and spicy Sri Lanka specialties, whilst refined Italian tastes can be found at Acquolina. Spice Spoons cooking school gives a glimpse into local market life, followed by a cooking class with master chef tips. Open at dusk, The Upper Deck is the perfect place to enjoy a sundowner and light bites. Tailoring the ultimate in romance, Dining by Design offers a collection of connoisseur menus with a personal chef and butler, in intimate settings.
The resort will also offer an ideal setting for meetings and events. Expected to open in March 2017, an impressive conference centre will be able to accommodate 500 delegates and up to 300 for a banquet. There are a further three meeting rooms.
Sri Lanka is home to glorious wild nature and deep oceans, with experiences from vast ancient caves and lush virgin rainforest, to up close wildlife encounters on a national park safari and dolphin and whale watching boat trips. Guests can visit tea plantations, the Dutch fort UNESCO World Heritage Site of Galle and the architectural splendour of Richmond Castle to relive colonial times. Additional sacred treasures include a temple housing the world’s tallest sitting Buddha statue and the world’s only hollow Buddhist shrine.
An SUV limousine service is available for journeys between Anantara Kalutara and Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport, an hour and a half drive, and also Kalutara South Station just five minutes away, allowing guests to experience Sri Lanka’s scenic railways.
Anantara Kalutara Resort is the brand’s second property in Sri Lanka, with the first, Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort opening in January 2016.