Travel

Bin-Vino

The “Boutique” star in the Dumbara Valley:

Beverley JANSZ

Built on a hillock with a 360 degree view overlooking beautiful mountains Hotel Bin-Vino boasts of a climate even better than that of Kandy.

Surrounded by the breathtaking Dumbara Valley at Gampola, Hotel Bin-Vino stands at a most scenic location and is the latest star class “boutique” type hotel in Sri Lanka’s hill country.

Most tourists now look for tranquil locations for holidaying. Bin-Vino is an ideal location.

Sitting all by itself on the summit of a single mountain at Gampola off the new Nuwara Eliya-Doluwa Road, Bin Vino provides its guests a panoramic view of Sri Pada, Utuwankanda in Mawanella and a close view of the Ambuluwawa Peace Monument which sits atop of the neighbouring Ambuluwawa Mountain.

Bin-Vino offers 25 guest rooms including two family rooms in which eight could be accommodated, one suite “Saradiel” a glass room offering guests a beautiful view of the misty mountains from all four sides, a deluxe room with Jacuzzi from which the guest gets a breathtaking view of the hill country while having a bath.

All rooms are equipped with modern facilities including TV, DVD, mini bar, room service hot/cold water and complimentary tea making facilities.

Executive Chef, Seneviratne Banda, with over 25 years experience in Sri Lanka and abroad, offers the very best in International and Sri Lankan cuisine.

The spacious restaurant has been designed in such a manner that guests can savour the beauty of the

 mountains and valleys while dining.

The concept and design of Bin-Vino is the hard work of renowned Architect, Vino Jayasinghe. The scenic location, cool but moderate climate, romantic environment and friendly service have made Bin-Vino a honeymooners’ paradise. Meals are served in the open balcony on request, so that guests can watch the world pass by the moonlit sky while dining.

The hotel offers safaris to a host of places of tourist interest including the Victoria Dam, places of historic value such as Lankathilaka, Ambakka, Gadaladeniya.

It also offers nature trekking, mountain and rock climbing and white water rafting at Kitulgala. The proud owner of Bin-Vino is A.L.G. Leuke (Basnayaka Nilame), Chairman, Sevana Group of Companies who selected this beautiful site for Bin-Vino as he has a passion for natural beauty.

Bin-Vino is exclusively marketed by Fantasy Holidays (Pvt) Ltd. Sri Saranankara Road, Pamankada, Dehiwala, a member of KP Trust. Fantasy Holidays is headed by three leading hoteliers, Ken Pieris as President/CEO, Chandana Fernando, Senior Vice President/Dy.CEO, and Dhammika Gunasekera, Vice President/Chief Operations Officer.

Cricketer turns hotelier:

Kalu’s Hideaway

A player who revolutionised one-day batting at the start of an innings, has diversified his passion from the playing field to the eco-field of nature and tranquillity. Kalu’s Hideaway is a magnificent villa built by Sri Lanka’s legendary wicket keeper, batsman Romesh Kaluwitharana as his hideaway in the wild Udawalawe with acres of fruit trees and rare dry zone plants.

The place is suitably furnished by the Kaluwitharanas with polished hard wood and plenty of open space. You can watch the world pass by the moonlight sky.

When asked why Udawalawe Kalu, sporting a hospitable smile said: “It is only three hours drive from Colombo and you are completely isolated from the glamour and this is our country, where we could walk around just as you are.

Kalu has selected Fantasy Holidays (Pvt) Ltd. of Sri Saranankara Road, Pamankada, Dehiwala, the newest entry to Sri Lanka’s hospitality industry, to market his hotel.

Kalu’s Hideaway is a modern luxury jungle retreat. The holiday bungalow, built on a beautifully landscaped five-acre property, consists of five spacious modern rooms with all amenities. The relaxation lounge is equipped with periodicals and satellite TV for those who require diversion while on holiday in the jungle. BJ

Promoting tourism through sports:

Kassapa Lions Rock Hotel Mountain Bike Championship

For the first time in Sri Lanka, a Mountain Bike Championship has been organised by Kassapa Lions Rock Hotel, Digampathaha, Kimbissa, Dambulla on November 10.

The event which will take place in Dambulla has been organised in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Cycle Federation. The main sponsors of this event are Kassapa Lions Rock Hotel and SriLankan Airlines, while the co-sponsors are Premadasa’s and DSI.

A unique feature of the event is that the track will be a natural track, covering 4.85 kms, which goes through paddy fields, forests and mountains.

“The route has been identified as one of the best tracks in Sri Lanka for professional and amateur riders. The beautiful track has been designed around the Kassapa Lions Rock Hotel,” Chairman/Managing Director, Nilan Wickremasinghe said.

“This is an international event and there has been a massive response for the event”, Wickremasinghe said. This is an effort to promote tourism in Sri Lanka through sports, he said.

This will be an annual event where participants from around the world will take part. In this context, SriLankan Airlines will play a major role in this event, Wickremasinghe said.

The day’s programme will include eight colourful events, including under-10, under-13, under-16 which are school events (girls and boys) said Secretary Cycle Federation and IMBA (International Mountain Biking Association), Sri Lankan representative, Nishantha Piyasena said.

Diwali at Ceylon Continental

Diwali is celebrated by young and old, rich and poor, throughout the country to dispel darkness and light up their lives.

Get enlightened at the festival of lights by indulging yourself at the sumptuous Diwali food festival at the Tandoor - Authentic North Indian Restaurant of Ceylon Continental Hotel Colombo.

Diwali food festival will be on from November 5-10 at the Tandoor Restaurant from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Food will be prepared by Indian Master Chefs with tempting dishes like Chicken Tikka, Subz Biriyani, Crab Kalimirchi, Tandoor Chicken and fried prawns and also many more delicious dishes will be on offer during the Diwali Festival. There will also be a variety of vegetarian dishes for all the vegetarian guests as well.

New Oasis Lounge at Holiday Inn

Ever wanted to be DJ? Now you can try your hand at Holiday Inn’s Oasis Lounge, a unique new computerised jukebox that allows you to pick from thousands of songs by all your favourite artists. With the Juke, the best music of the sixties, seventies, eighties nineties and the present is just a mouse-click away.

Whether you want to chill out after a hard day’s work, set the mood for a special date or want to celebrate the weekend, you’ll find just what you’re looking for. There’s pop, rock, hip hop, reggae, dance, house, soul, R&B and lots more....everything from the Beatles to the Black Eyed Peas, Norah Jones to Nirvana.

The Oasis Lounge which will be launched on November 6, at the Holiday Inn has many other great features, besides the fabulous music.

Try out the bar’s new range of cocktails while you listen, or play a game or two on the ruby red pool table, or simply sit back, chat with friends, nibble on a tasty snack and let the stylish relaxed ambience work its magic on your senses.