Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas has opened its second resort in Sri Lanka, the 141-key Anantara Kalutara Resort, a 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 is set between the Indian Ocean and Kalu River and boasts coastal, river and lagoon frontage.
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, while showcasing the Kalu River and Indian Ocean.
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.
The 141 guest rooms, suites and pool villas include private balconies and terraces overlooking lush gardens, the ocean or lagoon. Suites are set apart by a lounge and the Presidential Suite boasts a private plunge pool and sundeck.
One- and two-bedroom villas feature an enclosed garden terrace offering seclusion while 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.
There are two swimming pools – the lagoon-side pool with its Jacuzzi jets and children’s section ideal for families, and the more tranquil ocean view pool. Dedicated to Geoffrey Bawa, the library is a quiet retreat showcasing drawings from his archive and some of his favorite designs in Batik.
The resort’s Anantara Spa is a two-story sanctuary surrounded by a lotus pond. Ten treatment rooms include six for individuals and four for couples, including the option for Ayurvedic therapies.
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, while 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 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 a setting for meetings and events. Expected to open in March 2017, a conference center will be able to accommodate 500 delegates and up to 300 for a banquet. There are a further three meeting rooms.
Anantara Kalutara Resort is the brand’s second property in Sri Lanka, with the first, Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort, open since January 2016.