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Mount Lavinia, Sri Lanka
Colonial heritage, Beach
Ten km south of Colombo Fort, along Galle
road (Colombo - Galle main road) the leafy beachside suburb of Mount Lavinia is bounded by the small headland (called Mount). The town is one
of the few pleasant punctuating features on the coastline near the
capital & frees you from the congestion of bustling Colombo. In the sea
side, the maze of lanes are studded with attractive colonial villas
mostly shaded with canopies of bougainvillea trees. Combination of
lovely scent of frangipani & the sea breeze makes the area
refreshing.
Mount Lavinia Hotel
Mount Lavinia is famous for its "Golden Mile" of beach where the Mount
Lavinia Hotel is nicely nestled. From the beach the high-rise buildings
of central Colombo are easily visible & in the night, illumination of
Colombo together with the lighting of the hotel provides you with
pleasant strolls in the beachfront, wrapped in sea breeze.
The hotel's historic connection with British governors in the 19th
century brings many visitors seeking to sample something of that era in
the famous Mount Lavinia here. The renowned 5 star Hotel of
international standing has been one of the locations of David Lean's
classic "The Bridge on the River Kwai" filmed mainly at
Kitulgala in
Ceylon.
In around 1805-6 the then British Governor, Sir Thomas Maitland, built
an official residence here, naming it after his secret lover Lovina, an
exotic & beautiful dancer of mixed Portuguese & Sinhalese race. The
bungalow was significantly extended between 1823 & 1827 by one of his
successsors, Sir Edward Barnes. It became a government rest house in
1877. Converted into a hotel in 1895, it became one of the most
venerable colonial landmarks in Sri Lanka. Now extended with modern
wings, it is one of the most popular hotels in Sri Lanka among the
foreign tourists as well as the locals.
Rankema Ayurveda Center
This is one of Sri Lanka's most attractive Ayurveda centers. The
beautiful treatment rooms are right on the beach. It is owned by Mount
Lavinia Hotel. All medicines are made herein resulting in a divine
smells of Ayurvedic medicinal ingredient all over.
Mount Clinic of Oriental Medicine
The main emphasis here is on the serious treatment of chronic
conditions, rather than soft & cosmetic ayurveda massages & baths. A
hundred different therapies are offered including no fewer than 25
different types of Ayurvedic massage. Complete Panchakarma treatment
takes one week.
Siddhalepa Ayurveda Center
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