About this hotel
General information
Uga Ulagalla spreads across some 23 hectares (58 acres) of paddy fields, woodland and gardens at Thirappane, in the dry-zone countryside of the Cultural Triangle near Anuradhapura. At its heart stands a restored walawwa, a manor house around 150 years old, which now holds the Liyawela restaurant, an underground wine cellar, a library and a pool table. The rest of the estate is given over to 25 villas, each with its own pool, looking out over rice fields, jungle or the lake.
The farm sets the pace: rice grows in the estate’s own paddies, an organic garden supplies the kitchens and a solar farm covers about half of the resort’s energy needs. Days go to cycling village lanes, kayaking on the Wannamaduwa reservoir or exploring the UNESCO-listed ancient cities of Anuradhapura, Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa, while naturalists lead walks and drives across the estate at dawn and after dark.
Location
The estate lies in the village of Thirappane, about 2 km off the A9 between Dambulla and Anuradhapura, some 40 km north of Dambulla. By road it is around 35 km (45 minutes) to Anuradhapura, 53 km (an hour and a half) to Sigiriya and about 170 km, roughly three and a half hours, from Colombo’s international airport. Helicopter transfers from Colombo’s international airport or Ratmalana land on the resort’s own helipad, and Cinnamon Air also runs air transfers from Colombo’s international airport. The nearest domestic airport, at Anuradhapura, is 25 km away, about 30 minutes by car.
Spa
The spa is built to resemble an underground cavern, its wattle walls half hidden by foliage, and has single and double treatment rooms. Internationally trained therapists offer everything from simple massages to signature treatments and wellness therapies.
Sports & leisure
Every villa comes with bicycles, and battery-powered buggies can be booked for getting around the estate. There is a 30 m outdoor pool set in landscaped gardens, and a gym.
- On the estate – archery beneath old rain trees, horse riding, kayaking on the Wannamaduwa reservoir at dawn or at dusk with sundowners, naturalist-led nature and night walks, an off-road drive through the paddies and a night drive in a 4x4.
- Cooking – harvesting vegetables and herbs at the organic farm with the chef, followed by a cooking demonstration and lunch.
- By bicycle – village tours along rural lanes past paddies and workshops, and bicycle or tuk-tuk tours of Anuradhapura.
- Ancient sites – Anuradhapura and Mihintale, the forest monastery of Ritigala, the granite Buddha at Aukana, the Dambulla cave temple, Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa, singly or as combined tours.
- Wildlife – the dry-season gathering of wild elephants in Minneriya National Park and drives in Wilpattu, the country’s largest national park.
For children
The Junior Ranger Program takes children out with naturalists in small groups on two walks – an evening walk of about an hour and a morning walk of about two – to learn bird calls by ear, read animal tracks in the mud and see how plants and animals depend on one another. Each young ranger receives a kit with binoculars and a notebook, and the programme closes with a short ceremony and a badge and certificate.
Restaurants & bars
Much of the produce comes from the estate’s organic farm and paddy fields, and a table can be laid anywhere from the manor house to the middle of a rice field.
- Liyawela – the main restaurant in the manor house, serving Sri Lankan, Eastern, Western and fusion dishes at breakfast, lunch and dinner, with an upper deck above the gardens.
- Kamatha – an evening feast of 25 Sri Lankan dishes, cooked over wood fires in clay pots by women from the village and served family-style to up to 15 guests in a working paddy field, local cocktails included.
- Wine cellar and cocktail bar – an underground cellar in the manor house and a bar for cocktails.
- Signature Dining – candlelit dinners by the pool or on the observation deck, a table for two on a kamatha threshing floor in the paddies, dining on a private terrace or in the villa (6.30 am – 10 pm), sundowners on the observation deck, gourmet picnics and barbecues.
Swimming
A 30 m outdoor pool sits among landscaped gardens, and every villa has a pool of its own: plunge pools in most, and a 10 m infinity pool at the Nikawewa Pool Villa.
Pets
Pets are not accepted.
Rooms
25 pool villas in three types: 19 Ulagalla Pool Villas, 5 Deluxe Pool Villas and the single two-bedroom Nikawewa Pool Villa. Wooden floors, king-size beds and glass walls facing paddy fields, jungle or the lake.
Air conditioning and a ceiling fan, free Wi-Fi, a flat-screen TV and sound system, minibar, safe, an espresso machine with Sri Lankan tea and coffee, toiletries, hair dryer, bathrobes, a pillow menu on request and bicycles for the estate.
Ulagalla Pool Villa
A villa with a king-size four-poster bed, a separate living room and a glass wall onto the garden or paddy fields; the bathroom has a walk-in shower and his-and-hers vanities. Outside are a private deck for dining and lounging and a plunge pool or a pool with air jets.
Deluxe Pool Villa
A larger villa with a foyer, a living room with powder room and a bedroom with dressing area and king-size four-poster; the main bathroom has a freestanding bathtub. The deck holds day beds, a dining area, a second bathroom and a 6.7 m plunge pool with air jets, facing the garden or paddy fields.
Nikawewa Pool Villa
The estate’s only two-bedroom villa, with king-size beds, two en-suite bathrooms (a freestanding bathtub in the master) and a living and dining room. A 180-degree glass wall looks over a paddy field of about 7 hectares, with a 10 m pool and a deck for dining and lounging outside.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.