Boutique Sri Lankan hotel group Uga Resorts, renowned for its world-class hospitality, recently opened its eighth property in Sri Lanka, the all-inclusive five-star Uga Ghiri, located in the Central Highlands region.
Uga Ghiri is nestled within the grounds of the mountain hamlet of Ella’s historic Sutherland Estate and consists of 15 standalone villas with a luxurious, contemporary design which stand alongside a meticulously restored colonial-era manor. Acting as the main house for the hotel, the manor is home to the indoor-outdoor restaurant as well as an infinity pool and a state-of-the art health spa. It also has an impressive library and drawing room complete with fireplace to keep guests warm and cosy on those cooler nights.
Colombo-based PWA Architects together with Philip Weeraratne and Gayan Karunaratne, oversaw the architectural scope of the property and were responsible for the design of the villas as well as the restoration of the main house, design of the surrounding landscape, infinity pool and spa building.
All the buildings have been purposely positioned to frame the spectacular mountain views and maintain a light footprint on the existing terrain.
The villa and bathroom interiors along with the interior of the main house and spa were created by Sri Lankan interior designer and spatial architect Yasasi Hettiarachchi, founder of YH Interior Design Studio.
The main house has an air of European elegance of a bygone era to it, balancing historical character with modern comfort. The villas on the other hand, have been inspired by Scandinavian design principles, using natural light and panoramic views to give guest a real connection between indoors and the surrounding landscape. The furniture has been produced locally, and the artwork and decorative pieces celebrate Sri Lankan makers and craftspeople.
The property looks out over sweeping panorama views of Ella’s emerald tea plantations, rolling hills and world-famous brick-and-stone viaduct Nine Arch Bridge which was completed back in 1919.
Set in 11 lush acres of terraced hillside, Uga Ghiri offers spectacular sweeping views across the tea-carpeted valleys and misty peaks in the distance. This area of Sri Lanka’s famous central highland region has captivated generations of travellers though the years with its dramatic landscape and timeless charm.
Ella itself is located close to some of the island’s most popular attractions such as Little Adam’s Peak which is accessible by foot. Ella Rock and Ravana Falls offers a rewarding adventure for those who want to venture further afield. The countryside is also surrounded by working tea estates, where the art of Ceylon tea-making continues with its methods remaining unchanged for centuries.
Each of the 1,200 square foot 15 luxurious standalone villas feature a contemporary and elegant design that is blended with subtle nods to Sri Lanka’s artistic heritage, comprising of a bedroom, separate living area and en-suite bathroom with bathtub, walk-in shower and his-and-hers vanity. The expansive windows act as frames to the stunning landscape outside, where you will also find an outdoor deck and private six foot hot tub.
Dining is an integral part of the resort’s all-inclusive experience and celebrates Sri Lanka’s rich culinary heritage through contemporary interpretations of familiar island flavours with menus that draw on local ingredients, hill-country produce and traditional recipes, balancing Sri Lankan dishes with popular international dishes.
There are plenty of activities to keep you occupied during you stay. For example, foodies will be able to take a journey from picking tea to the tea cup with the resort’s signature artisanal tea experience, as well as indulge in a spot of Ceylon arrak-tasting or try your hand at Sri Lankan cuisine with a market-to-table cooking masterclass.
You can of course, explore the surrounding landscape on foot, setting out directly from Uga Ghiri on a gently paced Hike Through Tea Country along Stage 16 of the Pekoe Trail, following estate tracks and quiet footpaths through the Modera and Newburgh tea estates.
Alternatively, the more adventurous amongst you might prefer to take a bike ride through the surrounding tea estates and villages and maybe even take on the adrenaline-packed descent from the Namunukula Ridge.
After all that activity you may well want to relax a little at the tranquil Spa which has two treatment rooms, one single and one double, with fabulous views overlooking Ella’s dramatic landscape and peaks. As well as a sauna and steam room, you can choose from a curated menu of restorative treatments that draws on Asian and Ayurvedic wellness traditions with ingredients synonymous with Sri Lanka, including green tea and coconut.
Founder of Uga Resorts and Deputy Chairman of FINCO Holdings Priyanjith Weerasooria, commented on the new opening, saying:
“We are delighted to welcome guests to Uga Ghiri, the newest addition to our beautiful collection of boutique Sri Lankan hotels. An intimate, all-inclusive new resort with just 15 private villas in the heart of the extraordinarily beautiful central highlands region, the property invites guests to slow down, reconnect with nature and immerse themselves in hill country life. From restorative wellness experiences and elevated dining to meaningful encounters with the surrounding landscape and communities, Uga Ghiri embodies our commitment to thoughtful luxury and to creating deeply authentic experiences rooted in Sri Lanka’s most remarkable destinations.”
Uga Ghiri is the latest property in the Uga collection and joins Uga Prāva in Galle, Uga Ulagalla in Anuradhapura, Uga Jungle Beach in Trincomalee, Uga Bay in Pasikuda, Uga Chena Huts in Yala, Uga Riva, a heritage-style manor house hotel in Negombo and Uga Halloowella in Hatton.
If you would like to discover more of what Sri Lanka has to offer, then Uga Journeys may be just the ticket. It can curate a multi-stop Sri Lankan escape combining stays at other Uga hotels together with some immersive experiences along the way. For more information on Uga Journeys and the Tea, Wildlife & Tides itinerary, please visit www.ugaresorts.com.
The Details
Uga Ghiri, Sutherland Estate, Passara Road, Ella, Sri Lanka.
Tel: +94 11 5 671 00 / +94 11 2 117 100
Website: www.ugaresorts.com/ghiri
Email: inquiries@ugaresorts.com
Located in the Central Highlands region of Sri Lanka, Uga Ghiri is approximately a 4½ hour car journey from Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport. Alternatively, there is the famed train route from Kandy where you can take in some of Sri Lanka’s most breathtaking terrain on your journey to the hotel.
Type of Hotel: 5-Star all-inclusive Boutique Hotel
Number of Rooms: 15 villas with complimentary Wi-Fi.
Price Band: Nightly rates at Uga Ghiri start from $1,200 (£881*) per villa per night on an all-inclusive basis.
Author Bio:
Simon Burrell is a UK-based travel and motoring journalist and editor, a former member of The British Guild of Travel Writers and professional photographer.
Photographs courtesy of Uga Ghiri
*Currency conversion correct at the time of publishing
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