Ulagalla Resort

Ulagalla is a triumph of eco friendly design that manages to blend genuine environmental practices with luxurious, fully-facilitated interiors meaning that comfort is not forgotten. Accredited with a silver LEED certification from the US Green Building Council, this brand new resort south of Anuradhapura encompasses 58 acres of working paddy fields, organic vegetable plots and ornamental gardens that play host to 25 chalets, a sensitively-restored ancient wallauwa (manor house), a 30m swimming pool, a gym and a sensual sunken spa. The resort’s generosity of space coupled with its beautiful natural surroundings – not one tree was felled during construction whilst a mere 1,000 were planted – gives it a village atmosphere that along with concerted efforts of the hospitable staff team make you feel at home the moment you arrive.With so much space on offer, Ulagalla’s beautifully furnished chalets boast private, peaceful surroundings where outlooks over lotus-topped reservoirs, jungly woodland or lush green paddy fields are celebrated though floor-to-ceiling glass walls, picture windows and private fully-furnished sun decks fitted with individual jacuzzi plunge pools, dining tables and double sun loungers. Public areas of the resort – a first-floor restaurant, fully-equipped bar and reception area – are all located in the main house, a 150-year-old fully-restored mansion once home to the village chieftain that offers contemporary elegance without detracting from its traditional, rural design. Linking all areas of the resort is an eco-friendly transport system in the form of on-call golf buggies and pedal bicycles, two of which are provided for guests in each chalet.The resort’s state of the art eco-initiatives are imperceptible to the eye proving that green builds can still be luxurious; each chalet has been constructed from Durra which is 100 percent recyclable and ten times stronger than dry wall; air conditioning systems utilise environmentally friendly gas whilst LED light bulbs reduce the carbon footprint of the resort by 80 percent. There’s also a solar energy farm onsite that powers up to fifty percent of the resort’s energy requirements, and it’s the biggest of its kind in Sri Lanka. Organic fruit and vegetables, combined with rice from the paddy fields, are used in the resort’s kitchen whilst all waste is also recycled. The activities offered at Ulagalla - archery, horse riding, kayaking and nature walks – have also been chosen for their minimal impact on the environment.