We recently visited Rukgala Retreat, a boutique hotel in Digana. Rukgala Retreat is managed by Wilde & Co, a company dedicated to creating unique travel experiences in Sri Lanka.
We drove up the hill leading to the hotel and entered a large wooden beautifully designed veranda overlooking the Kandyan mountains and the Victoria lake. The interior of this place was so refreshingly vibrant. It was very airy and spacious with natural light flowing smoothly through the hotel.
Designed by Annie De Silva, a well known concept designer in Sri Lanka, she has put in her expertise to the fullest with the whole look of the place. This luxury retreat center is really something our readers need to experience.
We were greeted by their friendly staff and taken to our rooms. I must admit that the whole idea of a retreat center felt pretty basic to me, but once I saw this place and was taken to our rooms I discovered that this place was far from it.
Their rooms have a nice balance of simplicity and luxury. The rooms were large and beautifully decorated and no short of a 5 star hotel. The first thing you notice when you walk in, is the beautiful four poster bed and the view of the mountains visible from each corner in the room. The room also has an open concept wardrobe which adds to the simplistic look of the room. The bathrooms are spacious, have a large shower cubicle and are stocked with all necessary amenities. They have 8 rooms and two types to select from, the Garden Cottages and the Top House.
The living and pantry areas are open to their guests and decorated with a mix of wicker and modern furniture. The dining takes place in their veranda on a long dining table which stretches from one corner to the other. The background of their dining area are the beautiful Kandyan mountains. The dining arrangement here is different to other places as it is set for guests to dine together. I liked this different and unique eating arrangement.
All their meals are prepared by the staff to give you an authentic Sri Lankan taste. They have a variety of meat, vegetarian, vegan and gluten free dishes. They also do special meal arrangements for those who participate in retreats.
They also have a large swimming pool and a shala for retreats. This place is perfect for those planning to host a retreat or even a relaxing getaway with friends because of all the experiences they have to offer.
Their yoga shala has to be one of the best features of this property. Built out of locally sourced teak, this shala is the perfect place for a retreat or just to relax. They also have the equipment required for a yoga class which makes it convenient for anyone who wants to have a session during their stay.
Victoria lake is a 2 minute walk from Rukgala and is a nice place to have a dip and relax. The property offers kayaks, paddle boards and bikes for you to use to make your stay a memorable one. We had a really great time paddle boarding for the first time.
If you feel like stepping out of the property and enjoying what the area has to offer, they also arrange day hikes into the Knuckles Mountains, guided visits to Bambaragala Rock and visits to the waterfalls and tea fields in Ashburnham Estate.
Rukgala Retreat has a few great offers you might want to take advantage of as I doubt it will be easy to get a room at this property once the tourists start flowing in. Thus, I suggest our readers make use of the special rates they are currently offering. I would recommend this place to any type of traveler, it's great for families with kids, couples, friends, groups and group retreats.
