Mount Lavinia, Sri Lanka

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.

Ayurveda treatment in Mount Lavinia

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