From the moment you step into any one of the Cottage Garden Bungalows, set amidst a lush tropical garden in College Avenue, Mount Lavinia, you will enjoy the serenity and comfort of an elegantly furnished cottage in an exclusive private setting. Located about 100 meters from the iconic Mount Lavinia Beach, these Bungalows are ideal for a getaway weekend, or for a longer stay. Each bungalow consist
s of a master bedroom furnished with twin beds, bedside lamps, satellite TV connectivity, a built in cupboard as well as chairs and a writing desk for your laptop and other personal items. While windows on both sides of the bedroom make it spacious and airy, you will be lulled to sleep by traditional ceiling fans aided by the winds that blow in from the sea. However, each cottage has its own A/C if required. The verandah with its easy chairs has direct access to the garden. Additional features include a bathroom complete with toilet, wash basin, shower stall with hot and cold water, towels and toiletries; and a kitchenette equipped with a two-burner gas cooker, refrigerator, cutlery, crockery, saucepans and a tea/coffee service. It is also stocked with fresh juice, fruit, bread, butter, eggs, jam/marmalade, curd and coffee or tea. Here, you may assemble your own personalized breakfast at any time convenient to you – after a late lie in bed, or a vigorous swim in the sea, or a stroll along the beach. You don’t have to worry about washing up; this is the job of the bungalow keeper. Your early morning swim before breakfast will energise you for the rest of the day. The sea is safe for swimming from October to beginning of May each year. Despite an urban setting, the beach is virtually empty during the week from morning till late afternoon. However, locals and visitors throng the beach in the evenings, and on weekends and public holidays. nstead of swimming, you may opt for an early morning stroll – a good 8-kilometer long walk along the sandy shore. You will pass a fishing village, and may be lucky to witness the fishermen bringing in the catch after a night’s expedition. Further on, you will see the original vegetation and the close by coral reef which surrounds the island. On the way back, you might like to stop at a beach kiosk to drink a glass of kola kenda – our local health drink, which has been around long before any ‘smoothie’. Once back in the bungalow and a refreshing shower, you can sit on the verandah and have a peaceful meal undisturbed by tourists, touts or hotel staff (though there is assistance if you need any). On the other hand, you can enjoy a breakfast at any one of the restaurants along this stretch of beach. They also serve snacks, lunch and dinner and you will be amazed at the diversity and variety of foods from the local rice and curry to Indian, Chinese, Malay and Western cuisine, with sea food specialty. Practically all these restaurants offer bar service (suspended on full moon, or Poya holidays, considered sacred in the Buddhist calendar). If, however, you are looking for fast food, there are many such outlets between Mount Lavinia and Dehiwela along Galle Road (about 200 meters from the Bungalows), which offer global brands such as Burger King, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), Barista, Pizza Hut, Domino’s Pizza, etc. There are also many fine patisseries, bakery goods outlets, cafes, bars and pubs. For fine dining you could try the Mount Lavinia Hotel or more informal hotels like La Rambla, Toby’s Estate, etc., or you can sample street food at wayside eateries, godamba, kottu roti, kadale, vadai, and so on. Sunsets in Mount Lavinia are spectacular. You can sit on the beach and watch the riot of colour in the sky, as the enormous red disk of the setting sun is swallowed up by the horizon. The show lasts barely 15 minutes, but the experience is that of a lifetime. A moonlit night on the beach is equally stunning as the rising moon is reflected on the sea’s gentle swell or on the waves lapping along the shoreline.
