Things to Do
Places to Visit in Our Expanse, SANCTUARY
Morning Side – twilight to the upper regions…
This destination… so close to Sinharaja is not a forest but it’s a part of a forest. The place has a spectacular locate, misty like upcountry side and has wetter climate at all times of the day, and the place is always shadowed in the evening; the area was named “MORNING SIDE” as it feels like its morning all day.
The land being located in the east part of Rakwana range allocate you to see.. tea plantations located between the Sinharaja forest side and the drive way from Rakwana to Deniyaya. This place is the home to most of the lowland and highland endemic birds of Sri Lanka; the Green-billed Coucal, Yellow-eared Bulbul, Sri lankan White eye, Dull- blue Flycatcher, Sri Lankan Jungle fowl and many more. Also, there are leopards, sambars, mouse deers, and few other remaininng elephants.
Explore the views of Morning Side travelling via Rakwana Deniyaya main route and discover the most panoramic views of tea plantations of Hayse and Lauderdale Estates on your drive.
Maduwanwela Walauwwa
Maduwanwala Walawwa is a mansion located in a town called Kolonne, just one hour 25 minutes drive (approximately 31km) from our destination in Rakwana. This place had been built during a period of 1877-1905; the Wallawwa had had 121 rooms, 21 inner courtyards and 82,000 acre land surrounding it, at its present there are only 43 rooms left. Located in the grounds is a courthouse with seating space for 100 people, furniture and the equipments used for punishments are still present. Beneathe its roofing there lies an interesting history of Maduwanwela Disawe and two of the Sinhalese Kings who ruled Sri Lanka in that era. Later the mansion was transferred to Sir Francis Molamure, which now is taken over by the Department of Archaeology and had been converted into a museum.
The Maduwanwela Walawwa lies in an area of tranquil beauty with paddy fields and tall trees that span out across the plains providing much needed shade.
We “Sanctuary Resort” can supply our valuable guest in need.. to visit this marvelous locale from a skillfully assured package tour exclusively organised from us.
Waulpane Cave
Waulpane Cave is located in Buluthota Rakwana range, approximately a 33km drive from our destination at Rakwana. This place is one of the archeological sites located in Srilanka.The meaning of Waulpane is Cave of Bats, and nearly more than 2,500,000 bats inhibit this cave. You will journey about 300m underground to discover this prehistoric world, and there are few fossils visible in the cavern wall.
The stream which runs through this cave becomes a beautiful waterfall at the center, giving you a mysterious and a thrilling experience.
Bodiraja International Meditation Center Rakwana
Meditation center with free meditation facilities, located on the borders of the “Sinharaja” rainforest… the calm and tranquil setting close to nature. Just a drive of 24 minutes time (approximately 10km).
People are busy with education, employment, medical treatments, social performances and many other responsibilities in their day-today-lives. Though they rarely take a rest, it is not actually to dissolve the stress but to design the future plans and to find ways and means to accomplish them. At this centre, the guests can experience a calm and quiet environment in order to purify their minds.
Cool mountains and the lush green scenery of Rakwana that is 2400 feet above sea level, provides the ideal setting for medication which is available at the Bodhiraja International Meditation Center. The meditation center was built with utmost care to preserve and blend in with the natural beauty of the area.
We “Sanctuary Resort” have been supplying for more than a year all the modern amenities to facilitate the guests who have been willing to halt at our hospitality and proceed in meditation.
Udawalawa National Park
The Udawalawe National Park is a popular destination for those hoping to spot wild elephants. Encompassing the Udawalawe Resovoir along with much of its catchment area, the park covers about 31000 hectares of land. This area had been also declared as the 5th National Park of Sri Lanka. The dominant ecosystem of the park is forest scattered with grasslands and thorny shrubs, though part of the park is reclaimed tea estate.
On the wildlife side, the large herds of Asian elephants are the main draw cards, but populations of leopard, spotted deer, barking deer, wild boar and water buffalo are gradually increasing. Other mammals found within the park include the endemic toque macaque, the common langur, golden jackal, sloth bear and toddy cat.
Udawalawe Park is an excellent spot to visit all year round, with a resident elephant population among other wildlife… meaning that you will rarely be disappointed in terms of wildlife viewings. There is also an excellent elephant orphan transit camp attached to the park, where four times a day you can observe the young elephants being bottle fed.
Just 45 minutes drive from our boutique hotel at Rakwana, you may have the opportunity to visit this amazingly inspiring, Udawale National Park.
For more than a year we have hands on experience to facilitate our guests in package tours added with meal plans and safari jeeps organized to make your tour as effortless as possible.