Ulagalla by Uga Escapes

A boutique hotel with a touch of traditional elegance and aristocracy, offers you a unique experience of luxury amidst a natural, remote, and uninhabited environment.

A gem amongst the Anuradhapura hotels, it is nestled in a sprawling 58-acre lush green garden with a 150-year-old mansion at its centre, rich with cultural heritage and historical significance.

Interposed within this natural habitat, there are 25 villas with private pools, cautiously designed and built to maintain the ecological balance of the surroundings. If you cherish adventure tourism or value visiting majestic archaeological sites, Ulagalla is the place to visit.

This is after all the land where great Kings once reigned. It is a 30-minutedrive to the archaeological sites in Anuradhapura and an hour away from the great rock fortress of Sigiriya, now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

ACCOMODATION AT UGA ULAGALLA RESORT ANURADHAPURA
Our accommodations are simply exquisite and are among the most luxurious villas in Sri Lanka.

Your very own ‘villa’, your royal abode, comes with a king-sized bed, cosy sofas, wooden floors, and spacious terraces to create an atmosphere of pure luxury and extravagance. You have a choice of 20 Pool Villas, each its own sanctuary.

The calm and serene beauty of Anuradhapura surrounds your holiday home. The views from within are breathtaking – you have a choice of awe-inspiring views of lush green paddy fields, the neighbouring jungle which teems with life, or a tranquil lake with its inviting waters.

UGA ULAGALLA POOL VILLA
The square area of each of the 19 Pool Villas at Ulagalla is over 850 square feet; fitting for a cosy and private holiday for a small family unit. Its glass wall offers an unobstructed, panoramic view of the scenic, unspoiled, natural glory of the surrounding of these villas in Anuradhapura. Within the villa is pure luxury and comfort.

Equipped with air conditioning, high-end entertainment systems, and all the modern amenities Ulagalla gives you one of the most luxurious experiences amongst the Sri Lankan hotels. All villas of the hotel, have its own deck and secluded private plunge pool, making it a unique and unparalleled destination.

NIKAWEWA VILLA AT UGA ULAGALLA RESORT ANURADHAPURA
Nikawewa, the exquisitely and elegantly furnished 1800 sq ft Pool Villa is ideal for a truly comfortable and memorable holiday. The villa comes with two bedrooms, living and dining areas, and its 180-degree glass wall gives its occupants a picturesque view of a 17-acre paddy field.

A full-length pool links the manmade villa with the abundant beauty of nature with delicate intricacy, making it one of the most unique resorts in Anuradhapura.

DELUXE ULAGALLA VILLA
A haven of intimate luxury and comfort, in a setting infused with the serenity of being close to nature. The stunning Deluxe Pool Villas at Ulagalla boast 2,100 sq feet of splendour.

Step through the foyer into the comfort of a spacious bedroom, augmented by a dressing space and flanked by an elegant bathroom with a shower and bathtub, to suit your preference.

The ample living room is only second to the stunning 700-sqft outdoor deck which features day beds, a second bathroom, a dining space, and of course the pièce de résistance – the plunge pool. This idyllic getaway is perfect for couples while it is also family friendly; so you can bring the kids along.

Relax and take in the tranquil vistas of lush paddy fields, green forests, and shimmering lakes at this stunning get away.

DINING AT UGA ULAGALLA RESORT ANURADHAPURA
Enjoy our carefully crafted fine dining experience at the main restaurant or dine in privacy on your own personal deck or even in a local paddy field.

Our en suite dining options are numerous and we are ever willing to meet your every whim with an unparalleled attention to detail. We believe that this is what truly sets us apart from other five-star hotels in Anuradhapura.

We don’t make concessions when it comes to offering the best and we guarantee the freshest of locally-produced ingredients, some of which comes from our own gardens and the surrounding paddy fields.

KAMATHA
You haven’t tasted Sri Lanka, locals say, until you fully experience an authentic “Kamatha” meal – rice paddy dining pavilion serving revered royal recipes from a Kingdom long forgotten.

The Kamatha, a new dining experience by Ulagalla’s award winning team, set in the centre of a working paddy (rice) field brings together travellers and locals who have an appetite for exploring flavours.

On this epicurean adventure you will sample traditional dishes, explore old world ingredients and even work with home cooks and their favourite recipes.

You will learn ; how the traditions of a Kingdom are reflected in the myriad of fragrant spices and seasonings, about the utensils still in use after 2000 years and of the preparation of food in hand made clay pots and open wood fires at a whole different taste.

These thoughtful multi-course meals incorporate vegetables harvested at Ulaglla’s organic farm, lake fish and free-range meats sourced locally and traditional breads and old-world rice, the signature crop of Ulagalla’s paddy fields.

LIYAWELA RESTAURANT AT UGA ULAGALLA RESORT ANURADHAPURA
At Liyawela restaurant, your dining experience will be undoubtedly unforgettable. The traditional furnishing, emphasised by the multiple shades of brown,brings out the characteristic dry zone atmosphere. This cosy dining venue offers you the best of Sri Lankan, Eastern and Western cuisine as well as fusion fare.

The restaurant’s upper deck provides a captivating view of the lush green vegetation that surrounds the resort. Come savour and relish a scrumptious meal unlike any other luxury resort in Anuradhapura, in the soothing cool breeze at Liyawela.

PRIVATE DINING AT UGA ULAGALLA RESORT ANURADHAPURA
Deep within its lush green vegetation, Ulagalla offers an exclusive dining experience to its guests who desire privacy.

Imagine a table set for two in a middle of a peaceful “kamatha” – the threshing ground of a paddy field – that offers the perfect ambience to savour the authentic flavours of Sri Lankan cuisine or experience a sumptuous barbecue meal.

If your preference is to spend a romantic candlelit dinner, the observation deck at Ulagalla has the perfect setting.

For a truly intimate experience, you may dine under the stars, at your private terrace or by the tranquil poolside. Why settle for anything less, when you can experience the unique private dining at our restaurant in Anuradhapura?

SPA AT UGA ULAGALLA RESORT SRI LANKA
The walls of our luxurious spa at Ulagalla are built with wattle and have an inconspicuous appearance. It is further concealedand is obscured by lush foliage that surrounds it. It is hidden to all but the ones who seek it; our luxury spa is one of the best hotels in Anuradhapura for some wonderfully indulgent pampering.

Veiled to the world and its cares, our spa is built to resemble an underground cavern of perfect equanimity and is not only unique in appearance but also offers an experience that is inimitable –from a simple massage to signature treatments to rejuvenate you from your crown to your toes.

Our expert spa therapists are recognised as some of the best in Sri Lanka with international expertise and training. All our spa treatments and products are of exceptional quality and conform to international standards; you can rest assured that you are in the safest hands when you step into the spa at Ulagalla.

WEDDING AT UGA ULAGALLA ANURADHAPURA SRI LANKA
At Ulagalla we focus on intimate weddings for up to 50 people, allowing us to personalise our service and coordinate everything to your desire. We adapt to your likes and needs – you choose what you want when you want for your special day.

Let us help you create tailor-made wedding day menus that meet your discerning tastes. Crafted by our experienced culinary team led by our Executive Chef, a tempting selection of Asian and International cuisine enhanced by a magnificent selection of fine wines and other beverages can be served on your special day.

Ulagalla is one of the few Anuradhapura five-star hotels in Sri Lanka for your perfect destination wedding.

Experience total privacy and serenity in luxury hideaways and enjoy world class five star hotel facilities when you celebrate your marriage on expansive outdoor areas, set around the large glimmering pools and stunning lush paddy fields that surround the resort.

WEDDING VENUES AT UGA ULAGALLA SRI LANKA
At Ulagalla we focus on intimate weddings for up to 50 people, allowing us to personalise our service and coordinate everything to you desire. We adapt to your likes and needs – you choose what you want when you want for your special day.

Allow us to help you create tailor-made wedding day menus that meet your discerning tastes. Crafted by our experienced culinary team led by our Executive Chef, a tempting selection of Asian and International cuisine enhanced by a magnificent selection of fine wines and other beverages can be served on your special day. Ulagalla is one of the most unique Sri Lanka wedding venues.

Experience total privacy and serenity in luxury hideaways and enjoy world class facilities when you celebrate your marriage on expansive outdoor areas, set around the large glimmering pools and stunning lush paddy fields that surround the resort.

HONEYMOON AT UGA ULAGALLA ANURADHAPURA SRI LANKA
Our warm and experienced staff will help you plan the idyllic romantic honeymoon in Sri Lanka. With our long-stay honeymoon packages, we ensure that you get the most memorable experience during this special time.

We aim to make every moment of your honeymoon in Sri Lanka memorable, so feel free to ask us to create your preferred ambience with seductive candlelit bedrooms, soft music, a bottle of champagne, sumptuous delicacies, and much more.

LEISURE AT UGA ULAGALLA ANURADHAPURA SRI LANKA
When choices to occupy yourself are too many, time seems to race, dishing out days that are too short to experience everything that life has on offer.

The hotels near Sigiriya have an abundance of choices in terms of varying excursions, and Ulagalla offers you the most exciting options. You can play the explorer, the wildlife enthusiast, pampered royalty, adventure sportsman, or just relax the whole day. The choice is yours.

ANURADHAPURA ATTRACTIONS
Anuradhapura, the District in which, the r is located, is widely acknowledged by historians as the first capital of civilised Sri Lanka.

Rich with culture and history, it is home to ancient ruins of temples, some of the largest stupas of the world and palaces dating back to the 10th Century BC. Anuradhapura is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Simply a must-see attraction.

On your way to see Anuradhapura’s attractions, you must not miss the opportunity to witness the architectural wonder of the rock fortress of Sigiriya – the impressive citadel built by the rebel king Kashyapa.

Gardens, bathing pools, rock carvings, and a palace perched on the majestic rock as well as colourful frescos on the rock walls are the highlights of this historical site.

Minneriya National Park, famous for the annual gathering of its elephants –one of the world’s largest recorded assemblies of elephants – is another location teeming with wildlife that should not be missed.

However, if you want to spot Sri Lankan elephants, the elusive leopards, sloth bears, spotted deer, buffaloes, sambar, mongoose, and over 30 species of animals, exotic birdlife, reptiles, and amphibians, Wilpattu National Park is the place to visit. The park is spread over an area of approximately 1300 square kilometres.

THE SRI MAHABODHI TREE
The much revered and sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya (Bo Tree) – which originates from the Sri Maha Bodhiya Bo Tree, in Bodhi Gaya India, which is said to have provided shelter for Lord Buddha as he attained enlightenment – is venerated by thousands of Buddhist pilgrims who flock to Anuradhapura.

THE ABHAYAGIRI MONASTERY & DAGABA
With just a 30-minute drive from Ulagalla, you can reach the Abhayagiri Monastery and Dagaba in Anuradhapura which had been established by King Vattagamini Abhaya, who lived during the first century BC. He chose this site on his triumphant return after having had to flee from invaders.

AUKANA SRI LANKA
The ancient Sinhalese were highly skilled in architecture and sculpture, which is quite evident when one sees the intricate works of art dating back thousands of years, in so many locations on the island.

As Buddhism has been the focal point of our society, paintings, sculptures, etc., interestingly depict the life and times of Lord Buddha, which provides a wealth of knowledge to future generations.

The Aukana statue, depicting Lord Buddha in his ashiva mudra pose, stands tall among all the grand masterpieces in Sri Lanka, both literally as well as figuratively.

It is a structure that mesmerises. Standing at 12m and 10 feet across at the shoulders, its creator is not known, although research has revealed that it dates back to the 5th Century, during the reign of one of Sri Lanka’s most prominent kings – King Datusena 459-477AD.

It is speculated that a competition between a teacher and student in which the teacher won, was the result of the Aukana statue. It is interesting to note that the entire statue has been carved out of an expansive rock face and it is still attached to it.

Just a short drive away from Ulagalla, you must not miss the chance to experience the wonder of Aukana, Sri Lanka.

POLONNARUWA
The ancient city of Polonnaruwa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is Sri Lanka’s oldest city after Anuradhapura, is also situated in the North Central Province.

Polonnaruwa has a special place in Sri Lanka’s history as Parakramabahu, the first king who reigned in the kingdom, was instrumental in ushering the ‘Golden Age of Polonnaruwa’.

He was an intelligent and visionary King who constructed the famed ‘Parakrama Samudra’ – one of many irrigation systems that support the region’s cultivations to this day.

In Polonnaruwa, you could behold the spectacular ruins depicting the life and times of its people; gigantic temple structures, megalith statues of Lord Buddha as well as intricately constructed stupas, tombs, and palaces. You can almost travel back in time and stand in the midst of the grandeur of a once thriving metropolis.

Towards the north of the city is the Quadrangle (Dalada Maluwa), Polonnaruwa’s once sacred attraction which is rich with ancient artefacts and historical treasures. The Polonnaruwa Museum, the Lankatilaka, and Gal Vihara, as well as Minneriya, and Kaudulla national parks are the places to visit near Polonnaruwa.

SIGIRIYA TOUR
The Sigiriya Rock on the horizon always captivates the gaze of the onlooker. Considered to be the eighth wonder of the world, the fortress on a 600-foot rock is a result of an altercation that took place between two heirs to the throne in the 5th Century.

Prince Kasyapa who took over the throne by brutally killing his own father King Datusena, constructed this architectural and engineering marvel, complete with flourishing irrigation systems, to seek refuge from his brother Prince Mogallana who wished to exact his revenge.

Having antagonised the people who were predominantly strong and devout Buddhists at that time, Kasyapa had no choice but to flee whilst the people awaited their rightful king, Prince Mogallana.

In the ensuing battle upon the return of his brother, complete with an Indian army, Kasyapa took his own life, thus ending his reign; but the ancient city of Sigiriya prevails.

You will be able to picture the ancient city come to life as you take a Sigiriya tour and hike past its moats and water fountains (that still function to this day). Walk through the entrance to what once was Kasyapa’s palace via the lion paws it is famed for.

THINGS TO DO IN DAMBULLA
Dambulla is yet another place you must not miss when you are at Ulagalla. A cave temple carved out of solid rock where Buddhist ascetics once resided, is the main attraction of Dambulla.

The splendour of the temple lies mainly in the sheer expanse of Buddha statues and elaborate artwork that fill the cave from end-to-end. Since this is regarded as a holy place, you need to ensure that you maintain respect and decorum on your visit.

Dambulla Rock Temple has history etched in every inch and is perched on a rock approximately 600 ft above the plain. There is much to be learned about the rich history and culture of the island within these walls.

Take a Dambulla tour and walk past paintings and sculptures that are displayed in the temple. It is a labyrinth consisting of five interwoven caves, each with its own persona and an interesting story.

As history records, Dambulla is a city that has been frequented by many of Sri Lanka’s Kings as they sought refuge and advice from the hermits that lived within the temple walls. Some have contributed towards the construction of many of its statues as an act of gratitude and respect.

This is noted down in detail in history books. Dambulla is an extremely peaceful place to visit with the gentle swishes of the Bo trees accentuating tranquillity and mindfulness which would in turn, mark the perfect end to your day.

RITIGALA SANCTUARY
When you proceed to the east from Ulgalla, a distant saddle-backed mountain rising above a range of smaller hills will greet your eyes. This is Ritigala– an ancient retreat of Buddhist hermits – where the ruins of a first-century BC monastery are veiled behind trees and the thick undergrowth of the jungles of Ritigala.

Its height and the local weather patterns create a microclimate difference from that of the surrounding plains. Ritigala is home to a variety of rare species of plant and animal. Its biodiversity is now strictly protected.

The half-day Ritigala hike excursion is quite unique; you wade through a forest decorated with orchids to sip a cup of tea, seated on the remains of ancient stone bathing-pools, bridges, and courtyards, while colourful birds and mischievous monkeys look at you with envy from the treetops. Furthermore, you will return to Ulagalla after the sunset for cocktails and dinner.

BICYCLE TOUR
For over a thousand years, Anuradhapura was the capital of a great civilisation; then for a thousand more, it lay in ruins, forgotten by the rest of the world, covered thickly by forest, home to only wild animals.

Yet today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the world’s largest archaeological excavation site, unfolding fascinating truths about our history and a centre of Buddhist pilgrimage. All this is just aa 30-minute drive away from our doorstep.

There are many things to see and do in Anuradhapura: massive stupas like clouds hanging low on the ground, ingenious irrigation works that confound even the engineers of today, palaces and monasteries that display the brilliant craftsmanship of ancient engineers and stonemasons, enchanting works of art, and a tree grown (still growing) from a cutting of the original Bo tree under which the Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment.

All this can be witnessed in an amazing half-day bicycle tour. We depart after early breakfast or lunch and cover these locations in half a day.

As you ride along the streets, byways, and green lawns of Anuradhapura, you will get a picture of what this city would have been like during its glory days. Its alluring magic seems to have a lasting impression on you even after you return to your hotel in Ulagalla.

WILPATTU & MINNERIYA NATIONAL PARKS
Ulagalla is conveniently located between two famous nature reserves. Wilpattu National Park is the oldest and second-largest wildlife sanctuary in Sri Lanka: from the western coastline north of Puttalam, it extends halfway to Anuradhapura.

Thick with dense jungle, except for hundreds of ponds or willu that give it its name, Wilpattu is famous for bears, elephants, and leopards (of which it has one of the largest populations in Sri Lanka), bird life, and many other species. It is best to visit during the inter-monsoonal months of February and October but it is fascinating all year round.

Minneriya lies to the east of Ulagalla, around an enormous irrigation reservoir built in 286AD by King Mahasena I of Anuradhapura. It is a relatively small sanctuary, best known for the ‘Gathering’, a seasonal congregation of wild elephants that attracts herds as big as 400 from all over the country to the shores of the Minneriya tank.

WHALE AND DOLPHIN WATCHING IN SRI LANKA
Sri Lanka boasts 27 cetacean species – from the giant blue whale to the sociable, acrobatic spinner dolphin – resident or migrant in its territorial waters. Owing to this abundance, whale and dolphin watching in Sri Lanka is very popular.

At Trincomalee, a kilometres-deep submarine canyon, commencing within metres of the shore, creates plankton-rich upwelling that attracts blue whales and bryde’s whales as well as large squids and the sperm whales.

Oceanic dolphins and even pilot whales can also to be spotted at Trincomalee, while the lagoon and the elaborate system of deep coves and inlets that Lord Nelson called “the finest natural harbour in all the world” sustain an incredible diversity of marine and littoral species.

One of our other properties Uga Jungle Beach, Kuchchaveli, makes a perfect base for whale-watching adventures off Trincomalee as well.

PRISTINE DIVE SITES IN SRI LANKA
If you are adventurous, the waters off Sri Lanka are a great place for wreck-diving. One of the best areas for this is off Batticaloa, south of Pasikudah, where a famous World War II wreck, the British aircraft carrier HMS Hermes, lies half-entombed by coral at an accessible depth.

Since the wreckage of her escort vessel HMAS Vampire, also sunk by Japanese bombers on the same day, has never been found, there is a golden opportunity for enterprising wreck-divers.

Our resort in Pasikudah – Uga Bay – is the perfect base among Sri Lanka’s diving sites; we’d be happy to arrange an expedition with an experienced and reputable operator for guests who are PADI-certified divers.