In the Midst of History and Nature

In the Badulla district of the Uva Province of Sri Lanka lies an ancient town named Mahiyangana. A Pali word loosely translated as “flat land”, this town is a sacred place for the Buddhists of our nation. It is also world-renowned for being one of the few places where Sri Lanka’s original inhabitants “the veddahs” have made their home in a place called Dabana.

Shied away from the more commercialized tourist destinations in Sri Lanka, Mahiyangana has for many years been a stopover on journeys to other parts of the country. However, with agri-tourism and eco-tourism growing in popularity and more travellers wanting to experience all that our little island nation has to offer, this town too has grown to become a significant part of tour itineraries.

In researching accommodation options in close proximity to the Dabana indigenous village, the famed Sorabora Wewa and the Mahiyangana Temple, we came across a brand-new city hotel located in the heart of the town. Seeing that it was a comfortable and affordable location, we decided to give it a try. Little did we know that we had made quite a discovery.

Kevan’s Casa is approximately 195km from Colombo and it takes about 5 ½ hours travelling by car to get there. Once you have braved the 18 hair-pin bends and get to the town it is quite easy to find with the signage along the way.

Much has been said about inherent Sri Lankan hospitality and the tourism industry prides itself on the welcoming nature of our people. At Kevan’s Casa they take it to another level. Two white marble lions and literally the entire staff was on hand to welcome us as we disembarked from a long journey armed with wet towels and a much-needed welcome drink. In keeping with our traditions the welcome drink is brewed using traditional and seasonal herbs and is served in a coconut shell accompanied with generous pieces of home-made juggery.

Once you are refreshed from the ride, a willing bellboy will accompany you to your room which is situated either on the bottom or 1^st floor of the hotel. The hotel has two accommodation options to choose from, namely standard and deluxe. We were pleasantly surprised that the deluxe room we picked was spacious, modern and decorated in earthy tones with a touch of yellow to keep with the hotel’s brand image of a lion. Cable TV, Wi-Fi facilities, hot and cold water, air-conditioning and in-room tea and coffee-making amenities are available in all rooms. The only downside for us with the rooms was that the cable TV volume is centrally controlled, and we feel guests would prefer to be able to control it to their liking.

Since the hotel does not offer room service, all meals are served à la carte at an open restaurant downstairs. Since the weather is more of the arid nature at this time of year, a dip in the pool is highly recommended before tucking in to some of the delicious wares prepared by the local chefs. Trained in both local and international cuisine the executive chef and his team, prepare inter-continental dishes from around the world. But here’s a word from the wise. The owner Nisansala De Silva and his staff have all been brought up in the ways of old Sri Lanka, and make it their duty to feed guests to their fill. Each portion of food you order is generally sufficient for two adults unless you are a heavy eater or have been out the entire day exploring the countryside. During our stay we made it a point to try as many of the dishes as possible including the traditional Sri Lankan rice and curry, Chinese, Italian and a good English breakfast. Overall the food is well-prepared, localized to suit our taste buds and served with a lot of affection by the stewards who are ever-willing to please guests. Also expect a visit to your table from the chatty hotel manager Lal who loves to tell you stories.

During your stay a visit to the indigenous village is a must. Approximately 18km from the hotel, Dabana has its own informative museum and many local and international tourists come to visit the great leader “Uru Valiga Vanilla Aththo” who is said to have years of passed-on knowledge on Ayurveda medicine. The village also has a little marketplace selling souvenirs and handicrafts made by the indigenous people. For the adventurous, the 10^th highest waterfall in Sri Lanka “Rathana Ella” is also about a half an hour drive away. The climb to the top however takes another two hours or so through precarious winding forest trails. The view from the top though is worth the trek. Those who love their history will also find a fascinating story in how the Sorabora Wewa came to be. It is said that a “giant” named “Bulatha” who worked for King Dutugemunu struck the rock with his mammoty to create the embankment.

Amidst all this history and natural beauty lies this hotel which is actually named after the owner’s young son Kevan. We are told that reservations need to be made well in advance since despite being open for less than 6 months the hotel has constant tour groups from around the world, and many return visitors from among the locals. Affordable pricing, comfort, luxury and a true spirit of Sri Lanka is our guess for why people seem to fall in love with this little gem of a place.