The resort is situated in a secluded area, away from the bustling main road, right on the beach over-looking the Indian Ocean. From the moment you step into the property, you feel as if you’re at the heart of a village in Sri Lanka. Built on a completely different concept, its not your everyday hotel or resort. Built on a land that consists of palmyrah trees, sand dunes and a maze like pathway, it’s like an adventure so as to find out what lies at the end of the pathway. An infinity pool shaped in a way which is contrary to the usual, sits at the heart of the property with a couple of ‘Ambalamas’ situated around it, providing some of the most breathtaking views which the property has to offer.

Palagama Beach has a lovely love story behind it. Built by father-son duo, Cecil and John Balmond are the founders of the resort. A family run business, the resort was up and running by late 2010, with everyone in the family helping out with the infrastructure development. Built alongside nature without harming any of the plants, most of the structures have been built using naturally available resources and even the furniture is hand made. A prominent feature at Palagama Beach is the use of vibrant colors since the colors go hand in hand with the whole setting and provides the rooms with a vivacious outlook. Intrigued by fisherman huts alongside the coastal belt, John wanted to offer a similar kind of lodging experience to his guests.

Accommodation is scattered all over the property with mainly four types of lodging. Beach cabanas for the romantic getaway with the view of the Indian Ocean, wooden cabanas with its own private garden and outdoor showers, the Cajan cabanas for the adventurous traveller and lastly the Mediterranean and Sri Lankan influenced villas, which are the ideal booking for family outings. Most of the rooms have both indoor and outdoor showers, private gardens and each one of them has a spectacular view.

Stepping out from the comforts of your room, Palagama Beach has loads more to offer. Following the hand made sign boards at the resort, one can make their way to the spa in the middle of the property where you could relax and enjoy a massage. If you want to sit down and read a book or just have a chat along with a cocktail, head down to the Beach Bar which consists of an equipped bar with bean bags scattered all over a floor made out of colorful mats. This area also has a couple of display cases with handicrafts made by the ladies in Jaffna in partnership with the Academy of Design. At night, the giant screen is rolled down and a movie is played for the guests.

Outside of the resort, it’s only an hour’s drive to Wilpattu National Park where you could witness the famous Sri Lankan Leopard, Asian elephant and different varieties of birds. One of the most important reasons why guests visit Kalpitiya is for dolphin and whale watching, which can be best witnessed when the sea is calm from November to April. Boat rides are equipped with life jackets and are guided by certified drivers and guides so as to ensure your safety. Kite surfing is also another fun filled activity available for the guests.

The seafood platter at Palagama Beach is mouth watering. The lobster, cuttlefish and jumbo prawns are delicious and the menu offers a wide array of meals for the guests. The management doesn’t want its visitors to feel trapped, so they have the liberty in ordering whatever they prefer, whether its Western or Eastern cuisine.  Live cooking takes place during the night where guests could witness their dinner being prepared and when hoppers are being served, guests could have a go in making their own hopper!

The overall setting of Palagama Beach is marvellous and it’s mostly because of its handpicked staff, who work around the clock to keep the place in tip-top order.  Palagama Beach is a different experience altogether and is one of those places which should be on your ‘Places to Visit’ bucket list. For more information on Palagama Beach visit http://www.palagamabeach.com.

Best Feature(s): Infinity Pool and Ambalamas
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Text and pictures by Migara Wijesinghe