Hambantota, has been the topic of much conversation and gossip during the recent past. With numerous projects taking place in this southern most region, including, the Hambantota harbour, the Sooriyaweva International Cricket Stadium and the second commercial airport in the pipeline, there’s much to be excited about in this town.

Surrounded by the Indian Ocean, and these novel projects lay, Peacock Beach Hotel, the oldest hotel in the region, in all its beauty and pride.

Built in 1985, the Peacock Beach Hotel spreads across several acres in a tranquil part of Hambantota where nature and wilderness have come to a silent agreement about its boundaries. The pathway leading to the hotel is known to be a gathering place for peacocks in the surrounding area.

Unfortunately, we took the veil of night along with us, and the birds had departed for the night before we could get a glimpse of them.

The hotel has 94 sellable rooms which are categorized into 34 Standard rooms, 34 Delux rooms, 24 Super Deluxe rooms and two Suites. After being graciously greeted with cold towels and fruity concoctions, we were directed to our rooms located nearby the pool.

Being allocated Super Deluxe rooms, I must say I was thrilled about to bits about my stay at the hotel. Furnished with the latest mod cons and tasteful furniture, the prize winner in this room was definitely the luxuriously comfortable double bed, which promises an uninterrupted trip to La La Land.

In terms of a gastronomical experience, the hotel’s in house restaurant, Monara serves local and foreign cuisines. While international buffet is served for dinner, Breakfast is a mix between American and Sri Lankan depending on the guests at the hotel. Some of their most famous dishes are the Brinjal moju, and cadju curry. They also serve a variety of desserts to entice the sweet tooth after a meal.

The hotel’s open beach restaurant, Werala organizes special theme nights on different days to suit the palattes of the guests. Apart from the two main restaurants, they also have a coffee shop & bar named Lihiniya located at the upper most storey of the hotel which offers a beautiful view of the sea and the harbour at any given time. On a clear night, the sky is filled with thousands of stars, just waiting to be admired.  

The two pools at the hotel are located in two different areas and are easily accessible to anyone who is interested in taking a dip. Peacock Beach also has a gym with the latest equipment and outdoor sports facilities such as badminton and beach volleyball. If you’re not interested in sports, hop into the hotel’s open double dekker Safari bus and go on a short excursion to Kataragama and surrounding areas.

Apart from the short excursion, Peacock Beach Hotel also organizes safaris to Bundala National Park and Yala.  With many species including the leopard, wild elephants and migrant birds such as Flamingos to spot, the two parks are definitely star attractions in the Deep South, which you cannot miss out on.

The hotel also organizes a jungle boat ride in Walawe River in Ambalanthota for those who are keen on spotting more birds. The boatman will also take you to the estuary, where the soil of the beach strip is deep red and the surrounding replicates the scenery of a far off land.

Helipad 

Eco culture activities are possible with Bundala Animal and Bird Sanctuary with all kind of animals and 150 species of rare and colorful birds, which is a mere stone’s throw from the hotel. Yala Game Sanctuary which is what Deep south is most famous for, Provides excellent opportunities to view wild elephants, leopards, bears, etc. in their natural habitat which is a must see in all guests calendar. 

By Sherwani Synon

Pix by Kithsiri De Mel