Jetwing Kaduruketha – Agro-Luxury Resort in Sri Lanka

October 11, 2023
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With a Sri Lankan architecture and Indian design touches, Jetwing Kaduruketha retains a classic Asian feel. The beautiful resort is situated on rural landscapes of Wellawaya, where lush paddy fields and shimmering freshwater streams are surrounded.  

Location

Wellawaya is a junction town at the edge of the historic Uva Province, which can be reached by a beautiful four-hour drive from Colombo. When taking the Southern Expressway all the way up to the Mattala exit, the journey to Wellawaya takes you through provincial greenery and magnificent mountain ranges.

First Impressions

Entrance to the lodge is via an open air patio decorated with plants and original work done by craftsmen. Behind the courtyard is a large lounge area with dining room, both opening to an extensive terrace with views of the boundless Savannah.

The rural-styled resort features massive walls, stone clad features, and lush greenery in the main guest area, providing natural air conditioning. A huge central tower boasts stunning views of the paddy fields. Guests can experience some of the best sunset views, while soaking in the pool and taking in the green hues spread across.

The path leads to a pool deck, with some shaded sun loungers arranged along a pool with chairs and tables around it. The resort is beautifully lit at night by dozens of lanterns and candles, lending the property an Arabian fairy-tale ambiance.

Accommodation

Accommodation at Jetwing Kaduruketha consists of 25 bush traditional rooms,  built in the style of mini village and offering magical views across the plains from private wooden decks. Inspired by traditional Kandyan designs, environmental architect Sunela Jayawardene brought an icon of Sri Lankan agro-tourism to life using bamboo and wood to provide natural ventilation.

All traditional rooms are spaced about 50 m (160 ft) apart from each other, allowing complete privacy. The property uses a golf buggy to ferry guests from their rooms to the main area and back, especially after dark when it is not safe to walk on your own.

During my brief visit for just the night, I stayed in a room a bit far from the main lounge. The cycle kept at night actually helped me to reach quickly.  

Decorated in the style of a traditional Sri Lankan village, the elegant room featured a large kingside bed,  writing desk, and sitting area. The en-suite bathroom was equipped with one basin, toilet and rain shower. The room opened to a spacious area with terrific views of the paddy fields. Surprisingly there wasn’t any Television, and I was glad there wasn’t, since the sounds of nature was so calming there was no additional thing required for passing time.

Dining

As there was very less time for us at Jetwing Kaduruketha, we could only experience their dinner and breakfast ; but we were fortunate to get the local aromatic flavors, which reflected the warm hospitality of Sri Lanka.

The resort serves delicious cuisine and the meals are moderately priced for those guests that are not booked on the all-inclusive package. Mornings start with an energizing breakfast, comprised of small continental buffet and an à la carte menu with hot meals cooked to order by the chef. We also loved our dinner that consisted of light, flavorsome dishes and healthy salads. With the weather at its best, we enjoyed our dinner on the outdoor deck with soft breeze and a light drizzle that only made our experience worth cherishing.

Activities

The resort offers both morning and evening cycle rides to nearby village and lakes that I would highly recommend.  It’s also possible to do morning bush walks, which last about 90 minutes, where you can enjoy bird watching and gaze at fleeting peacocks while you walk.

Address

JETWING KADURUKETHA, WELIARA, ALUTHPARA,
WELLAWAYA, SRI LANKA.

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