Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WORTH A TRIP
HELGA'S FOLLY
Mawatha;r US$200, nonguest admission US$3; ) could easily have been dreamt up as
a joint project between Gaudí and Dalí. This 35-room hotel/art gallery/surrealist dream
has to be the most over-the-top and truly extraordinary hotel in Sri Lanka. It's run and de-
signed by the outlandish Helga da Silva, who grew up in a world of 1950s Hollywood
celebrities, artists, writers, politicians and general intrigue, and she has to be one of the
only hotel owners we've ever met who prefers her property not to be full. The rock band
Stereophonics famously wrote a song about her and her creation has surely led to a thou-
sand twisted nightmares for her guests. As extraordinary as it all is, once you've peeled
through all the decorations you'll see that the place is actually looking pretty tatty. Rather
than stay here we'd recommend just popping past for a poke about and a drink - for
many people it's actually one of the most interesting sights in Kandy.
Sleeping
Kandy has many good guesthouses, and the more comfortable hotels often occupy spectac-
ular hilltop locations. There's an increasing range of smaller, boutique-style accommoda-
tion within around 45 minutes' drive of Kandy. These places enjoy quiet locations, but you
will need your own transport.
At the time of the Kandy Esala Perahera, room prices can treble or quadruple, and usu-
ally book out in advance. Booking far ahead may secure you a better deal.
The highest concentration of accommodation is along or just off Anagarika Dharmapala
Mawatha and Saranankara Rd; buses 654, 655 and 698 will get you there (or just ask for
'Sanghamitta Mawatha' at the clock-tower bus stop).
At the time of research a monstrous 100-plus room, seven-storey hotel (which is against
local building regulations that only allow for four storeys) was going up on Saranankara
Rd and blocking the views of many a guesthouse. Rumour has it that it's owned by a friend
of the president's family.
Most places have in-house restaurants.
Hotel Mango Garden
GUESTHOUSE
