COLUMBUS TOURS NEWSLETTER - NOVEMBER 2020

Chena Huts Yala by Uga Escapes win Trip Advisor Traveler's Choice Best of the Best Awards 2020

The world’s largest travel platform has picked a leading Sri Lankan hotel to reward in its latest ‘world’s top 25 boutique luxury hotels’ awards. Uga Chena Huts has won in the latest international commendation as one of the ‘Best of the Best Hotels’ around the world by securing a commendable third place among world’s Top 25 Boutique Luxury Hotels, bringing travel fame to the island nation. Uga Chena Huts, that already has a track record for winning several prominent awards in the past, is owned by Uga escapes, one of Sri Lanka’s prestigious hospitality groups. It is due to reopen its doors in December 2020, with the welcome addition of a brand new bar and restaurant !! We can’t wait for our clients to return to the newly refurbished Uga Chena Huts, bordering the Yala National Wild Life Reserve.

W15 Hantana Nestled in the Hills of Kandy, Wins Best New Boutique Hotel

The W15 Hanthana, enter a world of colonial charm that blends perfectly with its sublime surroundings of rolling tea plantations and emerald green forests. A beautifully restored tea planters bungalow, dating back to the days of the British Empire, amidst lush vegetation. Hanthana is recognized as one of the Sri Lanka’s most picturesque regions and the panoramic view from the bungalow is certain to satisfy! This heritage residence is reminiscent of a by-gone era, revived to accommodate every whim and fancy of the discerning traveler. An esplanade of columns, almost Grecian in its grandeur, awaits your arrival along with a personal butler who shall attend to you throughout your stay. In addition we are thrilled to share that the bungalow has just won "Best New or Recently Renovated Hotel" in the "Asia, Oceania, Africa, Indian Ocean and Middle East" category of Condé Nast Johansens 2021 awards. Click Here to watch the full video.

Sri Lankan Tourism Announce the Possibility of Long Stay Visas

A proposal has been made by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) to increase the validity period of A tourist visas to six months from the current period of one month. SLTDA Chairperson Kimarli Fernando told The Sunday Morning Business. “Normally you have to pay $ 35 to get a one-month visa and pay again for an extension, which is a hassle. So I have suggested charging a one-time fee of $ 35 for a six-month visa. As the quarantine process alone takes 28 days, we believe a visa valid for just one month would not suffice. And if you are looking for a good hideaway whilst in Sri Lanka, we can suggest Tisara Villas Koggala our very own Columbus Tours Villa, at a very preferential price. Click Here

The Assassinated Prime Minister and The Boutique Hotel

Did you know…there are weird and quirky places in Colombo ?

What could possibly be dark and grisly about a boutique hotel named after King Arthur’s very own castle? Possibly the fact that this was the place where Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike was assassinated. Incidentally, Tintagel Boutique Hotel was as at the time of the shooting, the residence of the Bandaranaike family, and was known as the "Rosmead Walawwa". Tintagel was built in 1930 as a residence for Dr. Lucien De Zilwa. However, he was asked to vacate it for the British Military so he subsequently sold it to Sir Solomon Dias Bandaranaike, who gave it to his son S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike who became prime minister, Bandaranaike met with several of his supporters on the verandah of Tintagel. Among the guests was a Buddhist priest, with a gun hidden in the folds of his robes and he shot the Prime Minister. Today, Tintagel has been turned into one of the most outstanding boutique hotels in Colombo and Prince Charles and his entourage stayed at Tintagel in 2017.

Culinary Ceylon

11 Year Old Georgia Cooks Sri Lankan Food at Masterchef Australia
and Takes Home The Trophy!!! - Click Here

11 year old Georgia cooked up wonderful Sri Lankan dishes that wowed the judges of Masterchef Australia! Coincidentally, celebrity chef Jock Zonfrillo (a judge on this Masterchef Australia) and his wife Lauren, were on their honeymoon in Sri Lanka a few years ago, and their tailor made tour was handled by Columbus Tours and our very own chauffeur guide Ananda, who invited them to eat at a local ‘kadey’ or roadside cafe, which they thoroughly enjoyed. The highlight of their trip was a curated culinary experience by Sri Lankan celebrity chef Koluu, in his home in Colombo.

Sri Lanka’s all-time favorite …“Pol Sambol” 

(Coconut Sambol) delicious and easy to prepare
Coconut sambal is a top favorite among Sri Lankans and the best combination with every food, especially with Hoppers, String Hoppers, Rotti or Roast Paan.. This easy coconut sambol can be made at home.

INGREDIENTS
Grated coconut – 100g (Use desiccated coconut as a substitute)
Dried red chillies - 8 chillies
Small onion / Shallots – 5
Lime – ½
Sugar – ¼ teaspoon
Salt – To your taste

INSTRUCTIONS
Keep all ingredients-grated coconut, dried red chilies, onion, salt, sugar, and lime separately. Grind dried red chilies and salt together to flakes into a mortar and pestle. Add grated coconut and ground dried red chili flakes. Bash and muddle them using the pestle until they are combined well. Add a sprinkling of sugar and bash them again. Finally, add the onions and bash them to a good mix. Taste the sambal and adjust salt if needed. Place in plate or bowl. Then, add the lime juice and mix everything well into a tasty coconut sambol!

Sri Lanka’s Couch Safari now Streaming

With the aid of state of the art live streaming technology, we offer you a well-curated virtual wildlife expedition that lets you take in a rich and vibrant wildlife adventure from the comfort of your home - being surprisingly close to the real deal! Choose your journey from four of Sri Lanka’s pristine and eclectic wildlife sanctuaries namely, Yala, Udawalawe, Kaudulla and Minneriya national parks and embark on a thrilling yet enticing excursion to discover the secrets of mother nature! For free registration for any of the following, visit web site Click Here

Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au

Columbus Tours (Pvt) Ltd.
No. 06, Tickell Road, Colombo 08, Sri Lanka.

Website: https://www.columbustourssrilanka.com/