Surrounded by the plush greens of rolling fields, indigenous decade old trees and virgin timberland of the dry Central Province, Aliya Resort & Spa is an elephant themed luxury resort overlooking the magnificent Sigiriya Rock Fortress and the Pidurangala Rock Temple in Audangawa, Sigiriya.
Aliya, meaning elephant in Sinhalese, offers a wide range of accommodation options from deluxe rooms to wooden chalets and suites. International as well as traditional Sri Lankan cuisine served through 3 different restaurants to accommodate each vacationers’ dietary needs, a gym or indoor badminton court to then burn those calories off, 2 bars to refresh yourself in the dry Sigiriyan climate, a nightclub to practice your dance moves and the ‘pièce de résistance’ is the enormous majestic infinity pool.
After a long day of adventuring both on and off the resort and trying out all the restaurants and bars, Aliya Resort provides you with the utmost in relaxation with an Ayurvedic massage at the tranquil spa.
Maintaining the theme of the Elephant throughout the resort, Aliya Resort & Spa’s accommodations are designed with a minimalist, yet spacious concept without sacrificing comfort. 4 types of rooms are available to suit any type or amount of travelers:
Deluxe Rooms: There are 66 Deluxe Rooms at Aliya resort & Spa and are housed in two-storey chalets with 4 bedrooms in each unit and have private balconies with garden views.
Deluxe Rooms with Attic: These 10 Deluxe Rooms are ideal for larger families as they have an attic room furnished with two single beds.
Suites: Aliya Resort & Spa has only two luxurious suites which are found in a relatively secluded section of the resort and can accommodate up to four guests. The ultimate in comfort & luxury, the interior consists of a living and dining area, a pantry, two bedrooms, a private plunge pool, a sauna and a home-theatre system. The ensuite bathrooms have twin vanities, a bath tub as well as a rain shower.
Wooden Chalets: For the nature lovers, Aliya Resort & Spa houses 18 wooden chalets which are shrouded in lush wilderness towards the front of the resort. Having been fabricated entirely out of abandoned/dismantled shipping pallets, this rustic experience not only provides comfort and all the necessary amenities, but seclusion from the busy side of the resort.
DINING
Dining at the resort takes you through a journey of the culinary delights of Sri Lanka with a touch of international and local dishes. 3 restaurants are available to suit everyone’s dietary needs.
The Alaka buffet, found in the main building left of the lobby, serves food characteristic to the region using nothing but the freshest ingredients and spices which are locally sourced or grown on the Resort’s premises. The spacious and airy restaurant has magnificent panoramic views of Sigiriya Rock as well as the Pidurangala Rock Temple that enlighten the background of the Resort’s infinity pool.
The Makara, found directly below the infinity pool, serves delicious and authentic Chinese dishes in the festive ambiance that is derived from the Orient. Overhanging red fringe décor and mythical golden dragons decorate the walls, and the varied culinary selection is sure to please your taste buds. Staying true to traditional Chinese origins, the dining area has sunken kiosks adding to the true authenticity that is achieved at the Makara.
The Migara is a lovely coffee shop and bar that has a delightful and casual feel to it and sits right beside the Alaka. Here you can enjoy a cocktail while you await your friends and family for dinner or take in the panoramic views it offers while having your morning coffee.
The Nagula and Authentic Sri Lankan Cooking Class
The Nagula offers a unique dining experience at Aliya Resort & Spa! Served at their wattle & daub restaurant which overlooks the resorts featured paddy fields allows you to experience authentic, true to the bone Sri Lankan cuisine with dishes so fresh, you can almost taste the clay stove on which the dishes are prepared on (this is a good thing!). The meals are prepared on clay stoves in a traditional Sri Lankan kitchen and served in a manner that doesn’t derive from Sri Lankan traditions.
We were given the awesome opportunity to take part in this authentic experience via their traditional Sri Lankan cooking class. It was incredible to see coming from Canada where the modern kitchen is standard in every home; we were astounded to hear that the majority of locals still prepared meals in clay kitchens daily across the country.
We were shown the numerous spices and herbs that went into authentic Sri Lankan dishes, and the way they were prepared. From shaving the inside of coconuts off a wooden stool with the spool that resembles that found on a cowboy’s boot, to starting a fire inside the clay stove in order to heat up the numerous ingredients that would go into the dishes.
AYURVIE SPA
Aliya Resort & Spa offers the utmost in relaxation with the Ayurveda Spa, AyurVie. Ayurveda, which means “The knowledge of Life”, is an ancient healing practice and way of life that provides a deep sense of wellness for your mind, body and spirit. It allows you to experience the strength of therapeutic and traditional holistic medicine, all while guiding you through a journey to wellness and inner balance. The spa also offers FREE Meditation and Yoga Sessions for both singles and couples. It truly is the epitome of relaxation and serenity!
ECO-FRIENDLY RECYCLED PAPER FACTORY
Adding to an already beautiful establishment, Aliya Resort & Spa outdoes itself once again. Sticking to strict eco-friendly morals, they top this initiative with their own on-site recycled paper factory. Yes, you read that correctly! Aliya Resort & Spa has an on-site recycled paper factory where they house all the recycled paper from each individual Theme Resort location, and in a step by step process, produce the fabrication of useable paper throughout the resort.
We were given a tour of the facility and were astounding at how simple, yet effective their methods were and what a difference it was making around the grounds of the resort. Little to no waste is a vast improvement from the dark days we were explained, where Sri Lanka apparently lost 75% of their greenery in the last decade alone (No research was done to back this number up, therefore we took his word for it!).
If you’re looking for an adventure, be sure to check out our full blog post Pidurangala Rock