As soon as I walked through the front doors of the 22-acre luxury property, I was greeted by a miraculous welcome – one of the property’s peaceful peacocks, who was not bothered by standing in the SUV’s path, spread its wings and started squawking. Search for his partner. It is this moment, the joyful wonder that set the tone for my three-day stay at the Anantara Peace Haven in Tangalle, Sri Lanka,

One of the finest resorts under Minor Hotels – an important stakeholder of Asia’s growing luxury hospitality ecosystem, Anantara Peace Haven is away from all the popular tourist needs of Sri Lanka. In fact, tell a local that you’re going to Tangalle for day three of your eight-day Sri Lanka trip, and they’ll be puzzled as to why you didn’t choose that trip. Nuwara EliyaElla, candy Or Yalla instead.

However, once you get here, you won’t regret it. Close to the southernmost tip of the island-country, Ananta Peace Haven offers direct access to its own expanse of sand as well as pristine Goyamboka beach – highly recommended if you’re looking for a swim in the Indian Ocean.

Interestingly, you feel more like you’ve entered a nature reserve than a beach front resort, with two huge pools right in the middle, and 32 villas each with a private bathroom. There are also their own plunge pools. You wouldn’t be wrong either – as my private villa host Rasith D’Silva said in our first conversation, the resort is certified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to be home to 45 individual species. Of butterflies.

As soon as echoes of “Ayubowan” welcome you from the extremely polite staff, you begin to notice that it is the little details that have been given impeccable attention. You are escorted to the main lounge and reception area, where there is none of the hustle and bustle of the strict check-in process of a typical white-collar hotel. If you’re staying in a villa, your check-in takes place directly in your room. I was then assured that the villa was in perfect condition, and that the staff would be happy to accommodate any specific pillow requests if needed.

As soon as you walk into your villa, the size of the resort dawns on you. The villas are, of course, the prime showcase for Anantara – if you’re willing to splurge, the ‘Beach Pool Villa’ literally gives you everything. Of course you get a private plunge pool, but you also get direct access to the beach at any time of the day. However, the hosts do not encourage running unsupervised on the beach at night due to safety reasons.

The 120 standard rooms at the resort are no compromises – they’re well spread out, not closely packed, and they all face the ocean. That’s what really makes the difference – the sense of place in almost every corner of Anantara Peace Haven.

In significant trenches, the resort has retained its natural roots. For example, a path away from the villas takes you to a rice paddy, where Anantara’s in-house team harvests the rice seasonally. There are also ponds where 22 species of dragonflies are reared. However, the star of the show is a small village kitchen, which, if you saw it in pictures, would not be considered artificially created.

If you sign up for the experience, a native of Tangalle cooks a hearty Sri Lankan traditional home meal – the taste of which is truly unlike anything you’ll eat around the country. Amma, as everyone called her, gotukola sambol made from native herbs, pol (coconut) sambol, ladyfinger tempered with rich spices, Sri Lankan pumpkin curry in coconut milk, dhal (the Sri Lankan equivalent of Indian dal), And used to serve. Home style chicken and prawn curry.

This experience lets you realize what traditional home-style Sri Lankan food really tastes like. You are also encouraged to cook with Amma, plus you are served chilled coconuts by a staff who is attentive to make your experience as personalized as possible. I also got involved in making pol sambol – an experience I have obviously taken back home.

Through each of these experiences, you notice the attention Anantara Peace Haven pays to even the smallest of details. It is clear that the promoters were conscious of not disrupting the surrounding nature. As a result, you’ll find coconut trees lining many of the streets of this huge resort, where ‘coconut gurus’ will climb the trees to open some of the finest coconuts for you.

There’s also turn-down service where you’ll have a sleeping kit with scented foot and hand lotion, a free-standing bathtub thoughtfully designed to accommodate a romantic bath, and even plenty of seating near the window. There is also a mini diwan corner with cushions. Give you a place to sit and read.

If you want to step up the dining experience, Verala, an open-air, wood-domed Asian restaurant along the beach, serves up a delicious seafood teppanyaki that you won’t forget in a hurry. Nor will you forget the Spaghetti Carbonara at Il Mare, sitting over a huge selection of very good wines, while facing the vast Indian Ocean bathed in red in the sunset glow.

In Tangalle, Anantara Peace Haven offers you exclusive luxury – where you feel personally attended. The only hesitation? As a location, Tangalle is not a tourist hotspot. As a result, you will find rich cultural diversity in the rest of Sri Lanka. However, in Anantara, you will not regret traveling three hours from the center of the country’s capital, even just to sit on the beach or your own pool, and do nothing else for the rest of the day.

• Address-Ananthara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort, Goyambokka Estate, Tangalle, Sri Lanka – 82200
• Fee: From ₹18,231 onwards
• Culinary Experiences: Voyages, Il Mare, Verla, Harvest Table, Poolside Bar, El Vino, Spice Spoon, Mama’s Kitchen
• Room Categories: Premier Beach Access, Premier Ocean View, Deluxe Ocean View
• Spa: yes

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