With four bedrooms, Araliya is the largest of Sri Villas’ trio of boutique properties (three-bedroomed Nisala and two-bedroomed Sagara  being the others) that sit side-by-side overlooking the panoramic expanse of west coast beach and deep blue sea. Ideal for either one or two families, the villa has two serene suites upstairs with a shared sea-view balcony and two smaller, more colourful bedrooms – one of which has a TV and DVD player – on the ground floor  that are ideal for the kids. Living and dining space designed for contemporary living spills through wide open doorways onto a shared garden with elongated swimming pool, variety of palms, tranquil beachside massage hut and grassy lawn accented by the melody of birdsong and waves.

A little rickety gate to the front of Araliya leads onto a wide golden beach that stretches for half a kilometre between two rocky outcrops; it’s mostly deserted except for the odd fishermen, the occasional turtle and a scattering of strollers at sunset. You can swim and body board in the sea here during the November to April season although the villa’s inviting lap pool – only a few footsteps from the villa - is an absolutely glorious place to while away the hours of the day, and faces right out towards the sunset; its generous size is definitely a bonus, as you can really enjoy a proper swim.

Sri Villas is more sociable than serene and designed for conviviality rather than solitude. Even if you don’t know your neighbours before you arrive the chances are you’ll know a little more about them by the end of your trip; a quick discussion in the pool might turn into something long lasting as you push tables together for dinner and share a beach BBQ under the stars. Of course, the three owners of Sri Villas – themselves lifelong friends who have enjoyed the sociability of communal holidays - created the property with this in mind.
Renting these three fully-staffed villas together and having them exclusively to yourselves is an excellent option for big groups; it’s economical too since the villas operate a grocery system for food so all you pay for is the cost of the ingredients. With direct access onto a beautifully wide stretch of beach, Sri Villas is also a wonderful place to host events such as birthdays, weddings and family reunions.

Araliya is located to the south of Induruwa, and only a ten minute drive to the famous resort of Bentota. Situated between the main Galle Road and the extensive golden sandy beach, Araliya is neighboured by the other two Sri Villas properties, Nisala and Sagara. Village homes in Induruwa are generally strung out along this stretch of coastline with small boutique hotels and bigger resorts scattered in between. Because of the southwest monsoon, it’s best to visit between December and April as the sea can be rough and the winds strong at other times of the year.

Map (see Google Map)

 

Places of Interest(KMs)
Bentota	6.0
Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery	7.0
Lunuganga	12.0
Madhu Ganga River	15.0
Brief	18.0
Ambalangoda	19.0
Hikkaduwa	30.0
Galle	47.0
Colombo	69.0
International airport	99.0

 

About Bentota
Bentota's sandy beaches, extensive lagoon and exciting water sports have made this resort town famous. Located on Sri Lanka's west coast, its palm-fringed beach stretches along a dramatic sandbar washed on both sides by water; that of the Indian Ocean and the Bentota Lagoon. Jet skis whizz atop the tranquil waters of the lagoon dodging windsurfers and kayakers as well as speed boats pulling jet skiers, wakeboarders and inflatables topped with soaked sun-seekers. Many diving companies also operate from Bentota during the west coast season (November to April) whilst boatmen offer eco-adventures further upriver.

What many do not know though, is that its best beaches can be found towards the south, near Induruwa. The crowds rarely head this way and the food is incredible in every aspect. Inland from Bentota, the scene is engulfed by rice fields, palm jungles, waterways and the odd hillock, often topped by a bright white Buddhist dagoba. Things to do in Bentota include visits to two very special gardens, both of which belong to the late Bawa brothers; Bevis, the artist and Geoffrey, the architect extraordinaire. Bevis' Brief Garden is at Kalowila and comprises intimate walled gardens plus a very special collection of art, whilst Geoffrey's Lunuganga is a bigger Italianate garden with views to die for.

Connections to Colombo and Galle can be made from Aluthgama train station, which is just a couple of kilometres north of Bentota. Here banks with ATMs, bakeries and pharmacies can also be found. A holiday in Bentota is sure to tick all the right boxes.

About West Coast
The west coast of Sri Lanka is the island’s original tourist hotspot, blessed with numerous picture-perfect gold sandy beaches that stretch as far as the eye can see. These wide beaches are fringed with hotels and restaurants often hidden below the tall, swaying palms. Sandy tracks lead to water-sport facilities, signs point towards intimate spa and Ayurveda centres whilst stone pathways take you to bijou shopping malls where a whole range of island memorabilia can be found.

Local residents are friendly and never fail to offer their services; whether it is to take visitors bird watching inland, to a marine turtle hatchery such as Kosgoda, for a special temple tour, on a surfing safari in Hikkaduwa or on a scenic adventure up the Madhu Ganga River for a glimpse into Sri Lanka’s lush interior.

Between the bigger resort towns, the beaches (Balapitiya to Kosgoda for example) are more unspoilt and often deserted except for a handful of sarong-clad fishermen and their multi-coloured boats. But no beach is ever too far from the main road. Look up to the skies and you will see that the coconut palms in this western region, especially around Bentota, are often connected by tightropes used by toddy tappers - men who climb into the trees to obtain the sweet, milky sap of the coconut blossom that is distilled into the local alcoholic brew, arrack, which you must try at least once!

Just a short distance inland the scenery bursts with different shades of green as paddy fields, coconut and rubber plantations, verdant hills, lush valleys, mangroves, lagoons and foliage-covered buildings represent an authentic Sri Lankan village scene.

Araliya is situated on the left hand side of Sri Villas, overlooking the ocean. Using plenty of local materials in its construction, the villa has a contemporary tropical design reminiscent of Bali, with features such as tall folding glass doors, high louvered panels, granite floors, a soothing water feature, modern timber furnishings, calming stones and earthy colour schemes.

On the ground floor are two bedrooms – a double and a twin - best suited to children. Whilst only one of them has a view (of the pool), the other is situated in the middle of the house and instead of a window has an ensuite bathroom with sky-lit shower and shallow granite tub. The pool-view room has a cabinet with TV and DVD player and since the single beds in this room convert into sofas, it could also be used exclusively for watching movies.

To the front of the ground floor is an open-plan living and dining space with folding doors that open onto a private front and communal central terrace beside the swimming pool. The room is furnished with a dining table for eight, relaxed seating and a few easy chairs on the veranda for soaking up the views. Overlooking the living area is a polished cement worktop or bar that leads into a narrow kitchen with oven, hotplates, a fridge/freezer and cupboard storage.

Steps at the rear of the house lead up to the first floor where two identical suites are located. Each has a four-poster double bed draped with mosquito netting, built-in wardrobes, a few easy chairs, and folding doors onto a shared front balcony with views through the trees out to sea. The right-hand suite overlooks the swimming pool whilst both have identical concrete-finished ensuite bathrooms with twin washbasins and a shower. All four bedrooms have air conditioning and ceiling fans.
Downstairs, a hallway leads out to the staff area and main kitchen at the back.

 

Bedroom 1 Double 6.3m x 4.8m Bedroom 2 Double 6.3m x 4.8m Bedroom 3 Twin 3.75m x 3.5m Bedroom 4 Double 4.85m x 2.8m

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Double Master Bedroom View

Master Bedroom Sea View

Double Bedroom 2

Double Bedroom 2 View

Double Bedroom 4

Key Amenities

• Internet (WiFi)

Other Amenities

• Air-con (Bedrooms)
• Baby Cot
• BBQ (On Request)
• Bed Linen
• Bicycles (On Request)
• Board Games/Toys
• Car Parking
• Ceiling Fans
• DVD Player
• Equipped Kitchen
• Extra Bed (Roll away/mattress)
• Food Menu
• Hairdryers (On Request)
• Iron/Board
• Laundry Service (Extra)
• Main Dining (8 persons)
• Oven/Hotplates
• Safe
• Swimming Pool (Shared)
• Swimming Pool Toys (On Request)
• Towels
• TV (Local channels)

Villa Staff

• Babysitter (Extra)
• Chef/Cook (All meals)
• Housekeeping (Full time)
• Masseuse/Spa Therapist (Extra)
• Security
• Service Staff
• Shopper