Clingendael is the perfect getaway from the realities of life. Ensconced majestically in the Kandyan hills, the property exudes elegant colonial style while taking full advantage of this unspoiled natural location. With verdant environment on all sides, The Clingendael impresses with a good range of outdoor activities on hand as well as organised adventures further afield. Besides golf, explore at your leisure one of the many bird watching and jungle trails in Knuckles mountain range. The “Victoria Stables” provide, lessens in horse riding. Day trips as well as overnight trips can be organised from Clingendael to Sri Lanka ’s multitude of interesting and historically significant places. Excursions that can be arranged and booked for you. Guests may enjoy a trip to Kandy Lake to visit the famed Temple of the Tooth, or venture a little further to a tea estate or the Sigiriya rock palace. Guests can raise a mallet on Clingendael’s front lawn, enjoying a fun game of Croquet followed by an almost mandatory Gin and Tonic – the colonial drink of choice all over the world, enjoy a ride in the hotel’s mini-moke, take a plunge at the pool or enjoy a massage at the Clingendael Spa. Its gardens, spacious and cool verandahs or the central lounge room are idyllic places to read or write or just do nothing. The Clingendael sundowner experience is a favourite of many of our guests, a sunset wine or champagne experience above the Victoria water reservoir with views of the Kandyan hills. Facilities at the nearby located Victoria Golf & Country Resort include an infinity pool with adjoining putting and chipping greens, a tennis court and a driving range. Keen golfers will delight to play on the Victoria Golf and Country Resort’s international Par 73 championship course, rated as one of the 100 most scenic courses by Golf Digest USA. Caddies and ball spotters are on hand to assist players, while those wanting to improve their skills can book a lesson with the VGCR resident professional.
(The Yumlist - KL - Malaysia)
lush tropical gardens, with its rich variety of flowering plants and majestic palm trees are ideal for finding a tranquil spot to relaxant. You set your own pace. Unwind at the pool whilst enjoying a pot of up-country tea or savour the delights of one of our slightly stronger cocktails. There might be time for a round of Croquet. Butlers at your beck and call.
The charming spa at the top of Clingendael’s garden is oh so inviting. Resident guests are treated to a complimentary 30 minute massage with the two night minimum stay. And after this relaxing taster, I am sure many will return for a longer treatment. I pop open the wooden gates and step across the small bridge to the wooden platform, being greeted with a cold towel and a smiling face is always a good start to any treatment. White curtains billow in the noontime breeze, shielding us from the Sri Lankan sun. Perusing the massage menu I select the Detox Massage, Monica had the Holistic, which she reported was very relaxing, and she adored the natural lime balm produced right here in Sri Lanka. Loving to see also locally sourced products being used. I’m presented with a basket and asked to select what I like. I’m torn between a gorgeous smelling ginger balm and the ayurvedic oil, but settle on the latter. The outdoor bathroom is sheltered by a glass roof but nonetheless gives the full sensation of being out in the elements. The water feature on the wall drips with a soft rhythm and this, together with the gentle wind creates a soothing natural sound bath that soon has me drifting away. The Sri Lankan masseuse is very thorough and takes care to attend to all those tricky spots behind the shoulders and at the base of the spine, gently wending away all tensions and niggling pains. Massage can also be enjoyed in the privacy of your own room, but this little natural spot has a special feeling that is really not to be missed
(The Yumlist -KL- Malaysia)
The setting of Sri Lanka’s Victoria golf course stretches the imagination. To the south, east and west, it overlooks the mighty Victoria reservoir which in turn is dwarfed by palm covered mountains that comprise a nature park, the Knuckles range, and Coconut Hill. To describe it as awesome is an understatement. More simply its spectacular beauty is enhanced by rolling swathes of manicured turf amid coconut palms, tulip trees, tamarinds and marahs to single to single out just a handful of the countless stately trees. A significant feature are the large sloping greens. These offer a host of pin positions all of which require immense thought to determine both pace and line. Advice from one of the score or more of skilled caddies is strongly recommended. There may only be a dozen bunkers but most are massive, wonderfully sculpted, and best avoided. Ignoring the crows, which can intrude and with vengeful spite steal the golf ball-most noticeable early on in the round. This tranquil paradise is sanctuary for innumerable birds, 111 species have been sighted at Victoria, to enthuse not merely the knowledgeable. Not surprisingly, the visitor is mesmerized, with many returning year after year to relish the peace and utter splendour of it all.
Some golf courses have a splendid undulating terrain over which the holes are routed. Some have a scenic backdrop of hills and lakes that exite the senses. The Victoria Golf Course is blessed with both
(Course Architect Donald Steel - UK)
This will be one of the top 10 golf courses of the world - it offers a challenge
to even the most accomplished player
( Kitrina Douglas, European Ladies Champion and holder of 10 World Championships )
Ranked in the top 100 Most Scenic golf courses in the world. ( Golf Digest )
Winner of the Asia Monthly Golf Magazine’s Best Golf course in the South Asia 8 times.
No. 1 Golf Couse in Sri Lanka.
The sounds of ice tinkling in Gin & Tonics, the clunk of a mallet on a ball—such are the sounds of enjoying pleasantries at a game of croquet. Croquet has been a favorite English pastime since at least the 1850s. While today’s serious version of croquet is often referred to as “chess on grass”—a game of strategy, skill, and tactics—at Clingendael it’s a casual, somewhat lazy diversion. It’s full of fun and scamper (watch out for ferocious cheats), yet not overly energetic and a great excuse for mingling with other guests. Before any match, players agree on the level of seriousness with which they intend to play and the rules to follow—a determination that often depends on how many Gin Tonic’s have been or will be consumed. For the players competing at Clingendael, the object is to manoeuvre a coloured balls through a series of hoops in the correct order and direction by hitting it with a mallet. When you’ve hit your balls through all the hoops properly, you haven’t finished yet: your balls must still hit the stake positioned in the centre of the Court. If you knock your ball into someone else’s, you can put yours next to theirs and whack it for miles—it’s brutal. The game continues until all players have reached the finishing stake the last one to do so being the loser/losing team. Enjoy
We’re taken to a spectacular viewpoint on the Victoria golf course, overlooking the silvery waters of the reservoir below, and greeted by The Clingendael’s sometime resident manager, Anne-Marie, a Swiss former restaurateur who has settled in this little corner of natural splendour. We’re spoiled with delicious cocktail snacks including a chicken skewer that has us both exclaiming over the seasoning. Wine is always perfect for sunset viewing and a cold bottle of a New Zealand sauvignon blanc meets with our ready approval.The sunset proves to be a soft one, with a bank of cloud overshadowing the distant hills. The colours are nonetheless heartwarming, and we are simply enjoying the soft evening air and rolling landscapes. I love the ridge of trees that tumbles along the horizon like shadowy puppets performing a play. What a wonderfully romantic spot this is, Monica makes a note to come back with her Caning, when he is free. It is a relaxing start to our stay and it is only the call of dinner on the terrace that draws us reluctantly away. Picnics can be arranged at any time of day to a guest’s pleasure.
(Yumlist- KL- Malaysia)
Enjoy a ride in Clingendael's surroundings and view the spectacular views of the Victoria golf course. Discover that the seats of this open air classic car are not at all like the creaking springs of the old Landrovers that you may be used to.
One exciting way to check-out the hotels surrounding and the Victoria Golf Course is to take a Horse Riding lesson and trek from the Victoria Stables. Suitable for adults and children of all ages.Bookings can be made with your butler.
Day trips as well as overnight trips can be organised from Clingendael to Sri Lanka ’s multitude of interesting and historically significant places. Excursions that can be arranged and booked for you. Guests may enjoy a trip to Kandy Lake to visit the famed Temple of the Tooth and the Botanical Gardens, or venture a little further to the Sigiriya Rock Palace and the Dambulla Cave Temple and combine that trip with an elephant safari.
Kandy / Temple of the Tooth
Kandy / Botanical Gardens
Dambulla / Cave Temple
Sigiriya / Sigiriya Rock Castle
Located between Habarana and Polonnaruwa, the 8,890 hectares of MINNERIYA NATIONAL PARK is an ideal eco tourism location in Sri Lanka . The park consists of mixed evergreen forest and scrub areas and is home to Sri Lanka 's favourites such as sambar deer, leopards and elephants. Sri Lanka's image as a nature-based tourist destination has been given a boost by the internationally acclaimed travel guide Lonely Planet, which has named the "elephant gathering" of Minneriya as one of the world's "10 greatest wildlife spectaculars." 'The Gathering' is the name given to the elephants that assemble on the banks of the Minneriya Reservoir during the dry season. Every evening, between 150 and 200 elephants arrive at the reservoir, mainly to graze the grasses growing on the tank bed. During the drought, the water level drops, revealing a tank bed that allows the grass to grow. The elephants turn to these much needed fodder at a time when foliage in other areas dry up. The Minneriya reservoir also becomes a playground where the elephants can satisfy their water needs. The Gathering peaks in August and September, at the height of the drought. According to wildlife authorities, the Minneriya gathering is the largest grouping of wild Asian elephants at any given time. This congregation of elephants probably goes back centuries
You will be picked up from Clingendael at around 7 pm and you go inland where you will be starting the trek through home spice gardens, vegetable fields, rice fields, tea plantation, pigmy forests and plateaus.
The trek covers a distance of approximately 8 kms one way; total16 kms.
At the end of the trail there will be the possibility to take a dip at a base of a waterfall.
You may encounter species such as Deer, Barking deer, Deer monkey and various types of Lizards and lots of exotic Birds.
In this trek you will be climbing from 1,200 ft to 1,850 ft.
You will be transferred back to the hotel around 8 pm.
You will be picked up from the hotel at around 7 pm and go to the trail starting point which is approximately a 1.5 hours drive from the hotel.
During the trail you will be trekking through tea plantations, pine forest, a typical Kandyan village and rice fields.
It concerns is a circular trek, which covers a distance of approximately 18 kms.
Village culture and bird watching are some of the highlights of this trip.
You will be transferred to the hotel around 8 pm.
THE KNUCKLES MOUNTAIN RANGE AS SEEN FROM THE CLINGENDAEL GARDEN
A wonderful place to visit is the Pinawella Elephant Orphanage which is situated northwest of the town Kegalla, some 45 kms east from Kandy. It was established 1975 by the Sri Lanka Wildlife department. This 25 acres large elephant orphanage is a also breeding place for elephants; twenty elephants were born since 1984, and it has the greatest herd of elephants in captivity in the world. Currently you will find near 100 elephants in the orphanage. The orphanage was primarily designed to afford care and protection to the many baby elephants found in the jungle without their mothers. In most of these cases the mother had either died or had been killed. In some instances the baby had fallen into a pit and in others the mother had fallen in and died. The elephants are taken to the river twice a day for a bath which is quite a spectacle to behold The babies less than three years of age are still bottle fed by the mahouts and volunteers. Each animal is also given around 76 kg of green matter a day and around 2 kg from a food bag containing rice bran and maize.
Day trips as well as overnight trips can be organised from Clingendael to Sri Lanka ’s splendid green seas of tea estates and factories in the highlands of Nuwara Eliya. Visit the Labookellie tea estate and tea centre of Mackwoods in Nuwara Eliya. Mackwoods Labookellie Tea Centre is the highest tea plantation in Sri Lanka. Founded in 1841, by Captain William Mackwood it has the distinction of being the second oldest Mercantile firm in Sri Lanka and has been associated with the plantation industry almost since its inception.The Company was managing over 40 estates at the time of nationalization of the estates and today Mackwoods still manages 27,000 acres of plantations comprising 15 Tea, Rubber and Oil Palm estates.
We recognise the importance of a healthy mind a sound body and a fruitful lifestyle. for those who share our view and who want to find time during their stay at Clingendael to loosen up their muscles we offer you a variety of fitness equipment located in our beautiful garden setting. start the day by witnessing a rising sun whilst waking up your body.
A selection of mouth watering Sri Lankan classics, Oriental favorites, as well as Western gourmet cuisine, are on offer. When you want and where you want. Your resident chef will be there for you to discuss with you on your preferences for any of our culinary delights. Our guests can opt to enjoy their meals at anyone of Clingendael’s many alluring locations: its cool verandahs, a garden setting, the pool side, or the lounge area overlooking the Koi pond. For, formal, dining in larger groups, there is the grand dining table which comfortably sits up to fourteen guests. Clingendael caters for Halal and Vegetarian requirements.
The Esala Perahera in Kandy is one of the oldest and grandest of all Buddhist festivals in Sri Lanka, featuring dancers, jugglers, musicians, fire-breathers, and lavishly decorated elephants. This is held in Esala (July or August) which is the month that is believed to commemorate the first teaching given by the Buddha after he attained enlightenment. The Kandy Esala Perahera lasts for ten days while various festivities can be witnessed right throughout. The Sinhalese term ‘Perahera’ means a parade of musicians, dancers, singers, acrobats and various other performers accompanied by a large number of caparisoned Tuskers and Elephants parading the streets in celebration of a religious event.The Esala Perahera in Kandy is celebrated to honour the Sacred Tooth Relic and the four ‘guardian’ Gods Natha, Vishnu, Kataragama and Goddess Pattini. After the Kandyan Kingdom fell to the British in 1815, the custody of the Tooth Relic was handed over to the Buddhist Clergy. In the absence of the King, a lay custodian called the Diyawadana Nilame was appointed to handle routine administrative matters. The purpose of the Perahera Procession is to beseech blessings of the gods to obtain rain for the cultivation of crops and to enrich the lands of the kingdom.This ritual is performed by carrying the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha through the streets of the Kandy city which is done with exceptional panache. This is considered as one of the most beautiful pageants in Asia.
Clingendael organises on request for its guests individual Yoga classes for both beginners as well as for experienced yoga fans.
The yoga sessions are conducted in the peaceful atmosphere of the Clingendael Gardens.
An ultimate calming of the senses.
The Yoga teacher is Maheshe Kodikara, who started learning yoga in 1980 from famous yoga teachers such as Swami Rasu and Venerable Yogavachara Rahula.
In 2000 he went for further training in India under Swami Rudra (Lyenga Yoga method).
Maheshe is practising Yoga Asanas, Pranayama as well as Taiji Quan and Qi Gong.
(Subject to availability and guests should preferably book their yoga session prior to arrival at the Hotel)
