Boulder Gardens is a remarkable eco-boutique hotel, lovingly designed around a crop of gigantic black boulders.   It took three years to build Boulder Garden from local stone preserving the surrounding natural environment and providing employment to the villagers.  The end result is unexpected luxury and a deep commitment to its natural environment.  Here, winding steps will take you around trees with long roots, rock pools where you least expect it and flowing water.  You will feel that you are enclosed in the depths of an ancient rain forest, where monkeys and wild squirrels may make malarkey in the trees, an occasional jackal may prowl and eagles and hornbills are regularly seen. Rainforests, naturally, can be wet, so be prepared.

Accommodation
There is a medieval feel to the 10 large and immaculate bedrooms, with their rock walls, timber beams and polished cement floors, but it is medieval with modern luxuries attached. The six stylish suites and two deluxe rooms possess sizeable beds, writing desk, mini bars, IDD phones, TVs with video/DVD, tea & coffee-making facilities, huge wall cupboards and tiled bathrooms.

Facilities
The open-air restaurant, with canvas chairs and storm lanterns, rests beneath the largest boulder of all, which supports its own mini-waterfall when it rains, whilst keeping guests dry underneath. Food – traditional Sri Lankan vies with nouvelle cuisine – is treated seriously here. The bar is a converted cave and there is a spring-water swimming pool, up to six feet deep and lit up at night.

Excursions
Boulder Garden is located just 30 minutes from the entrance to Sinharaja rainforest, Sri Lanka’s last viable area of tropical rainforest and a haven of rare trees, bird life, insects and bat-filled caves. Other activities include trekking, biking, forest photography, camping, and birding.